As the dread of finals slowly but surely encroaches on high school students, escape becomes an understandable necessity. In addition to the stress of finals, extra-curricular activities, homework, college planning and managing social lives make relaxing insufficient at times. A common method of escape for many students is a retreat out to the woods or the lake, to a fun and comfortable cabin
For junior Claire Foussard, her family cabin in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin is the perfect getaway. “I like that it’s farther away from the city and I just get to relax,” Foussard said. Like Foussard, sophomore Nancy Moyers enjoys vacationing at her cabin in Wisconsin with family and friends. Moyers’ favorite cabin activity is hanging out on the raft in the lake.
“We go swimming and we go on bike rides, and we just soak up the woods and build bonfires!” Moyers said. Freshman Hunter Hannula finds himself enjoying the outdoors more when at his cabin in Duluth. “Our cabin is probably the only place where I spend more time outside than inside,” Hannula said.
In addition to relaxation and escape, cabins are a source of summer and winter fun. Activities enjoyed by Foussard and her family while at their cabin include sledding and skiing during the winter, and trips on their pontoon and power boat during the summer. “We love going tubing and water skiing,” Foussard said.
Moyers and her family typically only visit their cabin in the summer, “The best time to go is June, we close it down for the winter,” Moyers said. Freshman Karsten Runquist also enjoys his cabin near Duluth, Minnesota most during the summer. “I go wakeboarding and I fish and I ride bikes. It’s really great,” Runquist said. He typically visits his cabin about once every month in the winter, and about once every two weeks during the summer.
In comparison to schoolwork, social drama and extracurricular duties, cabins are a heavenly retreat into a safe and calming place for many students at SPA. Runquist frequently craves the relaxation and escape he finds at his cabin. “My favorite thing about my cabin is getting away. It’s sort of in the middle of nowhere, and I like being in the middle of nowhere,” Runquist said.
Moyers escapes from reality and connection with others when up at her cabin, and actually enjoys it. “There’s no cell phone connection. I love it!” Moyers said.
Spending time with family and friends in a special location like a cabin creates timeless memories and provides opportunity for experiences one may not receive at home. The type of relaxation at these getaways brings rest and calm to another level for SPA students, something they could surely benefit from.
