In a winter scene that could fit the big screen, a plethora of NMU students, staff and community members gathered for some cold weather festivities. The sound of laughter and fun conversation filled the air as participants skated around the new ice rink lit up with fairy lights.
As a creative and community-driven way to launch “Be Well Winter,” NMU’s WellBeing Center created its own winter wonderland behind the Northern Center on Saturday, Feb. 1.
The event began with a ribbon cutting for the grand opening of the homemade ice rink, which was then officially open to campus and the Marquette community. However, the festive fun was not limited to ice skating.
A raffle was held at the event, with prizes including a Marquette Co-Op gift card, 50 dining dollars and a new pair of ice skates.
Participants could warm up between skating or while waiting for the raffle to be announced at the free hot chocolate bar, which was filled with toppings and sweet additions.
“The ice rink has been in the works for a few years now, and a few groups have wanted to make this happen,” said Ryley Wilcox, a WellBeing graduate assistant. “So, we thought this year, this could be our main draw event.”
The WellBeing Center has been working hard with others on campus to make this idea a reality since students and other organizations had previously expressed their interest in seeing an event like this come to Northern’s campus.
“This year, we really tried to make [the Be Well Winter] intentional programming that allows us to have a huge event every month and then smaller events throughout the semester,” Wilcox said.
The positive energy and strong sense of community at this event were contagious. The student turnout was more than those at the WellBeing Center had expected and was considered a very successful start to their wellness initiative.
Wellbeing means something different to everyone. The winter can be an especially hard time for students, so making the most of the winter conditions and turning them into a fun and active opportunity for students to hit pause and focus on their health is important.
“[We want] to be able to inform students on wellbeing and let them know that everyone needs to focus on their wellbeing, and it is not just mental health — it’s also physical health and being academic and career-focused,” said Emma Wargin, a WellBeing peer educator.
The ice rink and skate rental will be staffed and open for students throughout this winter semester. If you were unable to attend this past weekend, there is no need to worry — Be Well Winter is far from over. Keep an eye on the Hub or NMU WellBeing’s website to catch their next events.
