Walking around Ohio University on a warm sunny day, it is not uncommon to see colorful hammocks dispersed around campus.
Hanna Mielcarek, a sophomore studying wildlife biology and conservation, originally was drawn to OU for her major’s program, but when touring the campus discovered the hammock club.
“When I toured here, they were talking all about the 500 plus organizations that we have on campus, and then they mentioned the hammock club,” Mielcarek said. “And I was so excited about that, even when I was a sophomore in high school, I was like, when I go there I’m going to join the hammock club.”
But when Mielcarek arrived on campus, she found that the hammock club had disbanded. The involvement center told Mielcarek that the club was inactive and the previous president must have graduated without passing the club along to a new president.
However, Mielcarek had her hammock and was determined to bring back the club, so in September of her freshman year, she did.
Mielcarek reached out to the Student Involvement Center and got in touch with Mak Olaker, assistant director for student engagement, who is now the club’s faculty advisor. Mielcarek, now the club president, started a Groupme and recruited her friends to meet the minimum number of members for a club. Once it was official, she made flyers and handed them out to people she would see hammocking.
Erica White, a sophomore double majoring in psychology and integrated language arts, began hammocking in high school at home where there were plenty of areas to hammock. White, being friends with Mielcarek, became more active in the group this fall, even taking on the title of secretary of the club.
“Especially as COVID was still very rampant last year, it was nice to just get out and enjoy yourself and just kind of erase the stress that is being on campus,” White said. “Because even though as much as you can enjoy being here it can be overwhelming.”
This year, Mielkarek was able to represent the club at the involvement fair and received lots of interest even when it started pouring rain. According to Bobcat Connect, there are 125 members, with more joining every day.
The current popular hammock areas come with their own challenges. Emeriti park is more hit or miss, Mielcarerk says, while the College green is spacious but has no areas to hammock. She is excited to have more space in the new hammock park being built on South Green.
Haley Allcorn, a sophomore majoring in early childhood education, was not as familiar with hammocking coming from the city of Pittsburgh.
“In high school, I was a lot more in touch being outside with sports, and stuff, and then I came here and it’s like, inside all the time, classes inside,” Allcorn said. “So it was really nice to take a break outside, meet new people and it's definitely a community that’s a lot bigger than I thought.”
She, too, was encouraged by Mielcarek to join and now is the treasurer of the club.
“It's a nice way to meet new people in a very calm environment where you’re not overstimulated with a lot of people around you,” Allcorn said. “It's very relaxing, low obligation, so it’s a great way to get started.”
For new members, the club is beginner friendly with experienced members able to share their hammocking knowledge. Mielkarek is even planning to use the budget for five new hammocks for members that don’t have their own to use.
“If you’re new to hammocking ... there are people who can show you how to set up your hammock, how to put it all back together in this tiny little pouch,” Allcorn said.
The hammock club can usually be found in Emeriti park on Sunday afternoons and evenings relaxing in their hammocks.
“I want the club to be successful and I want it to be the best thing that it can be, so I’ve been putting a lot of work into it … It’s work that I want to do,” Allcorn said.
