Mount Hood

Camping trip essentials

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Spring: the season when Oregonians jump at the chance to enjoy being outdoors when it’s not gray and raining. As the sun starts showing up more often, people start showing up to various campsites around the Pacific Northwest. Fortunately, there’s usually no shortage of them, though sometimes reservations go quickly.

Like any trip, however, camping requires some preparation. Here’s a list of the basic necessities that will make camping breezy.

 

First aid kit: A basic pre-made one from a sporting store or a homemade one can work. A few things it could contain are bandages, antiseptic wipes, extra water bottles or emergency thermal blankets which are compact and can easily fit into any kit. These items can all be purchased at stores like Walmart or Fred Meyer.

Firewood: Most official campgrounds will have firewood for sale, but the front office selling it closes after certain times. So if you arrive too late, it might not be an option for the first night. Firestarters are also a helpful shortcut to get a campfire going quicker. It’s important to note that it is suggested that you buy firewood where you are planning to burn it, to prevent the introduction of invasive species in new areas.

Lanterns or flashlights: Ever tried to find the bathroom in an unlit campground at night? Would not recommend.

Cooking utensil: Not only will you likely need dishes and utensils, you’ll also need something to wash them with, especially for long trips. Since s’mores are bound to happen, this should also include roasting sticks. Portable burners for cooking can be found at stores like Target or Walmart as well as most sporting goods stores.

Directions: It’s not uncommon to lose service on a camping trip. If you’re going somewhere you’ve never been, or just somewhere you haven’t been enough to know the way by heart, relying on spotty cell service might be risky. Remember, “maps” isn’t just an app — you can take the “old school” version with you wherever you go.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Top four senior photo spots on campus

Karlene Curtin | Freelancer

The journey towards receiving a degree is commonly regarded as difficult, rewarding and worthwhile. Once every graduation requirement has been fulfilled, the application to graduate is completed, and cap and gowns have been purchased, for many the next step is a fun one: senior photos.

After finding the perfect photographer, the next thing to think about is where around campus the photos will be taken.

Western Oregon is home to several different areas around campus where senior photos have the potential to look fantastic. Here is a list of the top four places on campus to head to for your next session.

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In front of Rice Auditorium

The brick design and the surrounding plants and nature create a stunning, yet simple, background for portraits.

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In front of Todd Hall

Leafy green plants serve for great backgrounds. In the spring, they sprout flowers, which adds to the beauty of the landscape.

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The Grove outside of Ackerman Hall

Gorgeous green hills and tall trees create great open lighting and a playful atmosphere.  

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Western Oregon University sign

This one is a total classic. It has locations on the three out of the four corners of campus. The sign beside Rice Auditorium has the least amount of foot traffic.  

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Contact the author at kcurtin14@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of Karlene Curtin

Easy way to make delicious funfetti cookies gluten-free

Morgan Taylor | Freelancer

Changing your diet to wheat-free can, for many, be challenging; it can be hard to adapt and find enjoyable food to eat. This recipe is easy and simple — it is a delicious and fun twist on a childhood favorite treat.

 

GLUTEN-FREE FUNFETTI COOKIES

Start to finish: 20 minutes

Servings: About 24 cookies

 

Ingredients:

One box of gluten-free Pillsbury Funfetti cake mix, which can be found at Roth’s Fresh Markets

⅓ cup butter (melted)

2 eggs

4.5 ounces softened cream cheese

Powdered sugar to garnish cookies

You will also need a hand mixer, a mixing bowl and a baking sheet.

 

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Spray baking sheet with a nonstick spray.

In mixing bowl, with the hand mixer, combine the eggs, melted butter and softened cream cheese. Blend until smooth.

Slowly add the cake mix and mix with a mixing spoon until it reaches an even consistency.  

Roll dough into small balls, and coat with powdered sugar.

Place on baking sheet, and flatten each dough ball with the base of a glass.

Bake for 9-12 minutes, depending on the size of cookie.

Let cool and enjoy.

 

Contact the author at mrtaylor14@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Morgan Taylor

Six quick tips for beginning gardeners

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Confusing weather patterns, allergies acting up and restless seniors are pretty good indicators that spring has arrived at Western. With the sun finally making some appearances again, it’s the time of year that plants begin to bloom.

Planting a garden, whether for purely aesthetic purposes, for growing fresh food or a little of both, is one of the many opportunities that comes along in springtime. Since everyone has to start somewhere, here’s some tips for those just starting out with their own gardens.

