One-by-one, show the photos to the crowd on a projector screen and ask students to try to identify the person pictured. Include fun activities like games, haunted houses, dancing, photo booth, trick-or-treating on campus and of course a costume contest! 15. Race each other in Mario Party or Mario Kart! One of the neatest ways to get to know your surroundings is by learning about the flora native to the area. A picnic is always a great way to spend a day, and its perfect for students who love to eat outside. Let students get creative! It's free to sign up and bid on jobs. Virtual Open Mic Night. Theres nothing like spending a night under the stars. Live Animal Cams. You could either have a theme or let students come up with their own ideas. Schools without an ample A/V supply can host mini-tournaments in each dorm and ask students to bring their own monitors and game systems. Alternatively, host an open mic night and encourage students to try out their best routines. Laughter is a great stress reliever, so comedys an ever-popular event choice for students loaded down with exams, jobs, and extracurricular activities. Have some fun with class topics. Catwalk For A Cause. A docent or other expert could lead these for a more educational experience. There are plenty of organizations that would love to have your help. Run online contests with enticing prices and take advantage of social media engagement one of the primary communication methods for modern students. Partner with the agriculture and food science departments to teach students about the work that goes into growing their food, environmental factors to consider, and the importance of farming in our society. This great bonding activity can be even more fun by ending the hike with a bonfire and smores. Science fairs are a throwback to elementary school. Theatre productions are always a lot of fun, and students will love the chance to see one on campus. Whats the longest-running show in Broadway history? Its time to shift your perspective. You could either provide the supplies or have students bring their own. College campuses are made for events like this! Be sure to have a variety of games for students to choose from. It often includes a competition. Hire a photographer and let students get professional headshots taken for free. You could either partner with a local meditation organization or have your own class. Millennials love expressing their values online, but 80% of them feel itsessential for people to come together in person to promote positive change. For example, a film festival might encompass several different movie theaters or screening rooms. But who could possibly have a problem with baby photos? Three Glendale Community College (GCC) students won a total of $5,000 in prize money at the GCC Innovation Challenge, held on February 16th in the GCC Student Union. Give teams 24 or 48 hours to complete a movie based on a theme or genre. Facilitate a net positive for both campuses and surrounding communities by fostering an online environment where like-minded students can plan fundraisers, soup kitchen outings, and more. Pet therapy is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety. Take 30 minutes each week to review the previous week and plan the week to come. Provide potential attendees with a biography of the speaker, their accomplishments, and the unique perspective they bring to the table. This will help current students earn some extra income, and they will be able to share personal anecdotes about the area in addition to credible tips from the eyes of a student. When events wrap, follow up with students. June 23, 2023. If youre looking for a unique event idea, goat yoga is definitely it. Rock climbing is a great way to get active and have some fun. This will make students eager to buy tickets. Eventbrite Boost makes it easy to reach new people, engage your fans and followers, and grow your attendance directly from your Eventbrite account. 1. Provide a 24-48 hour time limit for those students to write, direct, edit, and produce a short film. and the Pixies) got its name for a reason. Consult with your director of facilities office about . This event suits urban campuses, where many museums and galleries might dot the landscape. Ask participants to bring their own drums hand drums such as bongos or even handmade and recycled drums or see if your schools music department has some spares. Alternatively, impress the history department with out-of-fashion historical games like three-card brag or organize a round of the classic French brelan with your schools French department. Encourage students to shop their peers closets and for a good cause! From RA-sponsored freshmen meet-and-greets to events organized by student groups, here are twelve versatile on-campus event ideas that college kids will love: First-year orientation week is one of the most exciting and nerve-wrecking parts of the college experience. Pajama parties are always a lot of fun, and theyre the perfect way to spend a night in. Host a trivia night Trivia nights are always popular and they are a great way to get students engaged. Photo booths are always a lot of fun, and theyre perfect for students who love to take pictures. You can also be more specific with the pairings, like pairing first-gen college students with older first-gen students who understand their experience. She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons. Encourage college students to give back to their local community with virtual volunteering clubs. Host a homecoming dance and game to celebrate your school spirit. Let student musicians show off their best guitar licks and drum solos in an auditorium, amphitheater classroom, or outdoor space where guests can sit and watch. Laser tag is always a blast, and students will love the chance to compete against each other. to promote positive change. Chinese New Year typically