The first week of NMU’s winter 2020 semester was kicked off by the Snow Fest event, welcoming students and making sure they became aware of the many options for extracurricular activities available to them.

Inside Jamrich Hall, over 30 student organizations presented informational booths with student representatives ready to explain their clubs to passersby. This portion of the festival was put on by the Center for Student Enrichment in an effort to get students involved.

Outside in the Academic Mall, students were encouraged to make use of free fat tire bikes and snowshoes on the groomed trails on campus. Also provided were trail maps, cross country skis and other rec center equipment. The Noquamenon Trails Network assisted by grooming the trails for student use.

“It’s a winter kick-off event to the semester,” Outdoor Recreation Manager Chris Smith NMU said. “Our main priority with the recreation piece is to make students aware that this is all free to them. A lot of them still do not know that. We want them to try out the equipment and give it a little test run, so that at some point in the future they can hop on the north or south trails here in town.”

Engagement was fairly good, Smith said, though it slowed down during class times. Many students heading from their classes, however, were drawn into the snow fest to find information. One pair of students even began making an impromptu snow man as part of the festivities.