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Activities and Recreation

Our staff and students provide opportunities every day to get out, get involved, and stay busy throughout the semester.

The office of Student Activities and Leadership schedules a variety of artists and entertainers for special events, and student organizations coordinate interesting activities that are usually open to all. During a recent year, we counted almost 250 dances, film screenings, concerts, festivals, readings, and more. Read about some of our more regular activities:

Arts and literature at Wells

Wells students share many artistic interests. From creative writing, to student music ensembles and singing groups, to theatre and dance performances open to all, to visual arts classes in Campbell Arts Building and exhibitions in the String Room Gallery—there are countless ways to connect and collaborate with others that share your tastes or help you discover new ones.

Whether you love playing music or have always wanted to learn, whether you have always wanted to act but never took the opportunity, whether you want to read your poetry at an open mic or print it with hand-set type in the Book Arts Center, there will always be a chance to find something new and include your voice and talent in group activities.

Lakeside fun

Wells sits on the shore of Cayuga Lake, and life at the college is tied closely to the landscape. Wells has a number of kayaks, canoes, and small sailboats that are available for student use seasonally, as well as a swimming spot next to the boathouse. The shoreline is a perfect spot for picnics, bonfires, or just picking a quiet spot to read and soak up the sun.

Academics and special events

Wells' faculty and staff invite guest lecturers and professionals—often on a weekly basis—to discuss their work and speak with students. Regular events include the Visiting Writers Series, the Sustainability Perspectives Series, Science Colloquium, String Room Gallery exhibitions, Susan Garretson Swartzburg Memorial Book Arts Lecture, and In-Residence Program. You'll see how professionals in your field approach their work and how differing programs interact in the real world. See what's happening on campus or check out past events by browsing our campus calendar.

Fitness Center

The Schwartz Athletic Center houses a state of the art fitness center with aerobic and strength training equipment, gymnasiums, a swimming pool and aquatic center, and a dance studio. These are free for students and open for use (outside of special events).

Physical Education at Wells

Wells offers a great variety of physical education classes for credit: including yoga, horseback riding, scuba diving, self defense, toning, lifeguard training, and participation in any of the College's 16 athletic teams. All offer great ways to get involved and get in shape, and nearly all are repeatable so you can keep learning over time.

Finger Lakes destinations

Our students don't always stay on campus, though. The Finger Lakes region is well known for its hiking trails, national parks, unique tourist stops, and quality wineries. To the south, Ithaca, NY, is a vibrant community with many arts events, community activities and festivals, museums and galleries, local stores and shopping malls, theaters, and more. To the northeast is Auburn, NY, where many students go for groceries or a chance to interact with local communities—and where many of our commuter students are based. Slightly farther away, Rochester and Syracuse each provide additional destinations for an afternoon trip.