culminates in a lantern festival, with candles and lanterns lighting up homes and gardens or in this case, campus spaces. Trivia nights a classic test of useless (and sometimes useful!) Theyve been celebrated in agricultural regions for perhaps thousands of years. The first group to complete the list wins. Doing something beneficial to society can make you feel inspired and energized. Host a contest Whether it's a dance contest, a singing or karaoke contest, a stand-up comedy showcase, or battle of the bands, the possibilities for contests are countless. HostTED Talksregularly on campus and encourageaudience engagement at events. While college audiences can be eager to attend educational and cultural events, they sometimes want to get their minds off education. Light up your campus for the holidays with a festive tree lighting ceremony. This makes them an ideal choice for hosting various events, especially outdoor ones that can accommodate kiosks, booths, and large gatherings. Create imaginary monsters and adventurers, or pit Greek heroes like Perseus and Odysseus against creatures like Cyclops or Medusa. It's free to sign up and bid on jobs. Spartan races are famous for their obstacles combining mud crawling, wall climbing, rope swinging, spear throwing, and more. The past few years have seen the passing of some of popular musics most beloved idols. We all know college students may not have the kitchen or the time for such culinary achievements. An obstacle course is always a lot of fun, and its perfect for students who love to challenge themselves. This will be a treat for movie lovers. Organize a behind-the-scenes tour of a popular organization such as an amusement park, casino, or winery. These can even be held as virtual events if needed, and what better way to attract speakers across the globe?! And at some universities, students can obtain degrees entirely through an online course load. Invite professors from diverse departments, like Biology, Religion, and Womens Studies, to speak about sexuality through different academic lenses. STEP TWO: Adhere to a Budget. The house always wins, after all. Invite popular indie rock bands and hip-hop artists, and coordinate with the university art department about showcasing student works. Certain student organizations such as the newspaper or student council may enjoy collaborating to host the event. You could either have them as a standalone event or add it to another event. Whether connecting people face-to-face or virtually, hosting poetry readings, mariachi lessons, or concerts, youve got a lot on your plate. Consider running a voter registration drive in your local area. Get your own design on the t-shirts, or get a designer on board. Netflix Party. Tip:With this many devices in one room, it may be advisable to ensure that the computers are equipped with virus protection and that every outlet has surge protectors! Scavenger hunts are always a lot of fun, and theyre perfect for a day or night out. A food truck rally is always a lot of fun, and its perfect for students who love to eat. There are so many different ways to engage students through local scavenger hunts. Social events that do not have to do with the organization's core mission and enable people to get to mingle. Sports are always a popular activity among college students. A wargaming contest will likely resonate with the history majors in your midst; you might recreate battles from the Civil War, World War I, or World War II. Coordinate with the Red Cross, a local hospital, or your university hospital to provide the necessary phlebotomists and equipment. Many theater companies are now incorporating virtual performances into their regular programming. Come up with a list of themes and some basic ground rules on length and subject matter. Harness students enthusiasm to benefit a good cause. Host a fundraiser with a casino theme including card games, roulette wheels, and slot machines but make sure to comply with local gambling regulations. Check out these 100 college event ideas that are perfect for any campus! Before you dive into 16 fundraising ideas, we thought it would be handy for you to know the six steps you and your fundraising team need to accomplish before selecting your fundraising niche. Promote events on social media. Host an industry networking event thats an open invitation to anyone who works or wants to work in a particular industry. Games designed for indoor events are the perfect solution. The following college events ideas can draw big crowds by offering something fun, giving yourself something by which to identify what your group is about. 10. During orientation week, offer cooking classes that show students how to make healthy(ish) meals with minimal equipment and inexpensive ingredients. Bowling is always a fun activity, and its perfect for a night out. By organizing concerts, you can raise funds by: Charging a fee for participation Raising funds through ticketing Selling merchandise In the current scenario of a pandemic, such events can be a health hazard. This could involve organizing a charity walk or run, or it could involve organizing a . A fashion show can be a fun and profitable fundraising event for a variety of organizations. Hold a "puppy-kissing" booth where stressed students can pet a dog for $1 to raise money for local animal shelters. Be sure to have props for students to use. Celebrity guests are always a popular draw, and theyre the perfect way to get students excited about an event. But make sure your cooking classes have an enticing theme and plan easy, cheap, and college-student-friendly dishes. 