Along with the arrival of spring and warm weather comes the inevitable attraction of Dartmouth's beckoning outdoor spaces. Whether you choose to play a casual game of ultimate Frisbee on the Green, toss around a baseball in front of your dorm or simply relax with a book on the Bema, you are unlikely to make it through spring term without using at least one outdoor toy to help pass the time.
In case you came back to campus this term thinking the snow would persist through June, and failed to bring along any spring toys, all is not lost. Though Hanover offers only a limited range of stores, much of what you need to keep yourself entertained on the Green can be found in less than a five-minute walk from campus.
Perhaps the most ubiquitous item seen around the open spaces on campus is the Frisbee, a good all-around toy that provides amusement for enthusiasts of all abilities --from the cannon-armed ultimate players to the beginners whose errant throws menace unsuspecting passersby.
College Supplies, on Main Street, stocks several types of Frisbees, from large $10 models to Aerobies, as well as a couple other types. Omer and Bob's Sport Shop also sells a few Frisbees, among them ultimate types and boomerang Aerobies.
If $10 is too pricey for your budget, P & C Foods also offers Frisbees at $3.99 apiece, though they feel as though they're made of plastic recycled from tubs of laundry detergent. No guarantee of their durability is offered.
If Frisbee is not your game, and you'd rather practice flailing at a Wiffleball, College Supplies has a limited supply of standard bats and balls going for $2.99. Make sure, however, if you're in the market for wiffleball equipment, that you don't mistakenly buy the brand sold over at P & C Foods, which is known to have fallen apart catastrophically after minutes of use.
College Supplies also offers a range of other good outdoor items. For windier days, they stock a variety of kites, from simple $3 models to elegant $18 styles. Juggling balls, Nerf footballs and a number of other portable pastimes are also present.
If your idea of spring fun involves drenching your friends or roommates with ice-cold water, College Supplies also offers hand held Super Soakers, though you may find $39.99 a bit much to pay for the privilege of assaulting unsuspecting passersby.
The only category in which the town is sorely lacking is that of baseball equipment. Despite the onset of the baseball season, Omer and Bob's stocks neither balls nor gloves. Unless you can snatch a foul ball from a game, your best bet is Stateline Sports in West Lebanon, which carries bats, balls and gloves, in addition to other equipment.
In the event that vigorous physical activity is not for you, Hanover offers plenty of ways to comfortably enjoy the outdoors. The Co-Op offers a bewildering array of fold-up seats and chairs, from small yet expensive Crazy Creek seats to much larger Armadillo Chairs, which feature beverage holders and are priced from $52 to $89.
P & C Foods stocks some sturdy chairs of its own, at prices much less than those of the Co-Op. Full-sized lawn chairs go for $14.99, while an armless version is priced at only $9.99.
This article can only do so much to guide you on the path to wholesome outdoor activities, however. Abundant free time, week after week of perfect weather, and the nagging of friends should be enough to convince you to replace that Frisbee you lost fall term and take to the Green.
