I didn’t discover the art of hammocking until I got to college. College students love to hammock. On any given day when the weather is nice, the trees near campus are full of brightly colored hammocks, swinging in the breeze.
Hammocking is the act of setting up and relaxing in a hammock. I visit Phelps Grove Park often, which is just south of campus. It is full of trees and provides an excellent place for friends to set up two or three hammocks at a time and hang out. Hammocking is social activity; what could be better than hanging out, outside, with friends?
Even though I love Phelps park and my favorite hammock spot there, I was eager to find a place on campus where I could make a new home for my hammock. Here’s what I found.
In front of Carrington
This is an excellent place to people watch. I like this spot because it’s in the central part of campus, but is still covered by the trees enough to give some privacy. Here, you can enjoy a quick nap, or watch students walk to and from class.
The Plaster Student Union South Patio
This is a great spot if you’re looking to hammock right in the middle of the action. These trees are located next to the sidewalks that cross each other in the patio behind the PSU. If you’re looking to get some hammock time in then head straight to class, this is the spot for you.
Hammock Towers in front of Blair-Shannon
Student Government Association was aware that students wanted to hammock on campus, but student didn’t have many places on campus to do it. Abdillahi Dirie, the director of administrative services on SGA, wanted to fix this issue. Most importantly, Dirie wanted to decrease students damaging trees with hammock straps and give them a place to hammock safely.
Dirie and SGA decided then to build maroon hammock towers on campus for students to use. Planning, design and construction designed the towers to look like public art that fits in on campus when not in use. The first hammock station on campus is now located outside Blair-Shannon.
There is a QR code that first-time users can scan to learn how to use the towers. I was able to catch a few familiar faces trying them out for the first time.
There are three towers currently available for use. SGA is planning to add four more stations throughout campus so students can hang out everywhere. So, grab your hammock before it gets too cold and give them a try.