Unbe-leaf-ably Fun Fall Activities to do on Campus

With fall beginning on September 22, it’s time to begin those seasonal activities! It might be hard to do some traditional ones, like apple picking or pumpkin carving with your family, since IMSA is on “lockdown.” Don’t worry, though – we’ve got you covered with a bunch of ideas for things you can do on campus to get in the fall spirit! Challenge yourself to complete as many things on the bucket list as you can, and check out some descriptions or ideas of each task below.

Take a walk on Access Road to look at the changing leaves.

This task is pretty self-explanatory, but feel free to adjust it to your liking! You could go solo or with a group of friends. You could spontaneously take the long way back to your dorm sometime, or you could plan it out by wearing your comfiest sweater!

Go on a trip to get a seasonal treat.

With Residential Life’s daily trips to Woodman’s, Jewel-Osco, Target, and so much more, this is a great opportunity to get some flavors of fall. You could get some treats like apple cider, pumpkin-spiced cookies, or maple candies at Woodman’s or Jewel-Osco. Also, Target has a wide selection of fall treats, plus there’s a Starbucks inside where you can get your favorite fall drink to sip on while you shop. 

Watch a spooky movie.

If you have access to Netflix or another streaming platform, watch your favorite spooky movie or try out a new one! If you don’t have a streaming service, there is still a great alternative that IMSA provides to all students for free. Simply drop by the IRC, check out a movie, and play it using your wing’s DVD player. A bonus to this option is that you can have a watch party with your wing-mates!

Create a DIY fall decoration for your dorm room.

Bring a piece of autumn into your room by making a DIY decoration! You can create your masterpiece from things you have in your room, supplies from the Makerspace, and even pieces from nature! You can search for your own ideas on Pinterest or another site of your choice, or you could try one of these simple DIYs:

• Make an origami pumpkin. All you need for this DIY is a square piece of paper and scissors. Check out the video linked above to learn the steps.

• Create a leaf rubbing. For this project, you will need a piece of paper, a crayon or colored pencil, and a leaf (you could pick one out while you’re on your walk on Access!). Simply place the leaf underneath the piece of paper, then rub your coloring utensil over the paper to make an impression of the leaf.

Create a leaf rubbing. | https://artfulparent.com/fall-leaf-rubbings/

• Turn a pinecone into a cute hedgehog. You will need a pinecone (which you can also get during your fall leaf walk), paper, glue, scissors, and a writing utensil. To create the face, make a short and wide cone out of paper, draw on a nose and eyes, and glue it to the front of the pinecone.

Create a cute hedgehog. | https://liagriffith.com/felt-pinecone-hedgehog/

Make a seasonal hot drink.

Nothing says “cozy” better than a warm cup of a delicious drink! You could make a simple cup of tea or hot chocolate, or try one of these homemade drinks:

• Dreamy Nighttime Drink: 

• • • Ingredients: 1 cup milk, 1 tsp honey, 2 drops vanilla extract, 1 pinch ground cinnamon (or improvise with any similar ingredients you may have already)
    • Directions: Cook milk in a microwave-safe mug on high for about 3 minutes, or whenever it is very hot and starts foaming. Add in the honey and vanilla, and sprinkle cinnamon on top.

• Pumpkin Spice Latte:

• • • Ingredients: 1 cup milk, 2 spoonfuls of pumpkin puree, 1 tsp sugar, ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice, ¼ tsp vanilla extract, ½ cup strong coffee
    • Directions: In a microwave-safe mug, combine all ingredients other than the coffee. Microwave for 1-2 minutes, then remove and whip with a fork to create a foamy consistency. Add in fresh coffee and enjoy!

• Maple Chai Latte:

• • • Ingredients: 1 chai tea bag, 10 oz milk, 2 Tbs maple syrup, ½ tsp cinnamon
    • Directions: Heat up water in a microwave-safe mug for about 1 minute, or until the desired temperature is reached. Add in all the other ingredients, stir, and sip!

Have a fall photoshoot.

With some friends, add some fall flair to your Instagram profile. Wear some cozy fall clothes like an oversized sweater, flannel, or boots. Next, find a good background spot – it could be by some trees on campus that have changed colors or maybe at the popular crate spot. Throw some leaves up in the air, strike some cute poses, and have fun!