Ask students to create something extraordinary and plan a fun event that focuses on film. 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. This is a great way to raise money and show support for your college. Mac-and-brie-en-croute, anyone? Quick Links Throw CompetitionsAdd Some FunRun WorkshopsHost CharitiesGive MentoringFood! A dessert bar is always a popular draw, and its the perfect way to finish an event. If you want to take your event online, consider creative activities like a student-led online workshop or a virtual open mic night. The great thing about a rap battle is how little equipment is needed bring a beatbox and a microphone and youre practically set! Online events can also be more comfortable for introverts among us, who may prefer making connections while maintaining a certain distance. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Welcome to GenTwenty - the twenty-something's guide to life. This is a great way for current students to support their fellow students even if they arent in the same major. Local cafs can refuel students and soothe their throats after the scream-a-thon. This article will provide you with fun virtual event ideas for college kids. A campfire is probably ill-advised, so try a portable electric cooker instead. Consider doing a series of industry-focused career fairs for targeted interactions. Bring in even more dough by lining up your bake sale with a major holiday or event, like Valentine's Day, Halloween, or an on-campus movie night. If your campus has a fall festival, take advantage of it! College campuses are made for events like this! 3. Each weekend, the group can hike in a different natural area with different wildlife to learn about. Set up podiums for your teams of debaters, preferably where an audience can view them and present a question for debate. Have art students sell their pieces to students for cheap dorm dcor and donate the money to . Now the platform encourages campuses to begin their own version of the digitally evolved lecture series. So, invite them to be that change. This will encourage even absolute beginners to show up and participate! A festival combines a main activity or theme with events that might occur over a weekend or the course of days. Let students get creative! They can provide valuable insights and advice. Surely there are a few certified yoga or aerobics instructors in your student body! Encourage mentorship connections for new students, students in the LGBTQ+ community, those who struggle with addiction or grieving, and so on. As theater lovers know, the real magic of drama and comedy is in characterization and dialogue. Let them experience the joy of classical music and admire the musicianship behind exquisite compositions. You could either choose a theme or let students come up with their own ideas. Think mac n cheese, stir fry, homemade ramen, or pho. This great bonding activity can be even more fun by ending the hike with a bonfire and smores. x = independently organized TED event. Promote your event and gather volunteers to help referee and keep score. It's free to sign up and bid on jobs. Ice-breaker games can be a bit trite. Paint and sip events are always popular, and theyre a great way to get creative. Once you have your design, you can order shirts from a printing company and then sell them to students, faculty, and community members. You could either create your own puzzles or use ones that are already made. Regular entertainment programming on college campuses can give students who arent party animals new opportunities to relax and socialize. Focus the question on significant works and authors, or discuss childrens books or cookbooks for a more lighthearted event. Comedians regularly include colleges on their tour stops, so it could be worth reaching out to a famous name to check availability. Create positive associations with your event to sell more tickets and secure sponsors and speakers. Digitize your notes for easier review. Its possible to hold them over a wide, though not necessarily connected, area. Invite your campus next Steven Spielberg or Jordan Peele to show their stuff on the big screen. How to Celebrate St. Patricks Day in the U.S. 25 Event Ideas, Planning Conferences and Corporate Events in 2023: Trends and Challenges, How to Attract Visitors to Your Exhibition Booth, How to Plan a Seminar: A 16-Step Checklist, For more ways to make your on-campus event stand out and. But with just a microwave and a bit of ingenuity, students can have a much more well-rounded diet without breaking the bank. From developing software to selling handmade crafts, there are bound to be some enterprising students on your campus. Not only that, but dorm food usually consists of ramen, pizza rolls, and pocketed dining hall items, and lets be real here the options at the dining hall probably arent very healthy either. Have participants dress in themed costumes for extra fun, or make it a fundraiser with pledges for laps completed. Even something as simple as petting a dog or cat is associated with lowered blood pressure and increased relaxation. As students move from booth to booth, theyll get a peek into potential career paths and maybe even find the position where theyll launch their career. Remember, always encourage businesses, event planners, and students to post about the events on social media. Team up with an off-campus organization to promote and orchestrate a meaningful community event. Teach time-management skills, budgeting best practices, and help prepare them for future loan expenses. 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. