Weekend Schedule
Thursday
3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Early bird check-in & welcome at Porter College
Porter Circle
We can’t wait to see you back on campus!
First things first, you gotta check in and grab your keys! Come through the Porter Circle and get everything you need to start off the weekend.
Please note that Early Bird Check-In is only available for registrants who purchased Thursday night housing on-campus.
Friday
11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Check-in & welcome at Porter College
Porter Circle
We can’t wait to see you back on campus!
First things first, you gotta check in and grab your keys! Come through the Porter Circle and get everything you need to start off the weekend.
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Buttoning Up the Past
McHenry Library, Special Collections
Head over to McHenry Library’s Special Collections Archive for a crafting event where we transform copies of vintage campus photographs into personalized keepsake buttons. Our staff will guide you through the button-making process, ensuring a perfect memento. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate our university’s history in a fun, interactive way—make a button, share stories, and explore the fascinating treasures of McHenry Library’s Special Collections!
Cost: Included with Weekend Pass
*No additional registration required
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Ride a giant banana slug
McHenry Library, Ground Floor VizLab
Stop by the VizLab on the ground floor of McHenry library to take your photo riding a giant banana slug. Library staff has prepared a green screen effect with different UCSC backgrounds to choose from. (Don’t wear green!)
Brought to you by the Digital Scholarship Innovation Studio.
Follow signage to or reference the map to reach the VizLab.
Cost: Included with Weekend Pass
*No additional registration required
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Return to the Redwoods Kick-Off Party
Porter Quad
Join us for the official kickoff of Return to the Redwoods. Head to the Porter Quad for an unforgettable evening featuring live music, delicious food, and a cash bar. Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere and enjoy the festivities.
Cost: Party and food included with Weekend Pass. Cash bar.
*No additional registration required
8:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Stars ‘n’ S’mores
East Field
Following the kick-off party, take an evening walk over to the East Field (or take one of our Slug Taxis) for a bonfire and s’mores led by the incredible Adventure Rec team. If it’s a clear night, our friends in the Astronomy department will join us with telescopes and guide us through the night skies.
Cost: Included with Weekend Pass
*No additional registration required
Saturday
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Sunrise Yoga (SOLD OUT)
Lawn on the Porter Quad
Start your day with a little serenity and exercise out on the Porter Quad. Yoga mats and water station provided.
Cost: $5/person
Advanced registration required, space is limited
7:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Breakfast in the Dining Hall
Rachel Carson/Oakes Dining Hall
Head over to the newly renovated Rachel Carson/Oakes Dining Hall (just across the street from Porter College) and enjoy a wide array of breakfast options alongside incredible views of the Monterey Bay.
Cost: Breakfast voucher included with Weekend Pass
*No additional registration required
Morning activities block
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Forest Talk: ‘The Farewell Lecture’ with Professor John Isbister
What I Learned in Four Decades at UCSC
Kresge Classroom
From John:
“UCSC with its college system was (and is) a university like no other. For some of my colleagues on the faculty, the college was just a pleasant social feature. For me, it was the center of my intellectual life, and it formed me in ways I could never have imagined.”
John Isbister is a renowned economist and professor known for his expertise in economic development and social policy. With a focus on the impact of globalization and social justice, he has contributed significantly to understanding economic inequality and the role of welfare systems. His scholarly work includes exploring the dynamics of capitalism and its societal implications, and he has been influential in shaping discussions around economic reform and social equity.
Cost: Included with Weekend Pass
Advanced registration required, space is limited
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Campus farm tour & flower arrangement workshop
Campus Farm
Drop by the farm to check out all of the incredible work the Center for Agroecology is doing to impact student food security and change the way we look at agricultural education. Following a guided tour, guests will have the opportunity to build their own flower arrangement using farm grown florals.
