Residence Life
Pilots Prevent
April 13, 2021
Residence Life learned a lot from hosting its first Wellness Day for students back in February, and they’re taking these lessons into account as they plan the second Wellness Day on April 21.
Namely, bring more plants.
“We had bought some succulents and, well, everyone loves plants,” says James Peña, wellness education and program coordinator. “We’re getting a lot more plants this time.”
The first “Pilots Play: Wellness Day” brought students out in droves for chair massages, mini golf, hula hoop contests, prizes, and, yes, succulents. The turnout was so good, Residence Life is bringing it back later this month as student prepare for finals.
“It went really well,” says Peña. “It proved to be a great way to get students out of their rooms to gather in a safe way, relax, and de-stress. It gave me a lot to think about for the next one.”
This time, Wellness Day will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the West Quad, which has three residence halls surrounding it, making it even more convenient for students to grab their mask and pop out for a COVID-safe break. There will be food and games—the very popular mini golf will make a return appearance—but Peña is planning some new stuff too.
“We’re looking at some different activities to offer, like axe-throwing with inflatable axes,” he says. “We’ve reached out to a few of the students who have student businesses, like making masks, or prints and stickers. We’re working with some professors to address topics like stress management and handling anxiety. Tanya Bachman, a professor of integrated health and wellness, will help students make their own essential oil blends.”
But the biggest draw will very likely be the furry four-legged floofs (i.e. therapy dogs) that students can cuddle to their heart’s content.
“The primary vision is to offer opportunities for students to relax and de-stress,” says Peña, “and give them information and skills that will equip them to better take care of themselves as they head into finals week and finishing the semester.”
University of Portland
5000 N. Willamette Blvd.,
Portland, Oregon 97203-5798
503.943.8000
This website uses cookies to track information for analytics purposes. You can view the full University of Portland privacy policy for more information.
