With warmer weather arriving, a new option will soon be available for students at the Bluffton University Nature Preserve. Beginning April 27, water activities will be available for students to use on the Nature Preserve pond. According to Health, Fitness and Sport Science Department Chair Tami Forbes, two fishing kayaks, a tandem kayak, three sit-on kayaks, three sit-in kayaks, two canoes and four paddle boards will be available.
Dylan Shaffer enjoying water activities on the Nature Preserve pond. Photo courtesy Tami Forbes
Currently, students are only allowed to use the pond for specific courses. Forbes said she believes opening it up to more students will allow the university to maximize the value of the nature preserve.
“This allows students to enjoy our natural resources to the fullest extent possible,” Forbes said. “There’s bird watchers and hikers and runners and walkers, lots of things that you could have done out there by yourself, but being able to use the water is a fantastic idea.”
According to Forbes, the idea for the water activities on the pond came from Jane Wood, Bluffton University president.
“It’s such a beautiful space,” Wood said. “I think that we are very lucky at Bluffton to have this beautiful nature preserve right next to campus, and so I want to make sure that students can enjoy it, and then after you all graduate that you come back and bring your families. I want students to make memories out there.”
Trenton Besgrove showing off a fish caught in the Nature Preserve pond. Photo courtesy Tami Forbes
The rules and regulations for pond use are still being finalized, but they will be posted on the nature preserve website when finished.
“They’ll be referred to the nature preserve website, and that’ll have all of the information that you need on it,” Forbes said. “That will direct you to go to Marbeck to pick up the key. You fill out a form, so we know who’s using the pond. When you get done, bring they key back immediately.”
Some general guidelines include always wearing life jackets on the pond, staying off the water if there’s lightning and being respectful of the equipment. A fishing license through the Department of Natural Resources will not be required to fish at the pond.
Forbes also noted that voices carry on the water, so students should “keep in mind that everyone around will hear your conversation.”
Wood sees this addition to the Nature Preserve as beneficial to students in many ways.
“I think the ability to learn to kayak, to paddle board, to canoe and fish are important,” Wood said. “I hope it’s fun…but also I think there’s real skill sets that you can pass along if you decide to have children one day. I hope it benefits students mentally, physically, in all kinds of ways.”
Forbes went out to the pond to fish on April 6. When a group of students heard about it, they joined her, creating an unofficial “soft opening” of the water activities.
“There were picnickers, prospective students, football recruits, kids fishing in the kayaks and kids paddling in the kayaks,” Forbes said.
“It was just like a park, it was wonderful. It made my day.”
This fits with what Wood envisions the nature preserve to be for the Bluffton University community.
“[My goal is] that students will plan weekend events around it,” Wood said. “That they’ll say, ‘Hey, what are you doing this weekend?’ and the answer will be, ‘I’m hanging out at the Nature Preserve.’ I hope that this becomes part of the Bluffton student experience now and way into the future.”
Hunter Morrison kayaking at the Nature Preserve. Photo courtesy Tami Forbes
