If you are interested in any of these clubs, feel free to contact them. If you want to see all that UWM has to offer, hit up this Web site: http://www.uwm.edu/UWM/Student/Org/list-classification.html.

Last week I offered you, the faithful reader, a small list of ideas to do now that spring has sprung. And knowing you, faithful reader, you already accomplished most of them. Now you are bored again, wondering what else you can do with all your free time.

Have no fear.

I have done some research for you on some clubs here on campus that may pique your interest. No, these aren’t the football or wrestling clubs. These are the more unique organizations the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has to offer.

Parkour at UWM

Contact: Grey Gerling, uwmpk@yahoo.co.uk

What it is: Parkour (pronounced par-koor) is a rather neat thing to get involved with. Gerling explained parkour to me as a discipline that teaches efficient and dynamic movements through an urban environment, or the most efficient way to get from point A to point B. To get an idea of what it is, check out some videos on YouTube. You can see people jumping multiple flights of stairs, rooftops and other objects you wouldn’t even think about vaulting over. It’s pretty unique.

Gerling started the club last year and anyone is welcome to join. With no dues, practices on campus and people just looking to have a good time, it’s a win-win situation. “The club, so far, is just a resource for people to learn safely,” he said.

Cosplay Club

Contact: Jessica Potts, jjpotts@uwm.edu

What it is: Cosplay, for those who don’t know, is wildly popular in Japan. People spend a lot of time and effort into creating costumes of their favorite anime characters and then show them off at conventions – like how we treat “Star Wars” and “Star Trek” here in the West.

Cosplay arrived at UWM as an offshoot of the Japanese Animation Association. It’s free to everybody, but you have to supply your own materials for making your costume. Some people bring things everyone can use, though, such as a sewing machine.

Throughout the semester and year, the Cosplay Club works on their costumes. “Everyone brings in ideas and we help people reach their cosplay goals,” Potts said.

From there they head to the annual event, the “Anime Central” in Illinois, where 12,000 people go to have a blasty-blast talking about their favorite shows and comparing costumes. Check out their club on Facebook, too.

Milwaukee Equestrian Club

Contact: Megan Salazar, milwaukee_equestrian@yahoo.com

What it is: Salazar started the Equestrian Club (the fancy word for horses, for the uninitiated) after she transferred here from Miami. It’s only $20 to join, but some other costs apply after that. For example, to go on a trail ride it costs $15-$20 dollars, and riding lessons will set you back $30 per hour. The main stable is located in Mukwonago, but the club doesn’t actually own any horses.

The organization is split into two sections. The first section competes and travels once a month in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. Riders compete in a variety of events, but Megan says they primarily do the “Hundred Jumpers.” If you are looking to just ride for fun, however, the second section may be better suited for you. “Some people go once a month, others go once or twice a week,” Salazar said.

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