Danielle Rennard, Staff Writer
With nicer weather approaching, it’s time to get back outside and take advantage of the beautiful nature in Oneonta. College Camp is just around the corner with 276 acres of land, which was once farm and woodland area. There are not only hiking and bike trails at the camp, but also several activities that you and your friends can enjoy.
The purpose of College Camp is to provide educational, recreational and social opportunities for the members of our college community. If you are interested in trying out the trails there, the main trail starts at Hunt Union and ends at College Camp lodge. This is the “Red” trail and it is about two miles long. The “Blue” and “Yellow” trails are the two other main ones but are going to be restructured on the map in the near future. Also, for anyone who enjoys biking, there is a mountain bike trail that is considered the “Orange” trail. If you ever want more information about the direction of the trails and lengths, there is a map available on the OAS website.
Besides the trails there are many different activities that can be done at College Camp. When there is snow on the ground, which is very often of course, College Camp has cross country skiing and snowshoeing. But when the ground begins to defrost and the grass begins to peak through the snow, the things to do at the camp are almost endless. There are always footballs, basketballs, volleyballs, soccer balls and cones available for student use. If none of those activities interests you, there is also plenty of open space to play frisbee or test yourself on the challenge course. For those that are interested in photography, the scenery at the College Camp is simply breathtaking.
If you’re the type of person that is more laid back and enjoys simply taking in gorgeous weather, College Camp is the perfect place to have a picnic or even a barbecue. It’s also the ideal location to go with friends and simply relax and get away from schoolwork for a few hours. On certain dates, there are also programs held at the Iroquois Longhouse that you can attend.
In addition to the recreational activities, you can make reservations to rent the camp’s lodge or a lean-to, a three-sided shelter with a floor, roof and fire pit in the front, for a few hours, the entire day or overnight. Also, there are public viewings at the College Camp observatory run by the department of physics and astronomy.
Besides College Camp, there are plenty of other areas in Oneonta to explore. Some local trails include: Arnold’s Lake State Forest, Milford State Forest, at the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society sanctuary (on top of Franklin Mt.) and the Gilbert Lake State Park.
So whether it’s hiking through trails in the woods or having a picnic with your friends, be sure to take advantage of the enjoyable scenery and opportunities offered at College Camp.
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