Feeling trapped inside from the cold weather? To fight the frigid temperatures, there is plenty to keep students busy at Wartburg College. There are activities to do alone or with a group of friends, and the best part about these available activities is that they are free.
Vogel Library
As students wait for warmer weather to arrive, Vogel Library offers many forms of entertainment that students can check out at the circulation desk. According to their website, the library is open Mondays through Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to midnight, on Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 p.m. until midnight.
In Vogel Library, students can check out books from various genres. Sarah Voels, director of Vogel Library, shares that the library has a variety of book genres available for students, as well as puzzles and games ready to be checked out.
“We also have a really great partnership with the local public library,” says Voels.
(Mady Mummelthei)
Students can check out Nintendo Switch games and other entertainment devices that are brought to campus from Waverly’s library.
Additionally, there are collaborative puzzles open to students and staff. One is located on the first floor in the study area and the second is located on the second floor near the skywalk.
“Libraries are fun,” says Voels. “And I’m biased, but I think ours is really fun.”
Voels highlights that these recourses are convenient for Wartburg students to have accessible on campus.
For more information on Vogel Library and the available entertainment, look on their website or ask employees at the circulation desk.
The Ohle Wartburg-Waverly Sports & Wellness Center
To remain active indoors, students and community member can head to the Ohle Wartburg-Waverly Sports & Wellness Center (The W). The W is also open to community members and all Wartburg students. To access all its facilities, simply need to scan a Wartburg student ID badge at the front desk, which is located on the first floor.
The W is open every day of the week with various hours. Monday through Thursday, the facility is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.. Additionally, the W is open on Fridays from 5 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m..
Within these hours, students have access to a weightroom that includes racks, cable machines, treadmills, bikes, stair masters, dumbbells and more. The W staff members are trained to give an orientation of the weightlifting facility at the front desk if visitors are unsure how to use the equipment.
Students also have access to a track and various courts that can be used for basketball, tennis, pickleball, volleyball and other leisure activities.
Additionally, Sheila Kittleson, executive director of the W, confirms that students can borrow sporting equipment from the front desk while they are in the W.
In the weightroom is also a rock-climbing wall. This wall has its own unique hours that can be found on the W’s website. This rock wall includes multiple levels of difficulty to suit each climber’s individual level and comfortability.
The W also offers various fitness classes for community members and students to participate in together. According to Kittleson, these classes are free for students, and she encourages students to look at their schedule. The fitness classes are listed on the W’s website and include yoga, cardio, full-body and more.
“I think our students really find that they enjoy it once they get into those classes…A lot of our community members are high energy and a lot of fun,” says Kittleson.
Kittleson highlights that these are excellent opportunities for students to get to know community members and impact their lives, as well.
“If nothing else, just come and observe a class, even if you don’t come to participate,” says Kittleson.
For any questions, students can go to the W’s front desk for assistance. This information can also be found on the W’s website.
Supporting Student Activities
Additionally, anyone can spend their free time supporting other students in their extracurricular activities.
Kittleson, who is also the women’s administrator for Wartburg Athletics, shares that student attendance at Wartburg athletic events is important to student athletes on campus.
“It’s huge, it encourages the team that is playing,” says Kittleson. “It creates a much better environment for them, a lot more energy, a lot more excitement, and I think that helps them on the court or on the field…it makes a difference between whether they lose, or win based on the energy of our students around them.”
With spring sports in full swing, there are various opportunities to support Wartburg athletics in the upcoming months. View the composite athletics schedule for dates.