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and is the author of The Kidult Handbook (Simon & Schuster May 2018). For instance, clean up a local beach or river, or raise awareness of a topic with a special event where all proceeds go to a cause. Consider working with a student-led organization to co-host an event that promotes or explores their mission. The first group to complete the list wins. Celebrate International Women's Day this year by planning an event that focuses on gender bias or highlights women's achievements. And never have there been so many budding student filmmakers constantly uploading shorts and skits to YouTube and TikTok. So, contact local restaurants and food trucks about offering easy finger foods. As far as event ideas for college students go, the open-mic is a tried and true classic that never fails to please. When youre ready to promote your events, use. Thanks to Netflixs massively popular Stranger Things, interest has exploded. When shes not reading or writing, shes probably hiking, eating brunch, or planning her next great adventure. 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. Or, get a couple of ice cream makers and make your own customized concoction. Get social. Donation drives are a fantastic way to bring the community together through a common goal of helping others in need. But that doesnt mean your event cant be inspiring or rewarding in other ways, right? Come up with a list of themes and some basic ground rules on length and subject matter. Students will love the chance to do yoga while surrounded by adorable goats. Rock climbing is a great way to get active and have some fun. Both can easily be enjoyed onscreen thanks to the magic of the internet. Ring in the new year with a bang by throwing a party on campus! Another great way to giveaway prizes is by having a raffle. You could partner with a local charity or organization. Make sure yourcomedy show sells out by promoting it on social media. Who doesnt love a good party? Events are a great way to introduce fresh ideas, opportunities, and products to a new audience. Learning doesnt only take place inside the classroom. Live Streamed Concerts. They may only come for the free food, but theyll stay for the friends and jovial atmosphere. Set up a night of drinks and hors duvres to be sure your mentors are comfortable with their mentees (and vice versa). You could either have your own garden or partner with local businesses. Host an industry networking event thats an open invitation to anyone who works or wants to work in a particular industry. Encourage attendees to dress up and enjoy an evening with the local orchestra, or show their school spirit by attending a performance of the schools music department ensembles. Are you looking to host college events that students will actually want to attend? Host a wheel of fortune night! You might even connect with students worldwide who speak your clubs language natively. knowledge, and an ever-popular way for students to spend the evening. 2. Spirit week is always a lot of fun, and its perfect for students who love to dress up. Karaoke. , check out these fun event ideas for college students. Activities may include a retreat, painting events and other fun team building activities such as disco bowling. The goals can be anything: taking a photo at a campus landmark, for example, or finding a specific treasure in a particular location. Cooking classes help keep students healthy and prepare them to become more self-sufficient. Be sure to have props for students to use. Invite special guests like business-savvy alumni and scouts from venture capitalist firms to bring banners, booths, and hiring and funding literature. You can either do this on your own or team up with another campus organization. Teach students about the importance of public service, civic duty, and empower them to take an active role in their community. A classic career fair brings employers onto campus to talk to students about their mission, hiring practices, and prospects. Create an on-campus obstacle course and invite students to test themselves physically like never before. Or, for older students, try apaint-and-sip party where guests bring their favorite libations for an evening of watercolors, easels, and drinks. Just be sure to clear your calendar wargaming classics like Squad Leader and Warhammer can take place over days or weeks. Step aside, Hollywood more movies by far are produced in India than in the backlots and sound stages of southern California. 53 Fun College Event Ideas Students Will Love and Share. STEP ONE: Assemble Your Committee. Below are a few engaging social event ideas for clubs and students. 2) Locally owned, independent retail stores or restaurants (rather than chains) are often more willing to donate gift cards. Schools should ensure that their digital connectivity is up to par by automating student communication, creating online hubs for assistance, and promoting social media use. Wondering how to throw events that college students will actually want to attend? Include displays of falconry or blacksmithing to set the mood. Adult coloring books are a great way to relax and de-stress. A flash mob is always a lot of fun, and its perfect for students who love to dance. A music festival might center the main stage in a field. The Program Manager III position will lead Transportation Demand Management planning, parking enterprise, programming, contract management for the Austin Transportation Department. Then its just a matter of deciding between seven-card stud or Texas hold em. Tip:Remind attendees to bring their own exercise mats or beach towels, but be sure to make a few extra mats from your campus fitness facilities available to borrow. Spartan races are famous for their obstacles combining mud crawling, wall climbing, rope swinging, spear throwing, and more. For more ways to make your on-campus event stand out andimprove student engagement, check out these fun event ideas for college students. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. 19. Refer to our Privacy Policy or contact us at privacy@cvent.com for more details. Seamlessly manage and optimize group sales performance across your entire portfolio. Here are three of our favorite fundraising community event ideas. Run online contests with enticing prices and take advantage of social media engagement one of the primary communication methods for modern students. A popular way of fundraising for college is organizing concerts and selling tickets. Appeal to what matters to students when attempting to attract them to events. 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. With the user-friendly digital tools at our disposal today, anyone can make a short movie. Millennials and members of Gen Z feel strong connections to political awareness, community engagement, environmentalism, social justice, activism, and impactful change. In between a chorus of squeals about each cute photo, students will have the opportunity to really look at their peers. Indoor games dont have to require athleticism. An obstacle course is always a lot of fun, and its perfect for students who love to challenge themselves. You could either partner with a local cooking organization or have your own class. Unfortunately, many high schools dont prepare students with valuable life skills like budgeting, cooking, basic home repair, or filing taxes. What is hard is creating one that will be able to compete with everything else that is going on around campus. Choose a theme or activity and watch your registrations fill up. Put students taste buds to the test with a hot-plate cook-off campus regulations permitting. 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. 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. See who can build the best snowman on campus. Create a mentorship program that connects students with others who have faced and overcome similar challenges or experiences. Here are 10 inspiring ideas and activities to get you started. Swords and sorcery not your thing? Survey students to connect with them and discover what they care about most. One-by-one, show the photos to the crowd on a projector screen and ask students to try to identify the person pictured. You can invite high school students as a way to encourage them to pursue college degrees or get a sense of what college can be like. Give students free 10 minute massages and the line will be out the door. You could also partner with another campus organization to do this. Rap throw-downs can be held virtually anywhere, from a formal theater stage to an informal dormitory dining hall. The emotional and therapeutic benefits of bonding with animals are well-known. Ashley Austin specializes in topics such as event planning, skincare, health, decor, and lifestyle. Science fairs are a throwback to elementary school. Host a Q&A with a group of change-making women. If you make it a regular occurrence, it can be a fun venue for both meeting new people and passing time with old friends in a casual and laidback environment. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. So bring in an IT pro to show off the tips and tricks to help new employees prove their worth. When starting out in a career, you want to get to know as many people as possible who share your interests, passions, and responsibilities. Contact your local farmers market about providing locally grown fruits, vegetables, cheeses, honey, and meats. Offer a chapter scholarship or book award (money towards textbooks) for members only. TEDx speakers are always a great way to learn about different subjects, and students will love the chance to see one on campus. Learn how to work with clay and make beautiful pottery. You could either do this at a local rock climbing gym or outdoors. And remember, college students love free things! A drum circle is simply a group of people coming together to drum. A food truck rally is always a lot of fun, and its perfect for students who love to eat. Students can perform and listen to live renditions of songs we all know and love as a touching way to say goodbye. One of the most popular ways to fundraise for a college is to sell t-shirts. Promote your event in your schools media or film department and set up a screening room on campus. Dating Smarter with Clinical Psychologist Dr. Carla Manly, How To Be An Interviewer For The First Time. Will it be sports games, strategy games, first-person shooter games, simulations, or a combination? Coax students out of the library and their dorm rooms with the promise of snacks, games, and good company. A fun campus event attracts a crowd and engages students. For the musically inclined and music fans, a battle of the bands is often a hit. 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. Paint Night: Organize an instructor-led step-by-step art class. Can you figure out who the murderer is before its too late? In a murder mystery game, one party guest is the designated murderer, and anyone could be the next victim. College students love free food and they love brunch! Below are some examples of online programs your organization could host. 