The Wake

As some university students traveled to hot spots around the globe over spring break, many stayed in Minneapolis, confined indoors, as 2 feet of snow fell and temperatures hovered near 30 degrees. And while I watched nearly 25 hours of March Madness, I thought to myself, “Where’s spring?” I turned up the thermostat and threw another Pasta Roni in the microwave and dreamt of the day when I could remain outside for more than a half hour. Well, that time has come. The snow has finally melted and the winter coats have been packed away for good. The Minnesota spring is upon us and it’s time to get outside and enjoy it, because we all know next winter is only seven-short months away.

So I implore readers to get outside, but many of you may wonder what to do once you’re out there. Maybe the thought of taking a 5-mile jog or running up and down a basketball court isn’t exactly your idea of a good time. Maybe you spent more time playing beer pong than at the Rec Center over the winter. If that’s the case, let me introduce to you the wide world of leisure activities; the ones that require a bit of skill and allow for maximum relaxation while doing their best to make sure you don’t break a sweat. So read on and discover some old favorites that will help you forget all about the drudgery of winter and make sure your homework remains untouched.

Hacky Sack

Playing “hack” is truly a classic way to waste away a nice spring day without running short of breath. Beside the occasional car flying by screaming “hippies,” a relaxing afternoon is yours. Add in the accompanying meaningless conversations between friends and acquaintances and a daily spring routine begins. Try to cut it off before nighttime when the shadow games begin and the sack blends in with the night sky; it’ll save a lot of frustration and may actually allow you to get some real work done.

What you’ll need: a $10 dirt sack which can easily be picked up around campus and a level playing surface and you’re ready to go.

Bocce Ball

Bocce can seem like a rather ridiculous game, and it is. Toss the little white ball around and then have each player throw to get within the closest proximity of it. However, this four-player game can become addictive as players battle for bocce supremacy. Scoring can vary, but according to the prestigious United States Bocce Federation, a game is typically played to 13 points. Beside the occasional thrown-out arm, bocce is another harmless activity that can get you and your buddies outside.

What you’ll need: Go in with a group and pick up a nice bocce set. Sets can range anywhere from $25-$100 and I’d recommend at least a $50 set. Find a wide open area, preferably with some small pits and hills, and let it fly. Try to avoid losing control of the balls and taking out a squirrel or windshield.

Bollo Ball

Bollo ball is a little-known game that is in the same vane as “bean bag toss.” Sadly, it was unknown to me until this past summer. Each player receives two “bolos,” which are devices that consist of two hard balls attached through the middle by a piece of string. The goal is to wrap the bollo around one of three horizontal bars, each with their respective point values. The game consists of two players on each side and is played to 21 points. More challenging and exciting than bocce, without the ever-so-strenuousness task of walking.

What’ll you’ll need: For all you do-it-yourselfers, get to a hardware store and stock up on PVC pipe, rope, and a couple of wooden balls and construct your own sturdy set for a extremely cheap price. If this sounds like too daunting of a task, pick up a set for around $30. But buyer beware, a Bollo set can be destroyed within a single day.

Catch

Another spring option is to get back to the basics. Tossing around a ball or flying disc may not sound like the most exciting thing in the world, but thousands of university students that get outside anytime the temperature rises above 40 degrees will tell you otherwise.

Whatl you’ll need: Dig through your apartment or house, or check out from the residence halls any equipment you’ll need. Gloves may be in order if a baseball is your choice, and again watch out for those pesky windshields and pedestrians and try not to let that flying disc get away from you.

So there you have it. These activities along with the likes of bean bag toss, “horse”, lawn darts (if you still have them), and croquet should provide you with the relaxing spring that you’ve thought about since November. So, hit up Marcy Park in Dinkytown, Van Cleve Park on Como, Northrop Mall, or your front lawn and enjoy the spring before the scorching heat of summer arrives.