Virtual Family Weekend 2020

Welcome!

Thank you for joining us for Family Weekend 2020. We hope you find the content on this webpage to be helpful, engaging, and fun. Explore the offerings below and check out a variety of live events created just for you. You can also use the navigation section directly below to find information of interest.

We want to begin by sharing remarks from Chancellor Rebecca Blank. Since we are not able to gather in-person for our annual Chancellor’s Welcome Reception, we hope you enjoy this video message for Badger families.

Let us know if have any questions by emailing parent@uwmad.wisc.edu. If you’re not able to join us live this weekend, the content below will continue to be available to you afterwards, at the same links and here on this page.

We also invite you to share pictures and stories of whoever is in your #BadgerFamily with us on Facebook – whether that is chosen family, friends, parents, grandparents, or pets. On, Wisconsin!

Explore Family Weekend

Live Events

Friday College of Letters & Science Honors Program Event

Saturday Virtual UW-Madison Campus Tour

Badger Talks with Veronica Rueckert

Wisconsin Union Recipes

Wisconsin Union Terrace Coloring Pages

Music Performances

Fun for #FutureBadgers

University Book Store Giveaways

The Red Shirt

Future Events

Live Events

Join us for a variety of events and panels occurring Friday and Saturday. All events will be captioned live via a link in the YouTube video description, and all will be available for viewing any time after the event.

Strategies for Well-Being and Connection

Date: Friday, October 16
Time: Noon-1 p.m. CDT

How do we support and affirm our students as they process all that has happened this year – from racial injustice to a global pandemic? How do students find community in a COVID-19 environment, whether they live at home or on campus? Join our campus experts as they share guidance and strategies from a trauma-informed perspective.

Life on Purpose: Three Questions Only You Can Answer

Date: Saturday, October 17
Time: 10-11 a.m. CDT

Dr. Christine Whelan teaches class on Consuming Happiness, Belonging & Purpose and Finance & Families. She is the author of four applied research books, including The Big Picture: A Guide to Finding Your Purpose in Life (2016). Dr. Whelan has been published in the New York Times, Washington Post and USA Today, among many others, and is a frequent guest on national and local television and radio.

Insights from Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Lori Reesor

Date: Saturday, October 17
Time: 11 a.m.-Noon CDT

Join Vice Chancellor Reesor for conversation and community as she reflects on her roles as a college administrator and college parent. What does student support look like while living through multiple crises – COVID-19, an economic recession, and racial injustice? How can parents help their students navigate this semester and the year ahead? Hear her perspectives on guiding our students during this time.

Learn to Draw Bucky Badger with Wheelhouse Studios

Date: Saturday, October 17
Time: Noon-1 p.m. CDT

Family Weekend Draw Together: Follow along with Taylor Franklin, Program Director of Wheelhouse Studios – UW’s Art Studio and learn how to draw Bucky Badger. All you need is a piece of paper, a drawing utensil, and a good attitude. Taylor will break down the drawing lesson into easy steps for the whole Badger family to enjoy.

Here are suggested supplies to draw your Bucky or Becky Badger:

Pencil
Eraser
Black and red markers preferred, but colored pencil and crayons could also work!

Attending College During a Pandemic: The Mental Health Impact and How We Can All Help

Date: Saturday, October 17
Time: 2-3 p.m. CDT

As the pandemic continues across the country, college students, like everyone, have had their lives disrupted in many ways. Stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness and other negative mental health outcomes are expected reactions to our current global events. UW-Madison has many resources to help students manage during this time, and we also know that families are a critical part of supporting students. In this session, the Director of Mental Health Services, Dr. Sarah Nolan, will discuss mental health trends on campus, resources at UW, and ways that family and friends can support students during this unique time.

HAMILTON: How a Musical About History is Making Musical History!

Date: Saturday, October 17
Time: 3-4 p.m. CDT

Hamilton: An American Musical tells the story of the founding of the country and the Revolution, while also commenting on contemporary issues in America today. With a soundtrack and script that fuses classical musical theatre and poetry with elements of popular music and hip hop, its storytelling both builds on the past and looks to the future. A cultural phenomenon that exemplifies the highest excellence in the genre, Hamilton appeals to a diverse audience far beyond the lights of Broadway and the success of the show is changing what theatre is being produced – what stories are being told and who is telling them.

