Category: Fun & Resources

Learn about fun and/or interesting things to do around MSU or interesting bits of MSU trivia.

Activities for Kids in April and Beyond

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This is a guest post written by Lydia Weiss from the MSU WorkLife Office.

If you have kids in your life, one thing you are probably keenly aware of is that they keep you busy. It’s also sometimes difficult to find activities that they enjoy, especially activities and opportunities that keep their brains, creativity, and learning engaged. It can become even more complicated if you have several kids in your life and they all have different interests. Well, here’s the good news – there are tons of options available in the Greater Lansing area for youth, some of which are available right here at Michigan State.

First up is Girls Get Going on April 14, 2018. This is a half day free sports clinic for 3rd – 8th grade girls to try new sports in a safe and supportive environment. This is the 15th year that Girls Get Going has been hosted at MSU. The event is sponsored by Recreational Sports and Fitness Services, Intercollegiate Athletics, WorkLife Office and Daring Ideas Consulting, LLC.

Also happening in April is Take Your Child to Work Day on Thursday, April 26, 2018. This is a nationally recognized event that is celebrated at MSU in a very unique way. Participants have the opportunity to tour various departments and/or career exploration activities throughout the day on campus. Some of the tours this year include bowling at the Union Building, visiting the horse farm, going behind the scenes at the Wharton Center, and much more! If you’d like to participate, please note the activities are intended for kids ages 8-14, with a supervising adult. The full list of tours will be published by April 20 on the WorkLife Office website.

Summer can also present unique challenges for caring for kids and finding activities to keep them entertained and continuing to learn. Luckily, there are dozens of summer camps for youth of all ages! Check out this extensive list of programs available in the local area here. You can also use the searchable Spartan Youth Programs web page to discover different opportunities to keep your kids engaged and learning over the summer.

And of course, if you need in-home dependent care, you have free access to Care.com as an MSU faculty/staff member. Just sign-up with your MSU Net-ID and you can browse hundreds of local care providers to find the one that is right for you and your family.

Kick off this winter with MSU Moves Couch-to-5K Program!

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The holidays are a season of friends, family and food, followed by New Year’s resolutions, often centered around health and fitness. MSU wants to see you succeed in every aspect of your life, and Health4U is here to help make that happen.

WWU-2017 Logo

MSU Moves is a facet of the Health4U program that promotes healthy movement throughout campus whether it is walking, running, swimming, dancing, twirling, wheeling, skating or cycling – they want to help you move. This winter, MSU Moves is introducing a new program with Playmakers called Couch-to-5K on campus!

This program promotes having fun getting fit with the Blue Cross® Winter Warm Up. Participants will meet up with friends and family and join in on this great way to meet their 2018 health goals! The 5K training program is free and open to all ages and abilities (a parent or their designee must accompany children).

This eight-week training program involves attending two weekly one-hour sessions with certified Good Form Running and Walking coaches from the Playmakers Fitness Foundation. In addition, participants will receive weekly communications with training and nutrition tips and information.

Training sites include Charlotte, Delhi Twp/Holt, Delta Twp/Lansing Mall, Dewitt, Lansing, East Lansing, Michigan State University (on campus) and St. Johns. Most sessions will be outdoors, so remember to dress in layers! The 15 instructional sessions will culminate with the free Blue Cross Winter Warm Up 5K walk/run and celebration at Hawk Island in Lansing on Sunday, March 25, 2018.

For more information and to join the program, visit: https://runsignup.com/Race/Events/MI/GreaterLansing/2016WinterWarmUp#event-205584

Registration opens December 25, 2017.

Start a new Christmas Tradition

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Playmakers wants you to kick off the holiday by staying active and healthy. The Playmakers 5th Annual Holiday Classic 5k Fun Run/Walk will be held Christmas Eve morning Sunday, December 24 at Jenison Field House.

A portion of all race entries will be divided between two local charities, the Greater Lansing Food Bank and the Playmakers Fitness Foundation. Registration is $30 until December 20; registration after December 20 will be $35. This year, family and friends pricing is being offered; save $5 per person when registering four or more 5k participants at the same time.

