English classes normally consist of reading, writing, and learning grammar or rhetoric. However, Friday’s English 137H class was certainly out of the ordinary. We were told to go on a Scavenger Hunt, and visit a list of places and landmarks all around Penn State’s campus. You may be wondering what purpose this adventure served. Keep in mind that we are freshman, and have been forced to adjust to and find our way around one of the biggest universities in the country. The scavenger hunt not only proved useful in helping us to recognize various buildings and sites around campus, but it also provided us with a topic to blog about-thus the educational portion of the assignment. I partnered with five other freshman girls, and together we bonded as we made our way around the different parts of campus. So here are some photos and descriptions of our destinations, and don’t mind some of the funny or awkward faces you may see us making; we decided to make the most of the class period, because we were not likely to get another opportunity to just have fun like this in any other class again!
One interesting item on the list was to find and visit the sites of three “ghosts” around campus. At first we had no clue where to start; none of us had heard the rumored resting places of any ghosts on campus. But after speaking to a librarian, we were able to visit two of the three ghostly sites:
A girl had once died in the “stacks” of the Patee and Paterno library, but instead of traveling all the way there, to only get lost, we got creative. In the interest of time, we chose to pose with a map that points out the part of the library where she died.
Brumbaugh hall in the East dorms is also rumored to be haunted, so here we are goofing around near the ghostly hall.
We also needed to pose with four different sculptures or pieces of artwork, so we headed over to the Palmer Art Museum on campus, and found four random sculptures. (If two of the pictures look very similar, it’s because there are TWO paw prints outside of the museum, so we count them as TWO different sculptures!)
Not too far away is the Nittany Lion Inn! Not only is it a top notch hotel, but also was the birthplace of PBS!
While on Curtin Road, we came across many things that we believe make Penn State so special, and give students an opportunity to be civically engaged. Here were our ideas:
-The Berkey Creamery-it is DELICIOUS!
-The Daily Collegian- the classic Penn State student-run newspaper
-The Four Diamonds Fund- I am re-using a picture from the art museum and counting it as a different item on the checklist. The Four Diamonds Fund is an organization that students involved in THON work very closely with, to help families struggling to pay for children’s pediatric cancer treatment. Here we have the group making a diamond symbol with their hands to represent this amazing foundation.
-The Nittany Lion Shrine- The newly renovated site is a symbol of Penn State’s pride and sense of community.
-Penn State’s ROTC- These students work hard for a good cause, so when we saw them practicing outside Brumbaugh Hall, we thought we’d give them an honorable mention in this blog. They are a part of what makes Penn State an involved and dedicated community!
All of us were surprised to discover that in 1965 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made a speech about Voting Rights reform in this country, at Penn State’s very own Rec Hall!
Lady Godiva makes a visit every year to Mifflin Road!!
Here is a memorial of Evan Pugh: Kentucky-born and first president of Penn State!
We ended our scavenger hunt near the Old Main Building.
And here is Penn State’s famous bell!
Here is a blurry picture (sorry) of us attempting to blurt out Penn State’s Fight Song
Also on Old Main lawn was a sundial that is actually the geographical center of Pennsylvania!
Unfortunately, we were constrained to only one class period (1 hour) before we had to go our separate ways, and head to our next classes. Therefore we were not able to get to every place on the list, but we will list the landmarks that we missed:
-Old Coley’s resting site-He was Penn State’s original mascot
-The third ghost: Former President Atherton of Penn State was buried in front of the Schwab auditorium
I really liked the organization of your post. Having been a member of your group, the pictures looked very familiar, having taken and been in most of them myself! I also agree about how although this was an educational assignment, it was an easy way to figure out the various buildings around campus. We were even able to help a few people from out of town who were planning on seeing the football game that weekend when they were unable to find out where the creamery was, which was pretty cool even though everyone in our group was freshman and relatively new to the school. I was wondering if you would recommend this assignment to later classes as well? Did you think it was beneficial?
Those scavenger hunts were a lot of work weren’t they? First, I have to comment on the photography. You were incredibly resourceful in your decision to reuse the pictures for different things on the list. Everyone’s facial expressions added a new level of humor and energy to this post. Don’t worry about the blurry picture. My group’s video was awful. I also liked how you gave captions to every photo.
These blog posts are opportunities to mix and match media. Your photos added a lot but your story made them more interesting. Unlike your group, my group consisted of only three other girls. We also did not reach every stop in the 55 minute class period but we met on Sunday to finish. I found your view on bonding interesting. My group was not nearly as excited about the scavenger hunt but we did bond. Scavenger hunts could be the next ice breaker for SHO time next year. At least then we would know where everything at Penn State is from the start. It sounds like your scavenger hunt was a lot of fun. You’ll need to show me the map of the library one day. I still don’t know where everything is.
Not to be a buzzkill but the sundial is not actually the geographical center, that is just a rumor! I really enjoyed following your journey through your pictures and captions though, I was able to connect visually to your hunt. Are any of you going to use the Four Diamond Fund in your speech?
Not to be a buzzkill but the sundial is not actually the geographical center, that is just a rumor! I really enjoyed following your journey through your pictures and captions though, I was able to connect visually to your hunt. Are any of you going to use the Four Diamond Fund in your speech?