Trail Tales: Discovering UTM’s Best-Kept Secrets!
Hey UTM! My name is Tanveer, and I’m the UTM Walks Lead at the Department of Recreation, Athletics & Wellness. I’m thrilled to be writing for the UTM Moves blog as a guest—let’s dive into what’s been happening on my end!
I’ve just wrapped up a round of midterms, and it feels like a weight’s been lifted off my shoulders (though I’m bracing myself for another round in November!). Between studying, I’ve been making time to attend some group fitness classes with friends from the UTM Moves team—yes, we don’t just hang out for work! We lunch together, hit up fitness classes, and some of us even commute together. Most importantly, we bring smiles to each other’s faces whenever we meet around campus. I feel lucky to have crossed paths with such wonderful people on the UTM Moves team and throughout my journey. We’ve been connecting, collaborating, creating, exploring, laughing, learning, sharing, smiling—oh, and of course, walking! ;)
Oh wait, did I mention what year I’m in?
I’m currently in my fourth year at UTM, but it was only recently that I discovered some of the campus’s best-kept secrets: our nature trails. Last week, I attended the Fall Colours and Salmon Migration Walk and co-presented with Riverwood Conservancy and Hart House. It took us along one of the most stunning riverside trails I’ve ever seen—the Culham Trail. Walking along the Credit River with sunlight peeking through the trees, feeling the cool breeze—it was exactly what I needed to take a break from midterms and clear my mind.
If you love nature as much as I do, you must check out UTM’s hidden trails. There’s the UTM Nature Trail near Principal’s Road, the Culham Trail beside Erindale Park, and the Sawmill Valley Trail across Mississauga Road. And if you don’t know where to start or feel like you easily get lost (been there), don’t worry! Every Monday and Wednesday from 12-1 PM, the UTM Walks Team and I host guided walks through these trails. We have some exciting themed walks and collaborations lined up to make your UTM experience even more memorable. Did you catch our walk with Campus Safety this week? We shared some valuable tips on staying safe around campus!
So, what’s next? I don’t want to give everything away just yet, but here’s a little teaser: mark your calendars for October 21st. We’re hosting a Guided Fall Photography Walk from 12 to 1 p.m. Trust me, you would not want to miss the chance to capture UTM’s gorgeous fall colours before winter sneaks in!
And hold on—I’m not done yet! There’s an awesome lineup of wellness activities coming your way this semester. From Trick-or-Trek to Bhangra for Wellness, there’s something for everyone. I’ll definitely be there, so if you see me, don’t forget to say hi!
On that note, it’s time for me to say bye for now. Let’s catch up again soon, UTM!