Cost: $25/person
Advanced registration required, space is limited
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Guided Campus Hikes: Upper Campus (SOLD OUT) or Mima Mounds
Meet at Porter Squiggle
Get outside with our Adventure Rec staff on Saturday for a casually paced guided hike through Upper Campus or the Mima Mounds! Bring water, a layer, and comfortable shoes for hiking on uneven, hilly terrain.
Cost: $5/person
Advanced registration required, space is limited
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Tie Dye Workshop
Porter Quad
Join alum Jeremy Carlson (Rachel Carson ’99) for a vibrant tie-dye workshop where creativity knows no bounds! Learn unique techniques and create your own colorful masterpieces under the expert guidance of a seasoned artist.
*Registration includes a t-shirt to tie-dye.
Cost: $30/person
Advanced registration required, space is limited
Lunchtime
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Resource Center Celebration
Oakes Provost House
Head over to the Oakes Provost House for a luncheon celebrating UCSC’s diverse communities, hosted by the UCSC Resource Centers:
– African American Resource and Cultural Center (AARCC)
– American Indian Resource Center (AIRC)
– Asian American/Pacific Islander Resource Center (AA/PIRC)
– El Centro: Chicanx Latinx Resource Center
– Lionel Cantú Queer Resource Center
– Womxn’s Center.
Whether you are a former intern or staff, attended events as a student, and/or want to learn about what Resource Centers are doing for students, you are encouraged to attend. Meet alumni leaders of identity-based affinity groups, and learn how you can be involved with diversity programs at UCSC. This informal luncheon will include a short program and activity with fun prizes. Lunch will be provided.
Cost: $10/person
Advanced registration required, space is limited
Afternoon activities block
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sonic Activation
Porter Quad
Led by Stevenson ’14 alum Sara Kaiser (aka Nectarmoth) and cellist Shaun Diaz, Sonic Activation is an immersive experience that integrates gentle stretching, breathwork, guided visualization, and meditation within an evolving soundscape of live cello, vocals, ambient layers, and sounds of the natural world. Learn more about their Sonic Activations here.
We’ll have some yoga mats and blankets available, but please feel free to bring your own!
Cost: Included with Weekend Pass
Advanced registration required, space is limited
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Forest Talk: An Afternoon with Bettina Aptheker
Feminism & Social Justice: Global Perspectives
Kresge Classroom
From Bettina:
“On International Women’s Day (March 8th) 2019 the UCSC mass online learning program launched my course on Feminism & Social Justice on the Coursera Platform. I had video-recorded 4 lectures based on a Feminist Studies class. As of now, almost 120,000 people have taken the course, and between 150-200 enroll each week. They are from every continent. Many leave notes about it on the Coursera site, and others have initiated correspondence with me via email. Women (and some men) are from India, Kazakhstan, Australia, Mexico, Bolivia, Canada, the United States, Iran, Afghanistan, England, Nigeria, and Egypt, among so many other countries. Through their writings, and our exchanges I have learned so much about women’s issues and struggles, especially regarding education, and basic human rights. The response to the course was so completely unexpected, and the work of women so inspiring, I propose to share this with you.”
Bettina Aptheker is a distinguished professor and feminist studies scholar, celebrated for her influential work in gender studies, social justice, and political activism. With a career dedicated to exploring the intersections of race, gender, and class, Aptheker has made significant contributions to feminist theory and advocacy, drawing from her extensive research and activism to challenge systemic inequalities and advance social change.
Cost: Included with Weekend Pass
Advanced registration required, space is limited
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Guided Campus Hikes: Upper Campus or Mima Mounds
Meet at Porter Squiggle
Get outside with our Adventure Rec staff on Saturday for a casually paced guided hike through Upper Campus or the Mima Mounds! Bring water, a layer, and comfortable shoes for hiking on uneven, hilly terrain.
Cost: $5/person
Advanced registration required, space is limited
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Balloon Twisting Workshop
Porter Classroom
Ever wanted to learn the art of balloon twisting? Join alum and lecturer Addi Somekh (Cowell ’94) for an exciting afternoon to learn a new skill! Discover the basics of balloon artistry and hear captivating stories of Addi’s journey from UCSC to becoming a world-renowned balloon twister.