7. Require students to be members in order to attend. Invite popular indie rock bands and hip-hop artists, and coordinate with the university art department about showcasing student works. You can choose an NGO or charity you wish to donate to. Cheer teams, dance squads, and pageant contestants are some of the first that comes to mind, but it is also a great idea for women's shelters. Online events can also be more comfortable for introverts among us, who may prefer making connections while maintaining a certain distance. To give it a personal touch you could play short films made by other students. Set your poetry slam in a coffeehouse and enjoy cappuccinos and cookies, or gather in a park or campus amphitheater for fun in the sun. Team up with an off-campus organization to promote and orchestrate a meaningful community event. Book clubs are always a great way to get students excited about reading, and theyre perfect for students who love to discuss books. You could have a variety of music genres or stick to one type. Give students a treat after a long day of studying. Participants bring clothes to trade with each other as they try out new looks. Take a group to the trampoline park for a day of bouncing around. 2) Locally owned, independent retail stores or restaurants (rather than chains) are often more willing to donate gift cards. TEDx speakers are always a great way to learn about different subjects, and students will love the chance to see one on campus. The size of your event may determine your answers. Be sure to include medals for first, second, and third place finishers, and have plenty of water and nutritious refreshments for contestants. If you want to take your event online, consider creative activities like a student-led online workshop or a virtual open mic night. Have art students sell their pieces to students for cheap dorm dcor and donate the money to . Car smashes are always a lot of fun, and theyre perfect for students who love to destroy things. Create a membership committee to focus on new ways to bring in members. Students will not only learn to identify some of the trees, flowers, and bushes that makes the area unique, but they will also get a chance to explore some of the best walking and hiking trails that the area has to offer. Funds can be raised either by ticket sales for entry, by pricing the clothing individually, or by some combination of the two. Set up a recording booth with a campus-branded media backdrop, film students as they recount their funny stories, and publish the Buzzfeed-style video online as a way to keep the event and the on-campus resources it highlights circulating on social media. Sell coffee for $1 in the libraries during finals and donate the money to a scholarship fund to help more students attend college. Connect film, theater, art, design, and other departments by sponsoring a student film competition. For a refined take on the rowdy bar crawl, get your group to try a stimulating gallery crawl to check out the latest art, sculpture, and photography exhibits. Several nationwide service groups maintain campus chapters. You could partner with a local charity or organization. College students may not be a population known for having a ton of disposable income, but what they lack in income they make up for social concern and engagement. Serve appetizers and drinks so guests stick around. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Highlight unique eats in the neighborhood, helping new students find their favorite restaurants while supporting local businesses as well. They usually focus on imagination and mental abilities, which should be just the thing for a campus full of budding scholars. Provide the supplies, background music, instructions, and refreshments, and let crafty students get to work on building something that will make their dorm feel like a home. Lay down some green felt across your tabletops and use chips instead of coins for a more authentic experience. Tip: Craft possibilities include painting pots for easy-to-care-for plants like succulents or ferns; decorating picture frames or book ends; tie-dying wall hangings. This post may contain affiliate links. Instead, invite students to bring their tents, sleeping bags, and smores kits to campus for a campout with friends. Teach students how to knit and make cozy winter clothes. Ask a professor from the Biology department with knowledge of plant species and biodiversity to lead a tour of local parks and nature trails. There are so many great event ideas that you can try out at your college campus! Puzzle hunts are always a lot of fun, and theyre perfect for a day or night out. Will it be sports games, strategy games, first-person shooter games, simulations, or a combination? Throw a graduation party for all of the students who will be graduating. In addition, the array of fresh produce encourages healthy eating habits and community engagement. A music festival might center the main stage in a field. Long-distance students attending virtual classes will have little experience with your schools campus. A festival combines a main activity or theme with events that might occur over a weekend or the course of days. Eventbrite Boost makes it easy to reach new people, engage your fans and followers, and grow your attendance directly from your Eventbrite account. By challenging students, promoting debate, and provoking conversations, colleges can better connect with their students. Well, not all crawls have to be alcohol-related! Paint and sip event: Organize a paint and sip party for college students to try their hand at getting crafty. Think. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and is the author of The Kidult Handbook (Simon & Schuster May 2018). You can either do this on your own or team up with another campus organization. So, contact local restaurants and food trucks about offering easy finger foods. And in honor of its release, we're rounding up some of our favorite Hogwarts-inspired decor and DIYs to plan the most magical wizarding party at home, complete with homemade wands, fantastical treats and . You could also partner with another campus organization to do this. Table games like chess, pachisi (the Indian precedent to the American variation called Parcheesi), and backgammon have been around for hundreds, even thousands of years. Set up a night of drinks and hors duvres to be sure your mentors are comfortable with their mentees (and vice versa). You may be able to include local restaurants to participate. Help new students pimp their dorm room with some easy, DIY decor. Include a petting zoo with goats, sheep, and other barnyard animals. Celebrate Indias films, with their exuberant colors, fantastic tales, and imaginative staging, with a Bollywood film festival that also embraces the richness of Indian culture. Contact local businesses to sell tasty treats or invite energy drink vendors to get the party started. By clicking 'Sign Up', you consent to allow Social Tables to store and process the personal information submitted above to provide you the content requested. Be sure to have lots of food and drinks for students to enjoy. Invite philosophers, activists, lecturers, writers, entrepreneurs, and other exciting speakers to visit campus and share their life advice. These college event ideas listed below can also help build school spirit and camaraderie among your student body. The goals can be anything: taking a photo at a campus landmark, for example, or finding a specific treasure in a particular location. Althea obtained two degrees in Visual Communication Design and Race . These games are great because theyre entirely adaptable to the size of your party. Not every weekend at college needs to be all about tailgating and keggers. Whether connecting people face-to-face or virtually, hosting poetry readings, mariachi lessons, or concerts, youve got a lot on your plate. Whats better than spending Thanksgiving with friends? But youd be amazed at what you can whip up on a hot plate. Teach time-management skills, budgeting best practices, and help prepare them for future loan expenses. You could do this for a day in your college fest. Consider marketing to individual departments, clubs, and organizations related to your event. They involve a lot of creativity on the part of the participants and can be adapted perfectly to your event. Invite your campus next Steven Spielberg or Jordan Peele to show their stuff on the big screen. As more students become online-only enrollees, online events might take on new importance. This event is open to the public. You could partner with a local charity or organization. Its possible to hold them over a wide, though not necessarily connected, area. A poker tournament doesnt have to involve gambling instead, let the winnings benefit a particular charity or cause. Invite students to gather at a specific time and place to let out their frustrations together. Event themes Listicle College events shape the social and intellectual fabric of your university. Its a valuable life skill many students arent prepared for once they graduate! Create a mentorship program that connects students with others who have faced and overcome similar challenges or experiences. When starting out in a career, you want to get to know as many people as possible who share your interests, passions, and responsibilities. Be sure to provide all of the supplies students will need. Help new students break the ice, get to know their peers, and get settled into campus with these events and activities: College students are infamous for their ability to survive the school year on a diet consisting of little more than ramen noodles and Red Bull. Take inspiration from Big Brother/Big Sister programs and pair seniors with freshmen. You could either partner with a local yoga instructor or have students teach. Sex plays a big role in campus culture, but that doesnt mean that talking about it is easy. A classic movie night is always a hit with students. Create categories such as geography, science, or pop culture, declare a winner for each, and dont forget to crown an overall trivia champion. You should choose a charity or NGO that work for the cause supporting women or women empowerment. Have participants dress in themed costumes for extra fun, or make it a fundraiser with pledges for laps completed. A popular way of fundraising for college is organizing concerts and selling tickets. Youll want to contact your schools facilities department about availability. There are the standard pieces that this great: discussions, peer-to-professional networking, workshops, and more. Lastly, a festival isnt complete without eats. Peerspace uncovers thousands of unique spaces in hundreds of cities, providing fabulous places to meet and celebrate. Get all the support you want for your events because we know hospitality matters. The Program Manager III position will lead Transportation Demand Management planning, parking enterprise, programming, contract management for the Austin Transportation Department. Social events that incorporate games and technology are good starts. While softball games and volleyball matches are always popular, mix things up with alternative sports competitions such as ultimate frisbee or paintball. Invite successful alums to serve as a mentor to students majoring in a relevant area. Target outreach to students who are most likely to be interested in the events content to both boost your attendance rate and limit the amount of unwanted event invites students receive. If serving food, ensure your event complies with local regulations about storage and handling. In addition, this position must be effective and savvy in media (social, other), communications, and stakeholder engagement. All you have to supply is the instructor, the PA system, the space, maybe a few retractable outdoor banner stands to mark the spot and make it official, and the collection jars. In between a chorus of squeals about each cute photo, students will have the opportunity to really look at their peers. Or, for older students, try apaint-and-sip party where guests bring their favorite libations for an evening of watercolors, easels, and drinks. 