Campus and college life can often be stressful and overwhelming, and having a balance between school, work and leisure is crucial to keeping a healthy mind. However, starting or maintaining a hobby can be expensive. Listed below are four low cost or free hobbies to get into on campus and within the surrounding area.
Photo by Samantha Hutz & Illustration by Zoe Kapp
Arts and Crafts
Located on the third floor of the library, The Makerspace offers a variety of craft and art supplies. Within The Makerspace, you can get into jewelry making, screenprinting clothes, scrapbooking and so much more. The Makerspace offers expert assistance and insight on projects, giving you the tools to bring your creative visions to life. They also frequently offer workshops where Makerspace attendees will walk you through creating a specific craft; be sure to keep an eye out on their MyRaft and Instagram for those events. The Makerspace is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12 to 4 p.m.
Photo courtesy of @osu_csumb on Instagram
Gaming: Physical and Digital
Interested in getting your game on? The Rookery on the third floor of the Otter Student Union (OSU) is the place for you. From physical tabletop games like table tennis or pool, to a variety of video game consoles or the Pump-It-Up dance machine. The Rookery has specific hours that vary from the OSU, and is even open on weekends: Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. – 10:30 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 12 to 9 p.m. Bring a group of friends or hang game solo, there are plenty of options to choose from within The Rookery.
Photo courtesy of CSUMB
Biking
There are many bike trails on campus and around the surrounding area. Riding a bike is a great form of low impact exercise as well as another way to explore the beautiful natural landscapes surrounding campus. Recreation offers many different rental services, such as bike rentals. The rental goes for as low as $5 for a same day rental, including a bike lock, helmet and bike. Routes recommended by the cycle center can be seen on this map. The Cycle Center hosts guided rides at various intensity levels; be on the lookout for these events on MyRaft.
Photo by Keira Silver
Tidepooling
Being so close to the ocean, it’s a no-brainer to get involved by celebrating the nature that is in our backyard. The tidepools are different every time you visit, being altered by the time of day, water temperature, tide and weather. This offers a change of pace and opportunity for something new with every visit. It’s important to remember when tidepooling to respect the animals and ecosystem by following proper tidepool etiquette.
Two locations for tidepooling:
- Lovers Point (Pacific Grove)
- Bus directions 18 Sand City via Monterey Road, transfer at the Transit Center to 1 Pacific Grove via Asilomar
- McAbee Beach (Cannery Row)
- Bus Directions: 17 Sand City via General Jim Moore Blvd. Ride all the way to Foam and Irving
There are many different activities and hobbies to indulge in within CSUMB’s campus and the area around it. Having these outlets and activities to look forward to can offer an escape from the hustle and bustle of campus life.