As the 2025-2026 academic year begins, students at Wartburg College are preparing for their busy school year. Whether involved in music ensembles, athletics or other campus involvements, the start of a new year can cause students to feel stressed.
Luckily, the Wartburg campus and the Waverly community can provide students with many opportunities to escape the stress of college. These are a few of my favorite things to do when I’m overwhelmed by my academic responsibilities.
- Go for a walk on the Rail Trail.
The Waverly Community is home to many amazing walking paths. One in particular that may catch many students’ eyes is the Waverly Rail Trail. The Waverly Rail Trail is a 7-mile-long walking path located just off campus. The trail also provides access to many different parts of Waverly providing new spaces for students to get away and explore
- Visit the Kreativwerkstatt
According to the Wartburg College Vogel Library page, “The Kreativwerkstatt (German for “creative workstation”; aka K-statt) is a space to explore, tinker, learn, create, and share.”
Wartburg students, faculty and staff can take a trip to the K-statt to gather materials for hobbies such as embroidery, sewing, crocheting and painting, among many other creative pastimes. It is also a great place to visit if you are looking to try something new and dive into your creative interests.
- Spend time outdoors with friends.
The firepits and sand volleyball courts behind the manors are many students’ favorite part of campus. Last year, the Wartburg student senate allocated their funding to improve the sand volleyball courts and firepits on campus. These areas are very popular for students and provide a great opportunity to be outdoors and relax with friends as fall approaches.
- Visit a local business in the Waverly community.
The Waverly community is home to many small businesses within the Waverly area. Trinkets and Togs, a local thrift store, is one business that provides students with a place to explore and partake in retail therapy. Other places like Four Queens and Get Roasted are great places for students to hang out with friends or take time to be alone and enjoy a sweet treat.
- Meet with counselors in Counseling Services.
The Counseling Services here on campus can offer students short-term professional help. Wartburg counseling services is a great place to go when you are wanting to seek support for any stressors you may have. Counseling services are free to all students at Wartburg and are a perfect place for students to express how they are feeling in a confidential and safe setting .
Overall, these are just a few ways that students can relax or escape from their responsibilities as students and enjoy Wartburg and the community that surrounds it. As the school year progresses, I encourage all Wartburg students to try one of these activities to unwind and take a break.
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