Weekend Schedule

Check-In & Welcome at Slug Central
Founders Glen (Cowell Circle)

We can't wait to see you back on campus!

First things first, you gotta check in and grab your keys! Stop by the Founders Glen (that lawn right near the entrance of the Cowell Circle) and get everything you need to start off the weekend. You'll check in at the main table, grab your name tag and a program, and then go over to the Conference Services table to get parking permits and everything you need for on-campus housing.

Don't worry, we'll have some 20 minute parking so that you can check in and unload all of your stuff before parking your car. Showing up after 6? No problem! Staff will be available to check people in as late as 8 p.m.

Back to the Woods: A Welcome Back to UC Santa Cruz
Cowell Courtyard

Join your fellow Banana Slugs for the kickoff event of the weekend. Enjoy one of the most magical views on campus as you sip some local beverages and enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres. Sit back and relax, you're home!

Cost: Cash Bar

Stars & S'mores
East Field

All are welcome to spend our first night under the stars. Gaze up into the Santa Cruz night sky and reflect on the magic of this special place. Enjoy some campfire treats and learn from UCSC's finest about the wonders of our solar system.

Cost: Included with Registration Fee

Sunrise Yoga
East Field

Start your day with a little serenity and exercise out on the east field. Yoga mats and water station provided.

Cost: $5/person
Advanced registration required, space is limited

Check-In & Welcome at Slug Central
Founders Glen (Outside Cowell)

Stop by the Founders Glen (that lawn right near the entrance of the Cowell Circle) and get everything you need to start off the weekend. You'll check in at the main table, grab your name tag and a program, and then go over to Conference Services to get parking permits and everything you need for on-campus housing.

Don't worry, we'll have some 20 minute parking so that you can check in and unload all of your stuff before parking your car.

Continental Breakfast
Cowell Courtyard

Enjoy a light breakfast while taking in the breathtaking view of Monterey Bay.

Cost: Included with Registration Fee

Forest Talk: Puppets and Performing Objects: Animism, Indigeneity, and the Anthropocene Puppets with Professor Kathy Foley
Stevenson 150

"New Materialism", "Thing Theory", and "Ecocriticism" are affecting current Western performance and lead to productions that often focus on animals and things qua subject, allowing puppetry and performing objects larger focus and providing contrast to the human centric locus of more traditional American theatrical realism. While on Broadway the figures may be anthropomorphized animals (as in War Horse, Lion King, Life of Pi) a growing attention to the animal and material world as vibrant and having rights is being quickly embraced in the thing-centric art of puppetry in the U.S. and Europe. As climate change accelerates, younger artists embrace themes of the "Anthropocene" and "Post-human" and turn to puppetry as a medium arguing for a "New Animism" that can respond to climate change can help audiences rethink healthy human relations to animals, the environment and the material world.

For contrast we will introduce ideas of how masks and puppetry traditionally played prime role in indigenous, Saivite, Buddhist, and Sufistic theaters of Southeast Asia to communicate conceptions of a world where the human, while important, is de-centered. Traditional performers, often solo puppeteers have used masks and puppets to get beyond a locus on humanized subjects, incorporating important figures like the tree of life, living/volcanic mountain, and oceans into their praxis. Goddesses and Gods clash in masked forms like Calonarang in Bali to tell of how the divine materializes to create/destroy our world. In tales humans morph to/from objects in ways that are rarely found in Judeo-Christian cultures. If the puppeteer decenters ego to collaborate with the material world qua puppet in creating story, does working with the materials world as "living" impact artistically, philosophically, and politically to tell stories that allow greater agency to the non-human, the past and the present?

Some refections on past UCSC mask productions from the Pancatantra (Indian Animal Tales), to the Buddhist Jataka, to an American Bread and Puppet Circus style offering will be cited as some examples.

Cost: Included with Registration Fee

Campus Farm Tour & Flower Arrangement Workshop SOLD OUT!
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

Guided Campus Hike SOLD OUT!
Meet at Slug Central

Join our outdoor education team for a guided hike through campus and down to the arboretum. Learn about the local flora and fauna while taking in the fresh mountain air.

