Leaves at 9:30am

11 spots

Join us for Oscar the Bird King designed to nourish your roots, creativity, and wonder.

We’ll start our day by traveling to Vashon Island via a van and ferry to Point Robinson Lighthouse, where Oscar the Bird King lives. We’ll spend time exploring the artwork by Thomas Dambo – a house-sized troll constructed from reused materials. In this beautiful natural setting, students will also be able to explore the waterfront and lighthouse before coming back together as a group to reflect on the day and further connect with each other.

Upon arriving at the park, we will provide a picnic lunch, build connections and engage in thoughtful conversations together about new beginnings and what lies ahead this academic year.

Accessibility: We will be traveling by vans on the ferry to Vashon Island.  Once we arrive at our destination, we will be walking on flat ground for up to 0.5 miles to get to the troll.

Hosted by: Alexis Austin, Director for Campus Life Engagement, Karmen Taylor-Brown, Assistant Director for Center for DJS

Join us for a day of adventure, reflection, and nourishment in the shadow of the Bird King. 

Leave at 10:00am

8 Spots

Have you ever been curious about the pottery wheel? Here’s your chance to take it for a spin! For this DJS On the Road experience, we will visit Spun Clay Arts Studio in downtown Tacoma for a guided session on the wheels, have lunch together, and then explore downtown before taking the bus back to PLU. One way to nourish your roots is to connect with nature – join us as we do this literally by getting our hands dirty with clay!

All levels of clay experience welcome, beginners encouraged! Clay is washable but messy – wear something you don’t mind getting dirty (aprons will also be available to lessen the mess). Close-toed shoes, a hair tie for long hair, and trimmed fingernails are recommended. If you have never worked with clay before and you’re nervous about how to prepare or what to expect, that’s totally normal!

Accessibility: We will be walking on flat ground for periods of up to 10 minutes and taking the public bus to downtown Tacoma and back (bus tickets provided). Check out our approximate route here. We will be eating lunch at Happy Teriyaki #4

Staff Host: Magdalena Stickel, Assistant Director of the Center for DJS

Leaves at 10:15am

10 spots

Experience the ideal September weather in Washington and move your body on this iconic hike! Live on the Ledge will take us to North Bend to hike Rattlesnake Ledge to feel the electric energy of the North Cascade Mountains. 

We’ll leave campus and drive about an hour inland from the Puget Sound to the trailhead. The hike is 5.3 miles long and features breathtaking views of Mt. Si and Mt. Washington. It’s a hike that may challenge you if you are less experienced, but remains manageable and well-worth the trip for beginners and avid hikers alike! 

The trail will offer time to consider (aloud or silently) how we can nourish our roots in the way that this natural environment continues to sustain all of the life that it fosters. The hike also provides a fun way to root yourself in the PLU community and meet new people from across campus!

This is a partnership with Outdoor Recreation

Student Hosts: Annika Stiles,

Staff Host: Kalina Cordero, CSF College Success Coach

Accessibility: We will be taking vans to our trailhead.  The hike is 5.3 miles with 1,160 feet elevation gain.  We’ll provide a picnic lunch on the trail, but please bring your own water bottle, extra layer and day-pack.

Leaves at 10:30am

10 spots

Kick off the academic year with a day that blends reflection and adventure! Join us for Pondering & Plunging designed to nourish, inspire and invigorate.

We’ll start our day by soaking in the views of Commencement Bay and exploring some of the history of Tacoma through a thoughtful stroll around Chinese Reconciliation Park. In this beautiful natural setting, enjoy meditative walking and reflective journaling as you engage in “an opportunity to reflect upon the past, ponder the present, dream of the future, and celebrate our cultural diversity and common humanity.” (from park website)  

Over a delicious picnic lunch, build connections and engage in thoughtful conversations together about new beginnings and what lies ahead this academic year.

Then, gather your courage for a meditative and exhilarating plunge into the (cold!) waters of the Puget Sound. This refreshing dip promises to invigorate both body and spirit.

Join us for a day of nourishment, connection, and a splash of adventure!

Lunch and journals provided.  Wear a swimsuit or water clothes under your clothes (no changing area).  Bring water shoes if you have them, a towel, and some warm clothes to put on after plunging.  

Accessibility: We will be taking vans to our destination and walking for up to 10 min at a time.  Those who wish to plunge will experience the cold water of the Puget Sound and be wading in on uneven rocks.

Hosted by: Jen Rude, Campus Paster & Jen Smith, Dean of Inclusive Excellence

Leaves at 10:45am

15 spots

Join us for a vibrant and empowering Sip and Paint event that centers Womxn of Color and their creativity. This special gathering is all about celebrating and nourishing relationships while expressing your artistic side.

First, we will take the bus to Sip some Boba at Bambu Boba on South 38th.

After returning to campus, we will Paint with a local artist who will guide us through the process, offering tips and encouragement as we create our masterpieces.   The theme of our paint will focus on the beauty of connection and the strength found in supportive communities. No prior painting experience is needed—just bring your enthusiasm and a desire to connect! 

Accessibility: We will be walking on flat ground for periods of up to 10 minutes and taking the public bus to downtown Tacoma and back (bus tickets provided). Check out our approximate route here.

Hosted by: Angie Hambrick, AVP of DJS

Leaves at 11am

5 spots

Have you heard of ZINES? Zines, or self-published book(let)s, are a radical art form used by artists, community organizers, and activists, with roots dating back to the Dada art movement and Harlem Renaissance, Riot Grrrls feminist, and queer cultural movements. Join us for a trip to our local Sumner Pierce County Library branch, which is home to one of the largest regional Zine collections. We’ll grab a snack, dive into a brief history of this amaZINE art form, and try on making our own zines! Nurture your creative and social (justice) roots, by connecting with others – both fellow Lutes on this trip as well as local artists and activists through the medium of their zines included in this collection! Explore how YOU will engage this fun and powerful art form to make change in your intersecting communities!

Accessibility: We will be taking vans to our destination and sitting while we learn and create zines.

Hosted by: Jes Takla, AVP for Student Life Strategic Initiatives and Assessment

Leaves at: 12:30pm

10 spots

Spend an afternoon at the Tacoma Art Museum exploring perspectives of the American West that expand beyond the dominant settler colonial narratives. The TAM has four exhibitions to choose from that [re]Frame our understanding of Blackness, our connections to land and landscape, and how we can find a sense of home and hope when we’re separated from the people and places we love. Before returning to PLU, we’ll stop at a bubble tea shop for refreshments and spend time in small groups sharing our reactions to the art exhibitions and reflecting on how we can reframe, and hopefully nourish, our connections to each other and our environments.

Accessibility: We will be walking on flat ground for periods of up to 10 minutes and taking the public bus to downtown Tacoma and back (bus tickets provided). Check out our approximate route here.

Hosted by: Heather Jacobson, Assistant Director, International Student Services