ENO Hammocks: The Colorful Cocoons on Campus
Genesis Gonzalez Posted On January 20, 2016
When you think of college hobbies, things like drinking, sleeping and rec sports tend to come to mind. But at UF, a colorful new hobby has taken campus by storm: ENO hammocks.
Every semester students use their hammocks to escape from the everyday hustle and bustle of rushing between classes to grab a coffee or sitting through their next draining lecture class. We’ve all rushed through Plaza of the Americas on our way to class (or on Wednesdays for the popular Krishna spaghetti) and seen these students lounging in brightly colored hammocks, but most people don’t realize that there’s a strong culture behind the hammock movement.
Using hammocks provides students like UF sophomore and Hammock Club member Kayla Bock with an escape from reality. Her favorite place to set up?
“Anywhere there are trees,” Bock said. “If I’m on campus, I’ll usually set up in the plaza, outside of the University Auditorium or by Lake Alice.”
Tangling up in ENOs has become a passion for many students and an outlet for the stresses of a busy academic calendar, busy social life and busy work life.
Via: @hammock_UF
Hammock Club President Douglas Tam is very active in the local ENO community. Tam, who has a busy schedule, makes sure to use his hammock at least once or twice a week for at least an hour each time. He finds that the hammock culture has a positive impact on how young people appreciate time spent in nature.
“I think they play a role in getting students outside to enjoy nature as a whole,” Tam said. “To get outside of buildings and away from the pressures of studies and just relax, meditate, nap or socialize.”
Tam, who has been with the ENO hammock community since 2013 and joined the club in the Fall of 2015, envisions a future in which students turn to ENO hammocks as a main stress reliever.
“At UF, I see a growing community of students all seeking some time to rest, and hammocks are a great way to rest while taking advantage of the beauty of UF’s green spaces!”
Some of the notable campus green spaces for hammock dwelling include the Plaza of the Americas, Lake Alice, the University Gardens, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium or pretty much any spot where two strong trees sit close together.
In a generation where it’s easy to bury yourself in a laptop screen for hours and forget the outside world, it seems as though the ENO hammock trend is just the kind of movement Gainesville needs.
Looking to join the UF Hammock Club? Connect with them on Facebook.
Photos courtesy of: Unsplash
