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The outdoors can be enjoyed in many different ways, and four students were willing to share what they like best. Last week, I went and talked to students in the Socorro High School Journalism Club during the lunch break about their favorite outdoor activities and places. In a quick little bit of collaboration, the students wrote their own paragraphs about fun things to do outside. With the help of SHS art teacher and yearbook instructor Jessica Padilla for revision tips, they each had a paragraph pretty much ready to go before the end of lunch.
Liam Demorest
“My favorite place for outdoor activities is Water Canyon, the atmosphere there is pretty nice. Hiking there is fun, but I also enjoy running there. It’s useful training in high altitudes. My favorite time to visit Water Canyon is early fall because the temperature isn’t too bad. I certainly enjoy being there with my family, but it’s also a nice, peaceful area to enjoy by yourself. I think that Water Canyon is a nice break from the desert environment and it is close by.”
Maeve Sturgis
“By far, my favorite place would be the New Mexico Tech pool. The number of childhood memories I hold about this place creates a comforting environment. Now that it's used for the SHS swim team practice, I feel a buzz in the chlorine-smelling air. Once you enter the pool, it’s as if you become another person. You're either playing as a shark or you're practicing to become the next Katie Ledecky. You no longer feel as you did before. The water changes you.”
Lillymae Webster
“Usually, I like to travel to the volleyball sandbox across from New Mexico Tech’s swimming pool. I like to go during the summertime, but the fall and spring are also nice times to play a match. Going out to play matches with my friends in the Upward Bound program during the summer means so much to me because this is where I met them. The volleyball sandbox holds a special place in my heart.”
Halynn Parks-Correa
“An outdoor activity I love doing is walking around town and taking photos of nice scenes. My favorite place to walk around is New Mexico Tech. The beautiful colors of the leaves throughout the seasons really make it my favorite spot to stroll. The best time to go for a walk around the campus is definitely during the fall in the late afternoon. When I go for walks, I am usually with my friends or my sister. They are what make these walks so much fun. Each time we go on these walks together, we end up getting to know one another a little bit better than we did before.”
As for my own favorite outdoor place, it is certainly Box Canyon. Few towns anywhere have such a prime rock climbing area so close by, and the best season for climbing there is just beginning. Cool winter temps mean great friction conditions for pushing your limit and gripping hard. Aside from a few really cold spells, it is still very pleasant and can even be t-shirt weather out by the rocks. The Box is also great for hiking, biking and exploring. Several miles of trails and many miles of dirt roads can be traveled. Wildlife, including deer and bighorn sheep at times, live there or pass through there. Additionally, the area has a rich history as well, with plenty of evidence of Native Americans who lived there long ago, relatively, plus more recent ranchers and miners.
