How do SU students access fall activities?

With the changing weather and falling leaves in Syracuse come trips to pumpkin patches, apple orchards and corn mazes across Central New York. But for some Syracuse University students, those activities are out of reach. 

The main setbacks to participating in fun fall activities around campus, according to nearly 150 students surveyed by Orange Pulse, are the lack of transportation and high cost.

Nearly 90% of respondents said they would spend $50 or less on a fall activity. Twenty-nine percent would spend less than $20, and 60% would spend $20 to $50. With activities like apple picking and visiting pumpkin patches becoming more popular each year, so does the cost to do those activities.

Economics senior Sonali Suri said she is surprised that so many students are willing to pay up to $50. 

“As a college student, shelling out $50 is a lot,” Suri said. “Even though it could be a really cool activity, and even doing [activities] through the school, some people would assume that it would be cheaper.” 

Entry to the Apple Grove Adventure Park at Beak & Skiff Apple Farms costs $20 per person on weekends, and entry to Tim’s Pumpkin Patch is $9 per person. Those prices do not include apples, concessions, Uber rides to and from the sites or merchandise.

For many students, clubs and organizations are among the few ways to take part. Forty-one students said transportation keeps them from participating. Junior Jessica Hooton said her professional fraternity helped cover the cost of her trip to Beak & Skiff.

“I’m fortunate enough to be going with Zeta Phi Eta, the professional fraternity, so they kind of help fund that. And the last time I went was [also] with a club, so that’s what I’ve been doing,” Hooton said. “For me, it was more so transportation, like getting places, and I think that’s just because I’m an underclassman that I don’t have as many transportation opportunities.”

Only 32.2% of respondents have their own car. Another 50.3% walk, take public transportation, or use ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft. With many popular spots more than 15 miles from campus, access is limited for students without a car. Students said getting to these activities, especially those not organized by SU, is unrealistic.

The map shows the most popular spots respondents plan to visit this fall. Many are more than 30 minutes from campus, but only 22.4% of students said they would travel 30 minutes to an hour to reach them.

Hooton suggested visiting smaller pumpkin patches and businesses that offer similar activities. There are around 15 small pumpkin patches in the Syracuse area that charge no entry fee. 

“I feel like if I’m driving more than 45 minutes, it’s got to be something really unique that is only at that place,” she said. “Whether it’s Tim’s or it’s Beak and Skiff, but while you’re driving, I feel like you pass so many other smaller apple orchards [and] pumpkin patches … I think they just go kind of unnoticed.

“That probably could absolutely be a lot cheaper and a lot more accessible for students if they knew about them.”

Lack of free time was the most common obstacle, cited by 65% of respondents, as midterms and assignments pile up as autumn gets into full swing.

Magazine, news and digital journalism graduate student Miracle Gross said her class schedule keeps her from learning about and joining fall activities.

“Our class times are insane. So they’re either smack dab in the middle of the day, or they’re really late. Like even trying to plan regular activities with friends can be a little hard,” Gross said. “I’m not really aware of fall activities going on right now. They’re either gonna be late in the day or in the evening, [during] class time, and on the weekend when we’re doing actual homework.”

Many SU students still enjoy fall festivities in Central New York, but they must balance college life with the cost. Students said club-organized trips and smaller attractions offer more options, but limited free time and transportation remain barriers.