 

  • Make sure you have everything necessary for maintaining a garden. Is there enough space for each plant? Are there steady sources of water and sunlight?
  • Try starting small or easy. Some plants require more time and management to keep alive and healthy. According to finegardening.com, some of the easiest plants to grow include snap peas, sunflowers, cucumbers and zinnias.
  • Include the timing in the overall planning. It might be nice to imagine the whole garden blooming at once, but some plants peak in spring and early summer, like blueberries, while others grow best in late summer and fall, like squash and pumpkins.
  • Start building the habit of taking care of the garden. Add watering, feeding and checking for weeds to your routine to avoid forgetting to take care of plants and risking their health.
  • Do some research to find out if it’s a good idea to buy different soil or mulch for the garden. While not necessarily a requirement, they can make it easier to maintain the garden overall. Nutrient-rich soil can help plants stay healthy while mulch helps keep weeds away.
  • Be patient. Whether starting from seed or a small plant, produce plants often won’t yield much in the first year. They will need time to grow and a committed gardener. Flowers can be nice because they give the satisfaction of the quick and near guaranteed payoff of blooming, which can be encouraging to beginning gardeners.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Campus Voices

“If you really want to go to a place, look up how much it will cost and make a plan. Sometimes if I don’t have money for it at the time, I’ll pay with my credit card and make a real effort to pay more on in next time.” Margot Meehan, junior economics major

“Eat in more – don’t go out every night. If you’re staying in a hotel, try and stay somewhere with a kitchen.” Steve Richmond, sophomore public policy major

“Don’t go anywhere too extravagant, too far away. Look for adventures a little closer to home.” Macaela Gertz, early childhood education major

“Collect cans…there’s also lots of dog walking apps, you can make some good extra money that way.” Eli Foster Griggs, senior ASL/English interpreting major

Salem delivers unique eating spot with The Yard

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Ever wonder what happened to the Bobablastic truck which once sat on Main Street? I found out this week when I visited Salem’s new dining spot, The Yard. Named as such because the main food options are located outside of the building in the form of different food trucks. The Yard is a rustic, laid-back location with a wide range of options.

Inside the main building is the main seating area, a cafe and a small 21+ area which includes a bar. On either side of the building are glass walls that showcase the wide range of food available including: funnel cakes, pizza, Greek food and of course, the red bubble tea truck.

Deciding to try some of The Yard’s options, my friends and I got food from three different trucks. From the first, we got a slab of pepperoni pizza, which was big enough to be cut into three slices. Not only was it layered with enough cheese to cover the pepperoni slices, convincing me for a moment that they had actually messed up my order, but the flatbread-style crust is a gluten-free option. The vendor informed me that most people can’t tell this about the pizza, but lovers of thin crust pizza will enjoy this option.

From the creatively named Bite Me Foods, which sells the type of classics one might find at a county fair, such as hot dogs and corndogs, we got a dessert. “The lovers”, as it’s called, is a waffle topped with whipped cream, rich chocolate sauce and strawberries. The waffle itself also tasted very fresh, and it was a tasty follow-up to lunch.

Additionally, as if to showcase the variety at The Yard, my friend ordered from North Fresh Sushi, which I left too soon to try, but from what I heard it was also a hit.

Though the main part of The Yard is the new-looking, tastefully lit inside, the small backyard also has a firepit and a few outdoor games. Though the weather is not always ideal at the moment, I can see this being a great spot for summer evenings.

Though at first I was skeptical that a hodgepodge collection of food trucks would be a place I’d like to go for dinner or brunch, The Yard had me pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere in the actual building is laid back and warm, and it also has just about everything one could ask for. I would recommend The Yard anytime, but especially once we start to get warmer weather.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Meyers

Five simple last minute spring break ideas

Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

With tests, projects and essays consuming most of students’ time, some people find themselves facing Spring Break, a time most people like to use to escape from the stress of finals, with no plans. While some prefer doing absolutely nothing besides relaxing, others see free time as an opportunity to get away, both physically and mentally. Planning something with little time can seem pointless or stressful, but it can be done — even without breaking the bank.

Here are some simple ideas to get you started.

 

  1. Take a train up to Seattle. Cheaper than plane tickets but still time efficient, a round trip ticket to a big city can be less than 100 dollars. The AmTrak station is in downtown Salem at 500 13th Street SE, and tickets can also be purchased on their website.
  2. Do an Oregonian go-to, like spending the week in a rental cabin in Bend. The area has no shortage of things to do, from hiking to river rafting to climbing the Cascade mountain range. Rentals can be pricey, but sites like AirBnB have deals that can bring down the cost.
  3. Another classic Northwest way to have a laid-back vacation is renting a beach house and spending a week on the Oregon coast. There are beautiful attractions all up and down the coast, from lighthouses to aquariums to easily accessible tidepools. Lincoln City, a popular town on the coast, is only an hour away from Western, but for those willing to travel longer, there’s beaches in Newport and Florence to the south.  
  4. Visiting a national park is another great way to enjoy the outdoors in a new setting. There are a number in neighboring states, such as Redwood National Park (a drive that’s just under five hours from campus) and Yosemite(12 hour drive) in California and Olympic National Park (four hour drive) in Washington. And, of course, there’s Oregon’s only national park, Crater Lake (three and a half hours from campus), which has in park campsites.
  5. For those just looking for a new experience, there are a few locations only a short drive away where you can go skydiving. Doing this might hit your wallet a few hundred dollars, but at as facilities are located in Molalla (Skydive Oregon located at 12150 OR-211) and Eugene (Eugene Skydivers at 83505 Melton Rd, Creswell),  there’s minimal added cost of travel.

 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

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Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

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