Skip to main content

Local navigation

In this issue

The Parent Program is here for you.

Parent Program Web site
parent@uwmad.wisc.edu
608-262-3977
877-262-3977

Professional Staff:
Nancy Sandhu
Patti Lux-Weber

Student Interns:
Julie Bohl
Nicole Schneider
Kim Mueller

Winter To-Do List Offers Plenty of Options

It is no secret that Madison has a well-deserved reputation for a “lively” winter weather environment. During 2008, this “lively” weather produced a whopping 100 inches of snow, and this year has already brought Arctic-style snow and ice, along with frigid temperatures and wind chills.

Photo of students building a snowman on Bascom Hill.

Students build a snowman on Bascom Hill dring a winter snowstorm.

But the snow and cold need not trap students in their classrooms, residence halls, and apartments during the early weeks of spring semester. Although video game consoles and hanging out with friends remain popular forms of entertainment, the close connection between the campus and the city ensure opportunities ranging from low-priced sporting events and live music, to engaging speakers and theater performances. Those who are hearty enough to venture outside can also enjoy the beauty of a Wisconsin winter.

“This campus, along with the surrounding community, is one of the most active and dynamic places in the country,” says Dean of Students Lori Berquam. “There is no better place to be a college student. At any given time, there are literally thousands of things to do and ways to get involved.

“I’d urge every student to use this semester to do something they’ve never done,” she adds. “Parents can help encourage students to break out of their comfort zones and make these connections.”

Badger Parent recently surveyed students and staff about winter entertainment. While by no means all-inclusive, this list includes a variety of opportunities your student may take advantage of during the winter months. Ask your student how he or she is handling the weather and getting involved this semester. If you sense that your student is getting “cabin fever,” sharing these ideas with him or her may spark an interest.

On campus
Students suggested picking up copies of free newspapers such as the Badger Herald, Daily Cardinal, Isthmus, and Onion to see listings of local events.

“Keep your eye out for different indoor activities, like performances, music, or university-sponsored events to get enough variety in your recreation diet as to not go stir crazy,” advises UW–Madison student Kiera Wiatrak. “And plan in advance, because if it’s 8 or 9 p.m. on a cold Friday night and you don’t have any plans yet, you’re probably not going to be able to motivate yourself to leave home.”

“There is no better place to be a college student. At any given time there are literally thousands of things to do and ways to get involved.”

No discussion of “things to do” on campus would be complete without a mention of the Wisconsin Union. Through the Wisconsin Union Directorate, more than 1,000 activities, ranging from art shows to films and outdoor programming to volunteerism, are held each year. For an events list, visit the Wisconsin Union Web site.

UW–Madison frequently ranks highly on lists as diverse as the most CEOs listed among S&P 500 companies and number of volunteers to the Peace Corps. Berquam says that students begin the journey to leadership or service by participating in one of hundreds of student organizations, running the gamut from Action in Sudan to the Zero Gravity Team. For a full list of these organizations, visit the Student Organization Office Web site.

Additionally, students can learn more about opportunities in volunteerism and community service through the Morgridge Center for Public Service.

Although many groups and programs kick off near the start of the semester, new members and volunteers are always welcome.

An abundance of art and culture can be found both on campus and just a few blocks away. The Chazen Museum of Art is UW–Madison’s flagship art museum, but Memorial Union and the School of Human Ecology, among others, house galleries. The School of Music offers many free performances for students.

Theater also abounds, with University Theatre offering student tickets for as low as $14. The Wisconsin Union Theater also offers big-name entertainment on campus.

In Madison
Every student should take advantage of the Overture Center for the Arts, located halfway between campus and the Capitol. The mammoth white building on State Street showcases gallery space, performances, and world-class architecture. The center’s complex also houses the Madison Museum of Contemporary of Art with its striking glass “prow,” which juts out onto Henry Street. Admission is free.

For unique options for dinner and a movie, students can try Robert Redford’s Sundance Cinemas. Showing independent and art-house films, the theater is a short ride from campus at Hilldale Mall.

“Sundance is very cool,” says Wiatrak. “The seats are nicer, and the atmosphere is different than a normal movie theater. Plus they show independent movies, which add new depth to mainstream cinema.”

Some of the best things to do and see can be found on State Street and around Capitol Square, advises Gwen Evans, a staff member in University Communications and author of Madison: The Guide. State Street offers a mile-long stretch of restaurants, coffee shops, galleries, and retail businesses.

For museum buffs, she suggests stops at both the Wisconsin Historical Society on Library Mall and the Wisconsin Veterans Museum across from the Capitol. She also encourages a tour of the State Capitol, where, she says, “You’ll see the chambers of the Legislature and the Supreme Court, among other things. Recently restored, the building is amazing.”

Outdoors
Madison consistently makes “best of” lists of national magazines ranking the most fit or the best outdoor cities. Winter sports are abundant.

The Hoofers Outing Club, an arm of the Union, provides many organized activities to prevent cabin fever, including ski and snowboarding trips. The Division of Recreational Sports also sponsors many winter sports activities, including intramural hockey and ice skating.

Lastly, no UW–Madison student experience is complete without sledding down Bascom Hill or one of the hills overlooking Lake Mendota.