Pond Fires Bring the Campus Together

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One of the most iconic places on all of UMass Amherst’s campus would have to be the Campus Pond, a beautiful pond in the dead center of campus. In the warm weather, students can see fountains of water jet up at the center of the pond and walk by wildlife such as ducks and Canadian geese. Students can even take a bridge across the pond to traverse campus more quickly. But some nights, the Campus Pond is more than just a pretty sight to walk by — it is a beautiful destination to hang out and make new friends.

On select weekends every semester, the university sets up fire pits and Adirondack chairs all along both shores of the Campus Pond for students to use. This includes a lit wood fire, complimentary skewers, marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers so students can assemble perfect s’mores. All of this comes with a simple free reservation that can be found on university-affiliated websites and apps like Campus Pulse. Or, for select hours, one can simply walk up and sit down.

This relatively recent tradition originated during the university’s first semester back to in-person teaching following the COVID-19 pandemic. The fires were a way for students to interact with each other while being outdoors and keeping their distance.

Once a reservation has been made, groups can enjoy their fire, s’mores, and most importantly, each other’s company for an entire evening from 4-9 p.m. Pond Fires are also a staple of UMass Family Weekend, so students may relax with parents in one of the prettiest locations on campus and share stories of their time at UMass. Pond Fires can also be an opportunity to meet new friends with simple acts of kindness such as sharing a s’more with a stranger.