College of Letters & Science Honors Program Event

Date: Friday, October 16
Time: 4-5 p.m. CDT
Zoom Event Link: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/91871706283?pwd=RnMraFFJUHJPRldOWU1TWjhDWU9WUT09

Current Letters and Science Honors Program students and families – please join us on Friday, October 16 at 4 pm (CDT) for conversation and an information session held via Zoom. Honors Faculty Director Sabine Gross, Associate Directors Sara Stephenson and Matt Kohlstedt along with other Honors team members will explain opportunities the Honors Program provides, answer your questions, and offer details about any of the Program’s aspects. This is a live event that will allow you to ask questions.

Please note that while students not currently enrolled in the Honors Program in the College of Letters & Science are able to join, this event will be tailored and most useful to those already in the program.

For questions and accommodations, please contact honors@honors.ls.wisc.edu.

Virtual UW-Madison Campus Tour

Date: Saturday, October 17
Time: 3:45-4:45 p.m. CDT
Event Link (Link will become live 30 minutes before the start of the event): https://us.bbcollab.com/collab/ui/session/guest/50e02606652b48c6bc42af31b829fcf1

Come join a few UW-Madison student tour guides on our newest virtual campus tour! On this tour, you will be guided through the vibrant city and campus and learn more about different sites, places, and how students enjoy spending their time in the city. Learn more about how UW-Madison is pushing boundaries and constantly growing as a place for research, athletics, and individual growth.

How to Join Session:

Blackboard is fully committed to ensuring all products and services we deliver are both usable and accessible to all users regardless of age, ability, or situation. For information, please visit https://help.blackboard.com/Collaborate/Ultra/Participant/Accessibility.

Open the link in your browser.
After the page loads, type your name and select Join Session.
If this is your first time joining the session, complete the audio and video set up and add a profile picture.

Best Practices for Best Experience:

Use a hard-wired (Ethernet) connection, if available, or a Wifi connection. If using Wifi, try to be as close to the router as possible.
Close other programs. Close all programs and streaming services on your computer except for the browser you are using for your Collaborate session.
Keep your browser current. Only use up-to-date Internet browsers that are supported by Blackboard Collaborate.
Limit video use. Use video during the session only when necessary.
Use supported mobile browsers. If on a mobile device, use a supported mobile browser. For the best experience, use Safari on iOS devices and Chrome on Android devices.
Use headphones. Cut down on the background noise and use headphones.
Disable Adblockers. Browser Adblockers can turn off your audio and video and can cause buttons to not show up.

Badger Talks with Veronica Rueckert

Veronica Rueckert, former host and producer of Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Central Time,” is the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s National Media Relations Specialist. Before that, she hosted the state-wide call in program, “The Veronica Rueckert Show” and was a producer on WPR’s Peabody Award-winning program “To the Best of Our Knowledge,” distributed nationally by Public Radio International.

Learn more on the Badger Talks website.

Managing Personal Finances During a Pandemic

Veronica Rueckert interviews J. Michael Collins, a professor and director of the Center for Financial Security in the School of Human Ecology at UW–Madison, about how COVID-19 is affecting household finances.

Mental Health Challenges in the Black Community

Dr. Alvin Thomas, Assistant Professor in Human Development and Family Studies in the UW-Madison School of Human Ecology, talks about why we need to prepare for a coming mental health crisis for Black men and boys. Thomas is also director of the Ethnic Youth and Resilience Lab at UW-Madison.

What Pet Owners Should Know

Veronica Rueckert talks with Professor Tony Goldberg of the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine about what precautions we can take with our dogs and cats during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How to Cope with the Sense of Loss During the Pandemic

Richard “Richie” Davidson, founder and director of the Center for Healthy Minds at UW-Madison, talks about how to cope with the loss that comes with living during a global pandemic. Richie is best known for his groundbreaking work studying emotion and the brain.

Coping with the “Quarantine Blues”

Veronica Rueckert talks with a Postdoctoral Scholar in the UW-Madison Department of Psychology, Karen Smith, about ways to cope with the stress of spending so much time at home during the COVID-19 crisis.

How to Talk to One Another While Wearing Masks

Maryellen MacDonald, a professor of psychology and an expert in how we produce and understand language, discusses how to adapt to speaking in a mask.