14 College Event Ideas Students Will Actually Attend, classes that will teach them applicable skills, study from the American College Health Association, Create groups and promote events on Facebook, four tips to help university event planners succeed, The Complete Guide to Early Bird Registration for Events, Before, During, and After: The Complete Guide to Event Engagement . Make sure yourcomedy show sells out by promoting it on social media. Head out as a group to a local parlor for sundaes, banana splits, or a simple scoop of rocky road. 53 Fun College Event Ideas Students Will Love and Share. Calling Sherlock Holmes! Students who enjoy the outdoors, botany, or conservation will appreciate horticulture tours that showcase the unique biology of their college town. Posted on Last updated: December 20, 2022. What do you get with you combine English majors with the debate club? STEP ONE: Assemble Your Committee. Tip:An event like this is a great chance to tap into the expert knowledge on your campus! Get social. Regular entertainment programming on college campuses can give students who arent party animals new opportunities to relax and socialize. The goals can be anything: taking a photo at a campus landmark, for example, or finding a specific treasure in a particular location. Offer a chapter scholarship or book award (money towards textbooks) for members only. College students are working to evolve into full-on adults, so host fun classes that will teach them applicable skills. Good luck! 16 College Fundraising Ideas: Great Step-By-Step Guide. Give your event a musical theme, such as hard rock hair bands or harmonizing boy bands, or open it up to all genres of music. Rap throw-downs can be held virtually anywhere, from a formal theater stage to an informal dormitory dining hall. Indoor games dont have to require athleticism. Creative alumni event ideas like this will provide laughs for players and non-players alike, and some of the revenue can be set aside as a scholarship fund or whatnot. Attending a university often instills loyalty that can inspire successful alums to share what they know with the younger generation. Walk a thon to raise money for a good cause. Include only games that date before the 18th century. Walking tours, bus tours, and even bike tours are fun opportunities for students particularly freshmen and other campus newcomers to make friends and get to know the area around them. You could either create your own hunts or use ones that are already made. Encourage mentorship connections for new students, students in the LGBTQ+ community, those who struggle with addiction or grieving, and so on. Help your student body put their best foot forward. Create positive associations with your event to sell more tickets and secure sponsors and speakers. People need more than one raffle ticket (one drawing per basket), so make more $ and sell them in bulk: 15 for $10. Casino nights are always popular, and theyre a great way to raise money for a good cause. This will encourage even absolute beginners to show up and participate! A balloon drop is always a lot of fun, and its perfect for students who are looking for a little excitement. 6. Host a community service fair to link students upwith local non-profit organizations, activist groups, and charities. Have a gingerbread house contest to see who can make the best one. Dating Smarter with Clinical Psychologist Dr. Carla Manly, How To Be An Interviewer For The First Time. Lay out a route across campus or around the perimeter, and make sure youve got water and treats like ice cream or fruit cups for finishers. Since pets are often forbidden in dorms or apartments, invite a local pet adoption organization to bring dogs, cats, and other critters to campus. Host tournaments for classic and online gamers. Cooking classes help keep students healthy and prepare them to become more self-sufficient. The color red dominates decorations, which often include traditional crafts like intricate paper cutouts and couplets written in Chinese characters wishing good fortune in the coming year. Next, be sure to use disposable dinnerware sets with different colors for both matching your themed parties and allowing yourself to enjoy the time by not doing the dishes. You could either partner with a local cooking organization or have your own class. Screen the films at a local theater or on campus. Check out additional, creative ideas to inspire your next event, . Organize a community-wide donation drive. Teach students about personal finance and how to budget their money. It takes less than five minutes to walk through all the steps, and students will get to walk away with a paper creation that they folded themselves and the knowledge that they contributed to a worthwhile cause. Host a wheel of fortune night! A fall festival celebrates all things autumn while fall colors are at their peak. Initially developed by actual military strategists, wargaming contests involve moving game pieces around large game boards that consist of maps of real or fantastical landscapes. It can be free-form, where everyone drums to their own beat, or the circle might be led by a conductor who offers direction and encourages everyone to participate. Alternatively, impress the history department with out-of-fashion historical games like three-card brag or organize a round of the classic French. Not everyone wants to be in the spotlight, so a prop workshop is a great way to involve more introverted types in the theater. Put on your best poker face and deal em up! Both can easily be enjoyed onscreen thanks to the magic of the internet. When shes not reading or writing, shes probably hiking, eating brunch, or planning her next great adventure. Tip:Consider giving attendees a recipe book and dorm-cooking starter kit as a party-favor!