The arrival of spring 2025 brings with it exciting opportunities for individuals to engage with their communities through physical activities, educational webinars, and gardening projects. Announcements for various events highlight health, education, and public policy, encouraging participation from all walks of life.
First off, Duke University is kicking off its Duke Run/Walk Club, with registration already open for the spring session, which begins on March 10. This initiative, encouraged by LIVE FOR LIFE fitness specialists, allows participants to either walk, run, or combine both activities during twice-weekly meetings every Monday and Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. The program targets both beginners and intermediate levels, meeting at different locations such as the East Campus and the Al Buehler Trail on West Campus. Julia Phu, the Fitness Specialist, noted, "This is about building community and meeting other people outside of your usual department." Participants can enjoy the social aspects of exercise, developing habits and accountability through group training.
Amy Hendry, who has been part of the Run/Walk Club, shared her enthusiasm for the program: "It gave me such self-fulfillment to be able to check those boxes off and said ‘Yes, I did it this week and I was good to myself.’" Despite the temporary closure of part of the East Campus Loop trail due to construction, the camaraderie created within the club motivates participants like Hendry to engage actively. To learn more about the Run/Walk Club, visitors can head to the Duke Human Resources website and register for the program.
Meanwhile, the Travelers Institute has announced its spring 2025 schedule for the highly anticipated Wednesdays with Woodward webinar series, taking place from February 26 to May 21. Joan Woodward, President of the Travelers Institute, has curated this program which brings together thought leaders from diverse sectors to engage with topics surrounding insurance, business, and public policy. Woodward expressed her excitement, stating, “Our spring lineup is set to be one of our best yet, with a behind-the-scenes look at Travelers’ Claim University, a livestream from the New York Stock Exchange, and much more.” This program continues to serve as a valuable resource for both professionals and the public.
The webinar series features several interesting events, beginning with the February 26 session, where visitors will get exclusive access to Travelers’ 200,000-square-foot Claim University. Following this, sessions will focus on leadership lessons from prominent figures and the fascinating science of sleep, with renowned sleep expert Dr. Matt Walker sharing valuable insights. A notable event on April 7 includes the Forces at Work Symposium, featuring keynote speaker Jerome M. Adams, former U.S. Surgeon General, who will discuss mental health dynamics within today’s labor force.
Continuing the focus on education and support, the J.J. Staff Scholar Award applications are now open for staff members at Ithaca College, providing financial assistance for educational pursuits. This award recognizes eligible staff members enrolled in degree programs, who have completed at least 60 credit hours and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. The deadline for submitting applications is February 28, 2025, ensuring staff members can leverage this opportunity to advance their education.
Lastly, the University of Illinois Extension is set to host various educational gardening workshops this spring, offering opportunities for participants of all experience levels to hone their gardening skills. Workshops will cover topics ranging from seed starting to creating grow light stations. These hands-on sessions are on different dates, with the first seed starting workshop scheduled for February 26 at the Peru Public Library. Another engaging program, the Learn-Grow-Share 4-H Spin Club, invites youth aged 8 to 18 to explore gardening with membership being free due to community support. This initiative not only teaches young participants how to cultivate vegetables, herbs, and flowers but also emphasizes community service through donations to local organizations.
Each of these spring 2025 events emphasizes the importance of connection, education, and community involvement, offering participants numerous avenues to engage meaningfully with their surroundings. From fitness and webinars to educational scholarships and gardening, there is something for everyone this season, and organizers encourage all those interested to register and get involved!