Before they begin classes, new students at the University of Colorado at Boulder will participate in a variety of fun and information-packed activities starting Aug. 17 including biking and hiking tours, a carnival and concert.
The activities are planned to allow students a chance to get acquainted with the campus and surrounding community before fall semester begins Aug. 23. The activities are in addition to the usual array of orientation sessions that cover the details of class registration, policies and student services at each college.
Among the week's many highlights are casino night and ice skating at the Student Recreation Center, the Chancellor's New Student Convocation and dinner, free movies and mechanical bull-riding. Events include:
* Residence hall move-in will begin at 8 a.m. on Aug. 16 for transfer students, 8 a.m. on Aug. 17 for freshmen attending the last orientation session, and 10 a.m. on Aug. 19 for freshmen who attended June or July orientation sessions. On Aug. 17-18, residence halls will organize evening social activities including night hikes, Frisbee golf and volleyball games.
* The Student Recreation Center will host "Ice and Dice" Aug. 19 from 8:30 p.m. to midnight. Â鶹ÒùÔº can ice skate, use the rock climbing gym and win prizes playing casino games.
* Mechanical bull-riding, a bungee run and free food will all be part of the Residence Hall Association's new student welcome carnival on Aug. 21 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the residence hall lawn east of Farrand Hall. Student services, clubs and organizations will be on hand with information.
* CU-Boulder Chancellor Richard Bynny and other administrators will welcome all new students Aug. 20 at a mandatory convocation and informal dinner on the Norlin Quadrangle lawn, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
* Comedy, live music and free pool, bowling, food and prizes are planned at the University Memorial Center's Welcome Fest, Aug. 20 from 6 p.m. to midnight.
* "High Fidelity" and "School of Rock" will be shown back-to-back at the Friday night Jack Black movie double feature Aug. 20 at Farrand Field, 9 p.m.
* Farrand Field is the site of the new student welcome concert at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 21, presented by the CU Program Council, to be followed by an 11 p.m. showing of the movie "Orange County."
* Â鶹ÒùÔº will tour the campus and community bike path network Aug. 19 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., meeting at the Environmental Center, UMC 355.
* The Herd, CU-Boulder's Alumni Association, will host a hike from the Koenig Alumni Center to the third Flatiron Aug. 21 at 9:30 a.m., to be followed by a free lunch at La Iguana Mexican Restaurant on the Hill.
* Tours of the campus recycling facility, where students process five tons of material each day, will run Aug. 19 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
* Representatives from Wardenburg Health Center will be on the center's north lawn Aug. 18-19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. offering giveaway items, free health information and assistance with immunizations and student health insurance plan selection.
* Army ROTC "Zero Week" activities, focusing on team-building and having fun, will take place Aug. 19-21 inside Folsom Field, gate three, second floor. Anyone interested in learning more about ROTC is welcome.
* Welcome events and tours are planned at Career Services (Aug. 19-20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Willard Hall's northwest lawn), the Environmental Center (Aug. 19, noon to 2 p.m.), and the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Resource Center (welcome barbeque Aug. 27, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the Duane Physics lawn).
For more information and welcome week schedule updates, visit .