This semester, SRU students Allison Mahonski and Nolan Holtz worked to put together a new club that focuses on traveling and photography.
Lens and Latitude gives students the opportunity to have new experiences and try various new activities.
The club became official this semester, and the members have been planning events for the future.
“I really just want people to be able to go on trips; this is a suitcase school, people go home on weekends. I really want this to be a reason for people to stay on campus and get outside a little bit more,” Mahonski said.
The students will visit new places to hike and explore, and engage in other activities such as ice skating and rock climbing. They even went to the Butler Flea Market recently.
Alexandra Bagley, Lens and Latitude event planner, works to coordinate these experiences.
The club focuses on planning events that are of little cost or free to give the most individuals the ability to go. Members plan to do fundraisers to be able to travel to more destinations.
“I would say that the end goal is to get to travel across the country to different states,” Mahonski said.
Not only is the club designed for individuals to attend various activities and travel, but the organization also encourages students to try photography.
Students do not have to do photography or own a camera to participate in the club. All skills levels are welcome.
“You can rent cameras from the library for free for three days,” Mahonski said. Communications students can also check out cameras from the Digital Media Center in Eisenberg Classroom Building.
This gives students the opportunity to practice and learn photography when the club travels to a new location.
“It is whatever you want to get out of it, I want to bring people an experience that they otherwise would not have been able to have,” Mahonski said.
The next event the club will be hosting will be on April 26. The students will be heading to The Ghost Town of Yellow Dog Village. This is a free event as long as students register first.
The organization also hosts biweekly meetings in the Advanced Technology and Science Hall, room 103, on Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. Locations for the meetings may vary depending on the weather or plans the club has.
During meetings, the organization will discuss where the students want to go and what they are interested in doing.
Sometimes when the organization meets, they will have activities planned, including traveling to various locations to hike or to rock climb at the Aebersold Student Recreation Center, which they recently did.
“People kind of pick and choose what they go to, but I would like if people could come to things that they’ve never done before because then you can find a new interest,” Mahonski said.
If students are looking for updates on meeting times or interested in getting involved, they can join Lens and Latitude on CORE or follow the organization’s Instagram @lensandlatitude_sru.
