Seasons
Yes, it's cold here in the winter—but far from being a frozen tundra year-round, Minnesota has four distinct seasons. We enjoy beautiful springs with blossoming trees and early flowers, warm summers to appreciate our 10,000 lakes, and beautiful autumns ablaze with color. As for winter? It's mostly a matter of dressing right and being prepared for the extremes. With appropriate clothing and gear, you can be as active outdoors as you want to (although if you'd rather hibernate, that's OK too).
Here's a sampler of favorite things to do at Carleton year-round:
- FALL:
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- Student Activities Fair, your opportunity to get acquainted with—and join—a dizzying array of student groups.
- Apple picking at nearby Fireside Orchard.
- Northfield's Defeat of Jesse James Days, which celebrates our little town's victory over the notorious James-Younger Gang, back in 1876.
- Homecoming, which includes a whole menu of special events along with the traditional football game.
- Walking, running, and biking in The Arb and on scenic country roads.
- WINTER:
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- Broomball, arguably Carleton's favorite winter sport. Sure, it sounds silly: Hockey played with no skates and no puck?? But you'll have fun and work up a sweat, even on the coldest days.
- Ice skating on the Bald Spot, if you can get those broomball players to give up some rink space.
- Traying, a version of sledding that, while not officially approved (since it requires sneaking trays out of the dining hall), seems to keep on happening at Carleton anyway. Or you could take pity on our food-service staff and just get yourself a sled.
- Midwinter Ball with its myriad of indoor and outdoor activities, including ice sculpting and dancing the night away.
- Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in Carleton's 880-acre arboretum.
- SPRING:
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- Spring Concert,an annual outdoor music festival that's been a Carleton tradition for more than 30 years. What's better than warm weather and hot bands?
- Mai Fete, a weekly gathering of seniors on scenic Mai Fete island.
- Rotblatt, the world's longest softball game. A Carleton tradition since 1964.
- International Festival, with food, songs, performances and cultural workshops representing many nations.
- Outdoor movies on the Bald Spot.
- SUMMER:
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- Carleton students are on break for the summer, but it's still a beautiful season to visit campus, on your own or as part of Minnesota Private College Week.
- Expand your visit into a family vacation with the help of Explore Minnesota, a great site for discovering our state's lakes, rivers, parks, and attractions.
- Consider one of Carleton's summer programs for high school students, which combine college-level educational experiences with the chance to enjoy campus in all its summer glory.
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Anna Chance '15 says:Freshman year in Watson, I received a package in the mail that had a lot of packing peanuts in it. I put it into recycling, but then—I walk out into the lounge and I find that my packing peanuts have been converted into SAND for a makeshift BEACH! There were towels scattered on the floor for "sunbathing" and residents had set up a small makeshift volleyball net. All players were wearing some form of swim gear and the 'volleyball' was a stuffed pineapple. There was even an "ocean" that people could dip their feet into, and cut-out pictures of waves taped to the windows! I suppose this just goes to show that Carls are pretty creative, spontaneous, fun-loving, and..a a little quirky. A Minnesota winter is not going to stop us from having a beach party!
Suddenly, two trees have hammock potential.
Spring
Winter Fun
winter
Fall leaves in the Arb.
fall
fall
winter
At this year's Spring Concert, there was no shortage of muddy feet and muddy faces.
Michele Cruz '11, Justin JP Perkins '11, and Ger Yang '11 during International Festival before both of their performances.
Winter in Spring
Date: 2013/4/23; Season: supposed to be SPRING (indicated by "Spring Term"; Location: NORTHfield, MN
Introduction to Geology students and majors discussing the Mill Street conglomerate
fall
Spring Concert
Spring Concert
Peter Cottontail darts across outside your door.
Footprints
Berett Wilber '14
Huzzah
"Me and some friends 'sledding' on Bell Hill." - Peter Schlesinger '12
Spring Concert
Spring Concert
The Introductory Geology In The Field class in the Minnesota River Valley
Canoes
fall
spring
Sunglasses reflect the crowd at Spring Concert
"Eat the Lawn" offers fresh herbs and vegetables to passersby.
Students going crazy at Spring Concert
spring
Stevie P. displaying his slacklining prowess on a beautiful spring afternoon
We were slacklining and happened to see Stevie P. cutting across the bald spot towards us... so naturally we insisted that he give it a shot. He wasn't too hard to convince.
Morning
Did not catch up with sun rise...
Welcome back spring
Eventually, Spring!
Sunset
Awesome sunset on May 2nd.
Avians in April
gathering some quick snacks to tide them over through the chilly weather.
The Perks of Puddles
"Quack!"
At the end of the day.
It's beginning to warm up, and the snow is almost gone. With the pink light on the chapel, the sun is out and spring is coming!
April (snow) showers
The morning after 8 inches of snow, the Bald Spot looks especially bald.
College St
It's like Christmas in April!
Three Geese
These geese were standing at the top of the waterfall staring at the bridge. When I approached, they turned as one before swimming away.
April Snow
Although I want some grass as much as the next Carl, there is no denying the beauty of a fresh snowfall
Pretty winter from Goodhue
The peaceful, attractive beauty of a Thursday morning after snow leaves you thankful for the Carletonian landscape.
Moon
"Look at that moon. Potato weather for sure." -Thornton Wilder
Fall and fall under the charm
In the air Fall has come, And under its charm you will fall
Psychedelic Ice
Anders uncovered a second layer of inception ice underneath the top layer of a frozen pond in the Arb.
Snowy bikes
Carleton Spring term!
The last fledglings
Ducks gather on what is left of the ice
Cannon (once again) River
No more ice!
Feathered Friend
tweet
Ice Crystals
I came home one afternoon to find my window covered with these. Winter is cold, but at least it's pretty.
Sunrise on the Hill of Three Oaks
Totally worth getting up early for.
Townhouses
Fall Prairie
Samuel A. Ward would be proud.
Come visit and enjoy a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate in the Admissions office!
Anna Chance '15
First big snow of 2012
First big snow of 2012
First big snow of 2012
images from fall at Johnson House
images from fall at Johnson House
images from fall at Johnson House
images from fall at Johnson House
Snowy Day
Mai Fete
Is it time for Mai Fete yet?
Sherbert
How to Enjoy Fall: A Visual-Tactile Lesson for the Year's Third Season at Carleton College: 1. Wait for October. 2. Walk in the Arb. 3. Look up.
Arb in white 4
Taken in lower arb.
Someone must have enjoyed lying in the snow!
One big, one small. I couldn't help smile as I walked by, imaging a kid laughing, waving arms with mom or dad...
Winter's fun
Down we slide with food trays! And the hardworking puppy is also cute!
Sky Blush
Early stages of sunset over Lyman Lake.
Summer Stillness
Summer at Carleton, as seen from the Hill of Three Oaks. If you look closely, you can see two people hanging off of the water tower, working on painting the new "C" on it's side.
My Life at Carleton
The rugby pitch
Carleton Snow Art
First snow of the year! I don't own a digital camera so I had to use my cell phone. Hope it works!
Early Yet in Spring
When it's cold outside it's hard to appreciate the beauty of the snow-covered campus. When it's warm, as it was early in this spring term (2011), the snow was a reminder of how beautiful the campus is at all times of the year.
winter by Julia
footprints
First big snow of 2012
First big snow of 2012