Cost: Included with Registration Fee

Guided Pogonip Hike SOLD OUT!
Meet at Slug Central

Join our outdoor education team for a guided hike through campus and through the Pogonip Open Space. Learn about the local flora and fauna while taking in the fresh mountain air.

Cost: Included with Registration Fee

Sailing Excursion SOLD OUT!
Meet at Santa Cruz Harbor

Take a short break from the beauty of the redwoods, and head out for a sailing excursion on the Monterey Bay. Capacity is extremely limited for this experience, so book quickly to secure your spot!

Cost: $100/person
Advanced registration required, space is limited

Lunch On Your Own

Head out to your favorite spot in Santa Cruz to grab lunch or purchase lunch at the dining hall for a more nostalgic experience.

Forest Talk: Forecasting the Future of a Changing Ocean with Professor Raphe Kudela
Stevenson 150

A weekend back in college wouldn’t be complete without a lecture… but don’t worry, there’s no homework or exam for this class! Join us for a lecture from one of UCSC’s world renowned faculty.

Professor Kudela will address how California’s coastal ecosystems, from marine fisheries impacted by harmful algal blooms to California’s iconic kelp forests, may change in the future.

Cost: Included with Registration Fee

Guided Pogonip Hike SOLD OUT!
Meet at Slug Central

Join our outdoor education team for a guided hike through campus and through the Pogonip Open Space. Learn about the local flora and fauna while taking in the fresh mountain air.

Cost: Included with Registration Fee

Sailing Excursion SOLD OUT!
Meet at Santa Cruz Harbor

Take a short break from the beauty of the redwoods, and head out for a sailing excursion on the Monterey Bay. Capacity is extremely limited for this experience, so book quickly to secure your spot!

Cost: $100/person
Advanced registration required, space is limited

Latino Alumni Network (LAN) Meetup
Cowell Fireside Lounge

Join us for an exciting LAN Meetup as we celebrate the revamped 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 Registration Fee

African American Resource & Cultural Center (AARCC) Hospitality Room
Cowell Library

Pop by the AARCC hospitality space in the residences and meet the Center staff. Connect with fellow African, Black & Caribbean identified alumni who are on campus. This casual space is open to any and will be hosted in the AARCC Apartment.

Cost: Included with Registration Fee

Asian American & Pacific Islander (AA/PI) Network Reception
Stevenson Fireside Lounge

We are delighted to extend a warm invitation to join fellow Asian American/Pacific Islander alumni on campus. This event provides an excellent opportunity for you to reconnect with fellow alumni, make new connections, and reminisce about your time at UC Santa Cruz. Whether you graduated recently or several years ago, your presence and unique experiences will enrich our network and inspire our community.

Cost: Included with Registration Fee

Dinner On Your Own

Head into town to grab a bite with friends, stop by the dining hall, or try out one of the food trucks that will be on campus.

Sunset Yoga
East Field

Close out your day with a little serenity and yoga exercise on the east field. Yoga mats and water station provided.

Cost: $5/person
Advanced registration required, space is limited

Gather in the Grove
Quarry Amphitheater

Join us in the Quarry Plaza for a family-friendly evening of music, food, games, and more!

Cost: Cash Bar

Redwood Reels: A Movie in the Quarry Amphitheatre
Showing: The Lost Boys
Quarry Amphitheater

Gather with your friends into the Quarry Amphitheater for an evening movie! Enjoy popcorn and other treats while we watch a Santa Cruz classic: The Lost Boys.

Cost: Included with Registration Fee

Continental Breakfast
Cowell Courtyard

Enjoy a light breakfast while taking in the view of Monterey Bay.

Cost: Included with Registration Fee

Check Out & Key Return
Slug Central

Double check under your bed, and make sure you've got everything! Head to the Conference Services table at Slug Central to return your key before heading out. We can't wait to see you again next year!