All participants will receive a custom pair of New Balance socks and a finisher Holiday . Sponsors of this event include Whole Foods, Starbucks, Keen, New Balance, Eagle Eye and Playmakers.

To learn more and to register for the event visit https://runsignup.com/holidayclassic if you have any questions about the race please contact the race director at andy@playmakers.com

Support Students, shop at the Student Marketplace!

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This holiday season, give back to the MSU student community by purchasing your gifts from the Student Marketplace! The MSU Entrepreneurship and Innovation Student Marketplace  was developed to showcase businesses run by MSU students who are beginning their journeys as young entrepreneurs. The idea behind the Marketplace was to create an online space where products made by students can be featured, with new products being added all the time!

The mission within Undergraduate Entrepreneurship is to create an integrative culture of entrepreneurial thinking and pursuits that are university-wide and student-centered. This mission engages a broad spectrum of faculty and staff.

Each student run business is promoted and showcased through the Student Marketplace section of the Entrepreneurship website. Currently, there are seven student run businesses available on the site. Each business operates out of its own independent website, and transactions are done directly with the business.

Student Marketplace 2017
Student Marketplace Web Page, 3/7 Student run businesses available

The Marketplace is available for any student to feature their items regardless if they are undergraduate or graduate level, and the Marketplace is open to all students, regardless of major, to list their products. If a student is interested, they can submit a business to the Marketplace here.

See what else student entrepreneurs are up to by checking out their Twitter, Instagram and blog. This is fantastic way to invest in Spartans and live out the #SpartansWill Brand while shopping for that special someone in your life this holiday season!

Plan Your Trip with CATA!

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CATA has paired with Transit, an international mobile app, to bring trip planning and bus tracking technology to the Lansing area.

This free app will allow MSU faculty, staff and students to access CATA’s bus routes, ride-sharing options, walking directions, bike path options and Uber all at their fingertips. The app is available for download on iOS and Android.

Basketball season is already here, and soon so will be the snow! Avoid walking to the Breslin in a storm by finding available Ubers or bus routes from where you park. Are you a faculty member with a class in one building and your office in another? Plan how to get from Brody to Natural Sciences by mapping bus routes and walking paths before you leave!

CATATransitApp

Benefits Include Discounts!

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Did you know that as an MSU employee part of your benefits includes discounts at local businesses on and off campus? You can save anywhere from 5-20% on products and services you purchase regularly in the area.

To see a full list of all the discounts MSU employees are eligible for, visit the MSU HR website. Discounts range from arts and entertainment to food to legal services and pet supplies. In addition to this list, there are also specific discounts available such as:

    • Parkwood YMCA (East Lansing) 332-8657
    • Oak Park YMCA (South Lansing) 827-9700
    • Downtown YMCA Wellness Center (Downtown Lansing) 484-4000
    • Dewitt YMCA 668-9622
    • Westside YMCA (West Lansing) 316-9622
  • MSU also offers MSU Specific Discounts ranging from MSU Bakers to specific colleges, the Dairy Store and more!

Along with these discounts, MSU benefits-eligible faculty and staff have the opportunity to enroll in several voluntary employee-paid benefits programs, including an employee discounts program. Learn more about these programs on the MSU HR website.

2nd Annual Healthy Homecoming Walk

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Spartans Will…win- this year’s Homecoming game against the Indiana Hoosiers and the 2nd Annual Healthy Homecoming Walk against Penn State! The walk is being held on Friday, October 20 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

In order to win, Spartans need to out-walk the Lions in laps around Dem Hall Field (~1/4 mile). This event is free and open to MSU faculty, staff, students and alumni. There will also be a raffle with no participation necessary, just fill out a slip at the Dem Hall Field tent. There is a limit of one entry per person; names will be drawn throughout the event.

The MSU Eat@State Food Truck will also be available to purchase lunch from starting at 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. This event is proudly presented by Exercise is Medicine On Campus. For more information on their work, check them out on Twitter (@MSU_EIMOC) and Facebook.

Playmakers Good Form Walking Coaches will be on-site to help walkers of all ages and abilities move forward more efficiently and healthier too! There will be group sessions led by coaches at noon and 1 p.m. The Playmakers Event Truck will also be on site from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m..

