Senior spring, take the road less traveled

The school year is quickly winding down. For some of us, like yours truly, the same can be said about the entire college experience. The tendency at this time of the year is to write some heart-felt story about how much Princeton has meant to us. To this, I say, I’m still here. I have just more than three more weeks to make the most of my time at Princeton, and I fully intend to take advantage.

Friends of mine have had similar thoughts. We’ve even taken the frivolous step of calling ourselves an Adventure Club and exploring some uncommon activities Princeton has to offer. What follows are either activities we’ve tried or ideas I have overheard people talking about. You’ve got 23 days. Go.

Rock climbing wall

You’ve probably gotten the e-mails from Rick Curtis ’79. Take notice. Whether you’re looking to build your finger muscles bigger than your biceps or just channel your inner Tom Cruise, you can do it at the now-free rock wall. There’s an overhang, a crack that you can shimmy your way up and plenty of chalk to make your skin feel rough like a pro’s. And the staff couldn’t be more helpful. Supposedly, it’s closing for reading period, so the wall might have to be a priority. But rumors are circulating that you may still be able to get your climb on over the next two weeks. On belay.

Some sort of a fitness class: I realize this sounds silly. I only add it because this was part of my “adventure” in the past couple weeks. But there are all sorts of quirky classes offered in Dillon Gym and in town. Missing one day of pumping in Stephens Fitness Center or a couple hours in front of Grand Theft Auto won’t be noticed in three months, but lasting through an hour and a half of hot yoga will.

Capture the flag, the Princeton University version

I can’t fully take credit for this idea, but I think it’s a great one, so I pass it along to the reader. Pull together 40 or 50 of your closest facebook.com friends, draw up ridiculous boundaries — like the north side of McCormick Hall to the south side of Firestone — and play a great game of capture the flag. I highly recommend the Camp Fitch Version. In it, there is a “no-man’s land” dividing the two safe zones. Once in no man’s land, players from either team cannot be tagged out but can be literally dragged to the opposing side. Once they are pulled into enemy territory, they go to jail, where they then form the ubiquitous long chain. There’s a very fine line between capture the flag being fun and you being too old. Don’t get tagged out on the wrong side of it.

Canoe on the canal

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Ice skate on Lake Carnegie

Seniors missed the boat on this one. Underclassmen, wake up early one Saturday in the next year and do it.

Laser tag

Take along a camera, videotape the experience and send the product in to Fox with the label “7-8 p.m.” They could really use the footage, and you could really have fun with the trash talking. The closest place is 15 minutes away in Princeton Junction.

Skydiving