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! A balloon drop is always a lot of fun, and its perfect for students who are looking for a little excitement. You could either go to a local bowling alley or have a bowling tournament. Copyright 2022 Cvent Inc.All rights reserved. A poker tournament doesnt have to involve gambling instead, let the winnings benefit a particular charity or cause. Not only do events help students get to know one another, but they can provide a steady stream of wholesome and educational programming that will keep students active and engaged in their campus community. Think Amazing Race, but without the multi-million-dollar broadcast network budget. Invite philosophers, activists, lecturers, writers, entrepreneurs, and other exciting speakers to visit campus and share their life advice. Performing artists love to gain college fans, and college rock (think R.E.M. Pick a day to showcase entries in a theater setting, complete with snacks and awards, and sell tickets via Eventbritesfilm event ticketing software. A supplies fee can help pay for necessary tools and other resources. Whether youre an event planner, a professor or faculty member, or anyone else involved in collegiate affairs, these 14 simple yet effective college event ideas are just what you need to boost attendance and engagement. Invite professors from diverse departments, like Biology, Religion, and Womens Studies, to speak about sexuality through different academic lenses. Which two countries share the longest border? Karaoke nights are always a lot of fun, and they provide a great opportunity for students to show off their singing skills even if its a hidden talent. But to draw interest, you'll need to look beyond formal talks and job fairs. The place where twenty-something's can get answers about growing up and navigating the real world. Board game nights are always popular, and theyre the perfect way to spend a night in. Need more fun college event ideas? Laughter is a great stress reliever, so comedys an ever-popular event choice for students loaded down with exams, jobs, and extracurricular activities. Instead, invite students to bring their tents, sleeping bags, and smores kits to campus for a campout with friends. We follow the high principles . Offer Students Campus Bikes and Scooters 1. Theres nothing like spending a night under the stars. College students want new and authentic ways to connect, avoiding the commercialism and marketing that a lifetime of media has trained them to recognize. An ice cream sundae bar is always a lot of fun, and its the perfect way to cool down. Prepare some visuals for Facebook and Instagram to share the planning process and showcase the event. Create a membership committee to focus on new ways to bring in members. College students are working to evolve into full-on adults, so host fun classes that will teach them applicable skills. Teach students how to sew and make their own clothes. Partner with local fitness instructors to host yoga, pilates, or othercreative outdoor eventsin the park. Everyone loves a game show with high stakes. Catwalk For A Cause. Any working professional will likely tell you that success depends more on who you know than what you know. Help current students see the potential that the future holds while they makenetworking connectionsthat could be beneficial after graduation. Send a guide further along and let students follow one at a time to navigate a short, flat distance alone. Partner with local transportation services to hostmuseum eventcrawls, garden crawls, or market crawls. Celebrity guests are always a popular draw, and theyre the perfect way to get students excited about an event. Play a game of Clue on campus and see who can solve the mystery firstwhich may be a great idea to include faculty members as characters! Teach students how to knit and make cozy winter clothes. With more college kids playing video games on PCs or consoles like PlayStation or Xbox than ever before, a video game tournament can be a gamers fantasy. With a campus-wide clothing swap, students can clear their dorm rooms of gently used and unworn clothing and maybe even find their new favorite t-shirt. Kristu Jayanti College. So we cobbled together 25 unique campus recruitment event ideas that are sure to attract not just the best students, but also the best companies to the floor. A fall festival celebrates all things autumn while fall colors are at their peak. Alumni speakers are always a great way to get students excited about an event. 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. Bengaluru, Karnataka. The Chinese new year begins on the first moon between January 21st and February 20th, and its one of the premier holidays in Chinese culture. This event suits urban campuses, where many museums and galleries might dot the landscape. Tip:An event like this is a great chance to tap into the expert knowledge on your campus! Youll want to contact your schools facilities department about availability. Pajama parties are always a lot of fun, and theyre the perfect way to spend a night in. This may especially helpful to senior students who are about to graduate. Team up with an off-campus organization to promote and orchestrate a meaningful community event. Millennials love expressing their values online, but 80% of them feel its, essential for people to come together in person. There are plenty of organizations that would love to have your help. A picnic is always a great way to spend a day, and its perfect for students who love to eat outside. Blank canvasses are metaphorical for a new school year, so it's a great fit for a campus event. You can host a cultural celebration supporting music, art, food, and other entertainment. Encourage students to meet and create their own teams. Weve all heard of bar crawls, right? Invite students to gather at a specific time and place to let out their frustrations together. Tip:As part of the event, host an incubation workshop to give students who are interested in entrepreneurship a glimpse into the world of start-up funding. Chinese New Year typically culminates in a lantern festival, with candles and lanterns lighting up homes and gardens or in this case, campus spaces. 