Come out and support your team on and off the field this weekend!

hc walk.jpg

Distinguished Staff Awards are back!

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Remarkable, dedicated and hardworking are just some of the words used to describe the 2017 Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award Recipients. The Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award is presented annually to six university support staff members. They are hand selected by the Distinguished Staff Awards Selection Committee based on nominations received.

The award is named in honor of Jack Breslin, who served Michigan State University as a student leader, honored athlete, top administrator and steadfast advocate. His strong and innovative leadership played a pivotal role in MSU’s growth and development as the nation’s premier land grant institution.

To see who was awarded last year, and what their colleagues had to say about them. Check out the video series. Staff Award Call for Nominations

Nominations are now open for 2018! The nomination form and accompanying materials are due October 25, 2017. Please contact MSU Human Resources with any questions at 517-353-4434.

The WorkLife Office is Here to Help!

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This is a guest post written by the WorkLife Office. Visit their website for more information.

Do you ever feel like all of your work and life duties are conspiring to make it seem like you have no time management skills whatsoever? We’ve felt that way before too. Don’t let the start of a new academic year wear you out. The WorkLife Office is here to help.

As we embark on a new semester, we recognize that there have been many changes across campus and that the work world seems like it is often in flux. The theme of this year’s WorkLife Office research and programming will be “The Changing World of Work,” in order to honor those feelings of change and uncertainty.

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Photo courtesy of Communications and Brand Strategy.

Demands of work, technological advances, transitions in the workplace, and even trends in retirement are changing, but the WorkLife Office is dedicated to bringing you the most up-to-date information and resources to navigate these shifts. Join us at our annual conference on Wednesday, October 11, 2017, titled (no surprise) “The Changing World of Work” and featuring Ellen Galinsky – one of the founders of the work-life field – to learn skills and tactics for increasing productivity in new work worlds.

The WorkLife Office has several other events and programs planned – check the website for all upcoming events.

Be encouraged knowing that during those times of feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. That’s part of the reason the WorkLife Office exists – to help create a work environment where all staff and faculty are respected and supported toward well-being in your work and personal lives. Also, when life’s little responsibilities feel particularly daunting, new research has shown that paying someone else to do those chores can create increased happiness. That’s just another reason to sign up for your free access to Care.com with your MSU NetID.

Never hesitate to contact the WorkLife Office at 517-353-1635 or worklife@msu.edu.

Five Best Campus Locations for a Summer Picnic

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In a state like Michigan, it’s important to enjoy the beautiful summer weather while it’s here because it has been known to change drastically from one day to the next. Picnics give you the opportunity to combine two of the best things: sunshine and food.

MSU’s campus is very large, so you know there are some excellent picnic spots just waiting to be found. We’ve collected five of the best picnic locations for you so that you can lay in the grass, eat great food and spend some time outdoors.

  1. Adams Field: If you want a traditional picnic experience, Adams Field is the place to go. There are plenty of trees for shade, and you can lay out on the grass and admire the architecture of the West Circle dorms.Adams_Field_small
  2. Old Horticulture Garden: Located behind the Student Services Building and next to Benefactors Plaza, the Old Horticulture Garden has always been a favorite of students looking for a quiet place to study outdoors. The ambient noise from the fountain, beautiful flowers and benches make this an excellent location for a summer picnic.Old_Horticulture_Garden_small
  3. Beal Botanical Garden: This garden gives you the best of both worlds. There is plenty of space to lay out on the grass, but if that isn’t your thing, there are also benches placed throughout the garden where you can sit to enjoy your meal. When you are done with your picnic, you can stop into the MSU library which is located right next to the Botanical Gardens.Beal-Gardens-Wheelbarrow_small
  4. Next to the River: We couldn’t pick just one spot next to the river because there are just so many good ones. Take a stroll down the river trail and stop whenever you get hungry! Wherever you end up, it’ll be a great place for a picnic.Red_Cedar_Tents_Sunset_small
  5. Horticulture Gardens: The Horticulture Gardens are another great spot on campus to picnic because you have the opportunity to learn about plants while enjoying the fresh air! After your picnic, you can stroll through the many gardens to look at the displays and get ideas for your own outdoor space.childrens_4H_small