Terrace Coloring Pages

Enjoy these downloadable Terrace-themed coloring pages created by Wisconsin Union artists. Click the images to download and print the coloring pages.

Cook with the Wisconsin Union

Missing some of your Wisconsin Union favorites? Wisconsin Union Dining at Home brings you step by step copycat recipes.

Ginger Root Sesame Chicken

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs of Store-bought Popcorn Chicken
1 tsp Vegetable Oil
2 tsp Garlic, minced
2 Tbsp Green Onion, sliced (divided)
1/2 Cup Soy Sauce
1/4 Cup Chicken Stock
1/4 Cup Ketchup
1/4 Cup Honey
3 Tbsp Light Brown Sugar
3 Tbsp Rice Wine Vinegar
3 Tbsp Sambal Olek Chili-Garlic Sauce
2 Tbsp Sesame Oil
4 tsp Cornstarch
2 Tbsp Sesame Seeds

S'mores Cookie

Ingredients

2 sticks unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 egg
1 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 - 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp Kosher salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 lb. bittersweet chocolate chips
1 cup mini marshmallows

Rath Sauce and Tot Seasoning

Ingredients

1 cup of good quality Ranch dressing
1/4 cup of Sweet & Tangy BBQ Sauce
1/4 cup Mayonnaise
1/4 cup Ketchup
2 tsp. Adobo Sauce from Canned Chipotles

Music Performances

Enjoy these music performances from UW’s Wisconsin Singers, the Madison World Music Festival, and the Wingra Quintet.

Wisconsin Singers

Featuring the top talents from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin Singers entertains more than 50,000 annually with stellar vocals, stunning choreography and spectacular big band sound from the past forty years. Wisconsin Singers students come from a variety of majors across campus, all of whom have a passion for excellence, either onstage as a performer or working behind the scenes in backstage or entertainment management internships. Recognized as the very first collegiate pop music ensemble that features song, dance, and live instrumentals, Wisconsin Singers has been touring the country since 1967.

Madison World Music Festival

Music and dance from unique and unexpected parts of the world, this festival is a celebration of cultures. Historically the Madison World Music Festival has taken place on the famous Memorial Union Terrace and the Willy Street Fair every fall.

The 2020 Madison World Music Festival featured artists from Ho-Chunk Nation, Russia, Guinea, Latin America, Jordan and Haiti. We hope you enjoy this virtual event!

Live with Wingra Quintet

An exclusive premiere performance by the Mead Witter School of Music’s faculty woodwind quintet with commentary by Alicia Lee, The Wingra Quintet performs selections from the eclectic character pieces in Nine Romanian Children’s Songs by Bela Bartók and Endre Szervanszky’s energetic and engaging Fúvósötös Wind Quintet. The performance was recorded early this spring in the Collins Recital Hall at UW-Madison’s beautiful, new Hamel Music Center, and is being premiered through Badger Talks Live.

#FutureBadgers

Do you have #FutureBadgers at home? Take a look at these family-friendly events.

Wisconsin Science Festival

Celebrate curiosity at the 10th #WiSciFest, occurring October 15-18, 2020.

The four-day Wisconsin Science Festival features events from sites throughout Wisconsin.

Activities include hands-on science experiments, live Q&A sessions and interviews with scientists, demonstrations, performances, behind-the-scenes tours and more.

Virtual Admissions Events

Join the Office of Admissions and Recruitment for their Virtual Open House, a multi-day event that offers prospective students and their families an opportunity to explore the schools, colleges, and resources available at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

During the event, you’ll have the opportunity to join various live sessions including housing, financial aid, academic information sessions, a virtual campus tour, admissions information session, a student panel, and a variety of interactive panels with programs and offices from across campus. Each session will include an opportunity for Q&A.

Wheelhouse Studios At Home

Creativity can't be quarantined and until we can be together again, try one of the Wisconsin Union's favorite at-home projects perfect for artists of all skill levels.

University Book Store Giveaways

Enjoy this 20 percent off use code for your entire online purchase.

And register to win a $100 e-gift card from the University Book Store!

The Red Shirt

Get The Red Shirt™, 13th Edition Today!

Nothing beats classic university style! This design features a fun retro script with a spirited swoosh — and a familiar face peeking through. Plus, 25% of every sale supports need-based student scholarships, courtesy of the Wisconsin Alumni Association. It’s a fun shirt with a serious mission.