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. You could either partner with a local yoga instructor or have students teach. Keep your backpack clean and stocked with the materials you need to bring to class. This makes them an ideal choice for hosting various events, especially outdoor ones that can accommodate kiosks, booths, and large gatherings. Require students to be members in order to attend. Bowling is always a fun activity, and its perfect for a night out. Promote diversity, inclusion, and intersectionality. Ask students to create something extraordinary and plan a fun event that focuses on film. More and more universities are offering online classes to attract students from distant geographic regions. and the Pixies) got its name for a reason. Get inspiration from Pinterest, Instagram, or Etsy for the latest crafting trends. 1960 N. Marshall Ave., Suite 100 There are so many different ways to engage students through local scavenger hunts. The fitness instructors who host classes will likely pick up new clients. Or put the pedal to the metal with a go-kart race at a nearby indoor or outdoor track. 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. Throw a graduation party for all of the students who will be graduating. Convert an event hall into a the ultimate movie night slumber party, decked out with pillow forts, sleeping bags, an ice cream sundae station, and plenty of popcorn. Bring together a group of successful and innovative women to discuss embracing equity in all . Host a fundraiser with a casino theme including card games, roulette wheels, and slot machines but make sure to comply with local gambling regulations. If you want to take your event online, consider creative activities like a student-led online workshop or a virtual open mic night. Event themes Listicle College events shape the social and intellectual fabric of your university. They also love fun things so anything that is free and fun is sure to be a hit. 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. Include former students who are using their degrees in unique or interesting ways as well. It often includes a competition. Put on your best poker face and deal em up! Mastering skills like basic auto repair or home maintenance will help students become more independent. Eventbrite Boost makes it easy to reach new people, engage your fans and followers, and grow your attendance directly from your Eventbrite account. This event is open to the public. But youd be amazed at what you can whip up on a hot plate. Teach students about personal finance and how to budget their money. And at some universities, students can obtain degrees entirely through an online course load. Set it on campus, where the alums might enjoy seeing old sites, or make it a workplace visit or tour for a hands-on experience. Just like above, take students to the apple orchard for a fun fall weekend. A meet-and-greet allows students to make a one-on-one connection. Gratify the gamers on your campus by hosting an old-school LAN party and tournament. Campus Relay for Life is a particularly popular club that exists to benefit cancer research, cancer patients, and families touched by cancer. 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. They involve a lot of creativity on the part of the participants and can be adapted perfectly to your event. Or invite graduate students from your universitys art, history, or architectural department to lead the tour for a stronger connection with your student participants. Youll find role-playing games set in the world of international spies, a post-nuclear holocaust, and a city full of superheroes, too! You may be able to include local restaurants to participate. Don't miss an opportunity to bring attention to your event and hype up your college. Funds can be raised either by ticket sales for entry, by pricing the clothing individually, or by some combination of the two. The following college event ideas are designed to appeal to students, help connect them with one another,improve their experienceat events, introduce them to local businesses and organizations, and much more. Local businesses can set up tables and sell themed goods. Set it up in the student center or dormitory dining hall and let those student chefs show their skills. You could partner with a local charity or organization. Time to find out whos the Console Champion with a video game tournament. Promote events on social media. Youll need to decide whether to include all consoles in your match or limit it to one brand. Be sure to get photos of the winner (with their consent, of course) and post to social media to draw even more attention to the event itself. Games designed for indoor events are the perfect solution. A Chinese New Year festival is a perfect way to celebrate the traditions and culture of China. Pro tip: quality sound equipment can really enhance the experience. , but without the multi-million-dollar broadcast network budget. 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.