Cool Spots on Campus!
So, you want to know some of the coolest places on UNCG’s beautiful campus? Well, you’ve come to the right place, because that’s exactly what I’m going to tell you about! Everyone has their favorite spot on campus, their favorite spot to hang out with friends, study, read, hammock, eat, you name it and there’s a favorite spot for it! But, if you’re like me, adventuring to find these places the first week of school (or almost the whole year) is unlikely and kind of scary. So why not have a heads up on where to go if you need a hangout one afternoon between classes?
Here are some of the more public hangouts on campus:
The swings behind the E.U.C.
Students come here to just have some childhood time, and enjoy a stress-free relaxing swing on the community swing set. Take as long as you want! It’s a great place to unwind after a hard exam or have a great conversation with friends!
The fountain in front of the Cafeteria
This is a pretty obvious one! You’ll walk by it every day, but you might not think of it as a hangout at first! Just wait until the nights come around, and you’ll see just how popular it becomes! In the evenings, you can find all kinds of students enjoying activities such as skating, homework, musical jam sessions, dinner get-togethers and so much more! But during the day, if you need somewhere to go if your class gets out early, hangout by the fountain under one of the umbrellas and just do what your heart desires! The fountain is also a central location from many on campus events like, Greek life events, C.A.B. events, homecoming activities, fundraisers, and dance class locations! There’s a lot to see here!
The Quad lawn
This is a really nice place to lay out a blanket or sit on a shady bench and just enjoy the world! Located right between all 7 buildings of the quad (Gray, Hinshaw, Bailey, Jamison, Cotton, Shaw, and Coit) and surrounded by trees and shade, its perfect for all year long (Just bring an extra blanket if you want to go out in the cold!) The quad is a lot like the fountain in that it’s a great location for on campus groups to host events! C.A.B. hosts movies on the lawn, Sororities are well known for having events here, and the carnival happens here as well, along with all kinds of other events, but don’t let that discourage you from testing it out as a midday hangout!
Here are some of the “Hideaway” hangouts on campus:
The Meditation Room:
The meditation room is located on the ground floor of the E.U.C. beside the Office of Intercultural Engagement (O.I.E.). The room is for students to reflect, pray, relax, and contemplate in order to connect better with their inner self or find peace. The room is a quiet place where you can go and be alone without being disturbed, but be sure to be courteous to others as this is a quiet room for mediation and relaxation. So, whether you have a religious affiliation or you just need some quiet time away, this is a great place!
The bench outside of the Music Building
Unless you have a class in the music building, you might not even know it exists, let alone where it is! But outside, in the front of the Music building, you’ll find a very relaxing, small pond with benches and plenty of quiet space. This is one of my personal favorite places to go! You’re surrounded by trees, a beautiful view of your outdoors surroundings, and you hear the peaceful sounds of the pond. All you have to do to get here is walk from College Avenue towards Grogan and Cone residents Halls and follow the walkway that runs between the two buildings, walk across the bridge (which will sometimes have inspirational quotes written in chalk) all the way to the end, and to your right will be the pond!
In front of Moore-Strong Residents Hall
Whether you live in Moore-Strong or not, the lawn outside is a great place to find some relaxation. This Hall is located on the far edge of campus, so you don’t get much traffic throughout the day. There’s a lawn in front where you could lay out and spend some time, there are benches and tables on the patio, and plenty of large trees to hang hammocks on or sit under or to climb in. The Moore-Strong Lawn is used by the Living Learning Communities to throw get-togethers and hangouts!
The Library
This is another obvious one. But something you might not know, is that the library has small rooms all along the perimeter of each floor which you can use for studying! They’re quiet, closed door rooms where you can take time to focus on your work while you’re in your own space, free from distractions!
Various Offices
No matter who you are, there’s always going to be someone here to listen. If you go to the Dean’s Office, The Office of Intercultural Engagement, The UNCG Guarantee Office, The Students First Office, The New Student Transitions and First Year Experience Office (NST&FYE), or the counseling center, there’s always going to be someone there for you. UNCG is a family, and families supports each other! Never be afraid to seek out someone for help!
Of course, there are so many more beautiful, perfect places on campus to have some time by yourself or hangout with friends, but if I told you all of them I would be making it way too easy for you! Plus, you’ve got to get out there and test the waters for yourself! Find your perfect fit and treasure it for all your years at UNCG!
