North Carolina State University’s Wellness Day on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022, brought numerous activities and opportunities for students to turn their focus from classes and assignments to relaxing tasks. While numerous options were available across campus, including recreational classes, a roundtable discussion, and relaxation stations, the Department of Horticultural Science created its own hub of mental health activities on campus and beyond. There are also several ways to continue to relax and rewind on an ongoing basis.
Tea time and relaxation activities
On Wellness Day, The Marye Anne Fox Science Building offered a plant division activity, an apple tasting, rock painting, hot tea, a leaf print activity, and an origami flower lesson to students.
Sydney Suits, a Horticultural Science undergraduate, stops to smell the flowers while visiting Duke Gardens on NC State University Wellness Day.
Visit the NC State Plant Conservatory
Fall and winter are great times to schedule a visit to the NC State Plant Conservatory. On central campus, located behind Marye Anne Fox Science Building, is a hidden gem that is a great place to dry off, warm up and view a greenhouse full of various plants. This greenhouse location is only open to NC State students, staff and faculty during weekday business hours. There are classes occasionally, so be sure to schedule your visit in advance.
Volunteer to garden
Have you considered volunteering in a garden for your mental wellness? Students spend Wellness Day planting pansies, cool-season veggies, and bulbs at the Talley Rooftop Living Lab. Garden volunteers are accepted on the third Saturday of each month to weed, plant additional plants, seed annuals and perform other therapeutic garden tasks. Contact Professor Anne Spafford to signup. Other campus gardening opportunities include the Kilgore Hall rain garden project with Julie Sherk and the JC Raulston Arboretum’s membership and volunteer manager Kathryn Wall.
For more information:
North Carolina State University
www.ncsu.edu