I'm a big nature buff, and I want my college experience to include as much outdoor exploration as possible. Ideally, I'd love for my campus to have a lot of green spaces, particularly forests where I could hike or just chill with a good book. Any recommendations?
Colleges can vary greatly with respect to the amount of green space or wooded areas that they possess. Generally, larger campuses or campuses in rural areas tend to have more green space and forested areas. Middlebury College in Vermont, for example, is renowned for its rural setting and access to nature. The College actually owns a 2,100-acre Bread Loaf Mountain Campus, which is predominantly forested land.
Similarly, the University of California, Santa Cruz, has a campus that spans over 2,000 acres, much of which is a redwood forest. Another great example would be Duke University in North Carolina. The campus is home to the Duke Forest, an extensive tract of land dedicated for research, teaching, and recreation.
Lastly, Evergreen State College in Washington is known for its forested campus. Located on the Evergreen Peninsula, the campus consists of 1,000 acres of forested land and includes nature trails and a beach.
While these are just a few examples, there are countless other schools with beautiful, green campuses. It's recommended you take virtual tours, visit the campus, or speak with current students about what the outdoor space is really like.
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