Cost: Included with Weekend Pass
Advanced registration required, space is limited
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Who Is Afraid of Contemporary Art?
Sesnon Gallery
Join Sesnon Galleries Director Valéria (“Val”) Miranda at the Mary Porter Sesnon Gallery for an interactive, insight-filled session about today’s art scene, decoding “Art Speak”, explaining what curators do, and demystifying conceptual art.
Cost: Included with Weekend Pass
Advanced registration required, space is limited
Evening Activities
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Latino Alumni Network (LAN) Meetup
Porter Dining Hall Patio
Are you a longtime LAN member, or maybe looking to get involved? Join us for an exciting LAN Meetup as we celebrate the UCSC Latino Alumni Network! This event is a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow Latino alumni, engage in inspiring discussions, and be part of the thriving LAN community. Don’t miss out on the fun!
Cost: Included with Weekend Pass
Advanced registration required, space is limited
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Performance by Alumna Sara Kaiser & Shaun Diaz
Porter Quad
Shaun & Sara will be performing original songs composed of vocals and cello, weaving progressive folk and crossover classical with lyrical intrigue, ambient layers, and celtic influence. This set will also include songs played individually and together from their solo projects – Nectar Moth and Shaun Diaz.
Cost: Included with Weekend Pass
*No additional registration required
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Spotlight Santa Cruz Street Fair
Porter Quad
Join us at the Porter Quad for an exciting evening that brings the best of Santa Cruz to you! Enjoy a DJ set from KZSC, savor delicious bites from top local food trucks, and pick up unique art from talented local artists. It’s the perfect spot to catch up with old friends before heading to the evening movie.
** Full list of vendors coming soon **
Cost: Food & Drinks Available for Purchase
*No additional registration required
8:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Redwood Reels: A Movie in the Rachel Carson Amphitheater
Showing: The Goonies
Rachel Carson Plaza Ampitheater
Gather with your friends into the Rachel Carson Amphitheater for an evening movie! Enjoy popcorn and the candy bar of your dreams while watching this year’s pick: The Goonies. Don’t forget to bring a blanket and pack a cooler with your favorite beverages and treats!
Cost: Included with Weekend Pass
*No additional registration required
Sunday
7:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Breakfast in the Dining Hall
Rachel Carson/Oakes Dining Hall
Head over to the newly renovated Rachel Carson/Oakes Dining Hall (just across the street from Porter College) and enjoy a wide array of breakfast options alongside incredible views of the Monterey Bay.
Cost: Breakfast voucher included with Weekend Pass
*No additional registration required
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Westside Renewal Walking Tour (SOLD OUT)
Meet in Porter Classroom
Join Frank Zwart (Cowell ’71), Campus Architect Emeritus, for a walking tour of the new buildings on the west side of campus, including the renovated and expanded Porter College residence halls, the Kresge residence halls, and academic center and the new dining hall at Rachel Carson College/Oakes. This walking tour is a great opportunity to learn more about the thoughtful expansions that will give students a 21st-century experience amidst the natural beauty of campus.
Cost: Included with Weekend Pass
Advanced registration required, space is limited
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
FIELD TRIP: O’Neill Yacht Cruise (includes local pizza & pints)
(SOLD OUT)
Meet at Porter Bus Stop
Head out for a sail on the beautiful Monterey Bay with our friends at O’Neill Yacht Charters. This cruise includes beer tastings from Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery and pizza from local favorite Upper Crust. *Shuttle boards at 1pm in the Porter Circle to head to Santa Cruz Harbor to board for a 2 pm cruise*
The following waiver is required to be completed ahead of time to participate in this cruise (please complete by August 11th):
– O’Neill Yacht Waiver
Cost: $80, all ages
Includes late check-out from campus housing.
Advanced registration required, space is limited