Young Alumni Weekend Schedule
This schedule is subject to change.
Thursday, June 16
Class of 2020 arrives
Registration Desk Open 8 a.m.-11 p.m.
6-7 p.m.
Dinner (for the class of 2020 and guests only)
Joe Rosenfield ’25 Center (JRC), Marketplace
This meal is through the line.
8-11 p.m.
Class of 2020 Reception
Humanities and Social Studies Center (HSSC), Courtyard
Join classmates for an informal gathering in the new HSSC Courtyard. Beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided along with an ice cream bar.
Friday, June 17
All other classes arrive.
Registration Desk open 8 a.m.-11 p.m.
Game Lounge located in Main Lounge opens at Noon.
10 a.m.
2020 Class Photo
Bear Athletic Center, Darby Gym
The College invites the class of 2020 to gather for a class photo.
10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Class of 2020 Pancakes and Professors
Harris Center, Concert Hall
Current professors are invited to join the class of 2020 for a celebratory breakfast that will include a special guest speaker and remarks by President Anne F. Harris.
1:30-3 p.m.
Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Social Justice (CRSSJ) Open House
CRSSJ, 913 8th Ave
Stop by the Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Social Justice to take a tour of the space in its new (since 2019) location at 913 8th Ave. Checkout the lending library, food pantry, Muslim & Hindu prayer and cultural rooms and meditation spaces.
2-4 p.m.
Humanities and Social Studies Center (HSSC) Open House
HSSC
Please join faculty and staff for an informal open house of the Humanities and Social Studies Center (HSSC). Pick up a guide when you arrive and explore this remarkable facility. We invite you to experience how the HSSC honors the history of Carnegie and ARH by providing innovative, thoughtful, and interdisciplinary teaching and learning spaces.
2-4 p.m.
Connect with the Center for Careers, Life, and Service
HSSC, A1231 (Multipurpose Room)
Catch up with staff from the Center for Careers, Life, and Service and discuss all things career, life, and service. Bring along your resume and/or cover letter for a quick review, get feedback on inklings of career switches, and peruse materials about competitive fellowships and awards.
2:00-3:30 p.m.
International Alumni Reception
HSSC, N1164 (Global Event Room)
The Office of International Student Affairs (OISA) invites you to reconnect and reminisce with fellow international alumni in their new space.
3-4 p.m.
Yoga
Bucksbaum Dance Studio
Join Annie Casey ’17 for a creative, slower paced yoga class for all levels that will incorporate a full range of poses to unwind your body and sooth your nervous system. Expect a blend of Vinyasa flow along with rejuvenating and restorative elements found in Yin/Yoga Nidra. Variations will be offered for beginner, intermediate and advanced students. Annie considers yoga integral to living an authentic and embodied life in an increasingly fast-paced and cerebral world; she has been teaching since 2018 and completed her 500RYT in 2021. Mats will be provided.
3-4:30 p.m.
Pioneer Athletics Reception
Grinnell College Golf Course Clubhouse, Banquet Room and Lounge
Join athletics staff, current coaches, and former coaches for a reception honoring Grinnell athletics. There will be a short program at 3:30 p.m. Preregistration is encouraged.
4-6 p.m.
Multicultural Town Hall and Reception
HSSC, Auditorium (A2231)
Meet Grinnell College’s 14th President, Anne F. Harris and hear her vision for the College. She will take questions from you, the alumni, and will discuss how we can come together and build our Grinnell College community. Reception to follow.
5-6 p.m.
Open AA/Al-Anon Recovery Meeting
Goodnow, Room 109
Alumni, their families, staff, and students are welcome to attend.
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Young Alumni Dinner
Eighth Avenue
Join all classes for a BBQ in recognition of Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the day that news of emancipation reached the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas in 1865. Juneteenth is celebrated annually by African Americans across the United States. Check out the table tents at this dinner for more information about Juneteenth history and traditions. *In case of inclement weather, this event will be moved inside to the Marketplace and classes will be assigned specific times to allow seating for all. We appreciate your cooperation with a rain plan if it is necessary.
7:30 - 7:50 p.m.
2014 Class Photo
Bear Athletic Center, Darby Gym
The College invites the class of 2014 to gather for a class photo.
7:50 - 8:10 p.m.
2015 Class Photo
Bear Athletic Center, Darby Gym
The College invites the class of 2015 to gather for a class photo.
8-10 p.m.
Too Many String Band
Bob’s Underground
Enjoy acoustic folk and bluegrass music performed by beloved Grinnell professors. This is a substance free event.
8 p.m.-Midnight
Open Game Lounge
Main Lounge
Don’t forget the game lounge is open all evening long. Join fellow game enthusiasts in the Game Lounge, which offers a variety of card and board games. Check out the sign-up sheet at the Registration Desk if you’d like to coordinate a game ahead of time or simply show up and see who’s playing. This is a substance free space.
8:10 - 8:30 p.m.
2016 Class Photo
Bear Athletic Center, Darby Gym
The College invites the class of 2016 to gather for a class photo.
8:30 p.m.-Midnight
Cluster Lounge Parties
Younker Hall, Gates Hall, and Loose Hall
Alums are invited to travel between three lounge parties over the course of the night to mingle with friends across class years. The lounge parties will be hosted by class clusters (14-15-16, 17-18-19, and 20-21). Everyone is invited to gather at 10:10 p.m. for an all-campus “Cheers to Grinnell” on Mac Field and for pizza at midnight.
10-11:30 p.m.
Grant O. Gale Observatory open hours
College Observatory
Professor Bob Cadmus will show you the stars. Shuttles will depart from the JRC parking lot approximately every half hour. Or feel free to walk out to the Observatory. Last shuttle will depart at 11 p.m.
Saturday, June 18
Registration Desk open 8 a.m.-11 p.m.
Game Lounge located in Main Lounge opens at Noon.
8:30-10:30 a.m.
Trip to Conard Environmental Research Area (CERA)
Departs from front of JRC
Join faculty from the Department of Biology to tour the College's biological field station. The one-mile hike will take you through reconstructed prairie, restored savanna, along Willow Creek and Perry Pond, and through two experimental plot arrays, ending with a brief tour of the Environmental Education Center.
9 a.m.
Alumni 5K Fun Run/Walk
Starting line: south side of Bear
The Alumni 5K Fun Run/Walk is a great way to start your Saturday. In case of inclement weather, this event will be cancelled.
9-10 a.m.
Yoga
Bucksbaum Dance Studio
Join Annie Casey ’17 for a creative, slower paced yoga class for all levels that will incorporate a full range of poses to unwind your body and sooth your nervous system. Expect a blend of Vinyasa flow along with rejuvenating and restorative elements found in Yin/Yoga Nidra. Variations will be offered for beginner, intermediate and advanced students. Annie considers yoga integral to living an authentic and embodied life in an increasingly fast-paced and cerebral world; she has been teaching since 2018 and completed her 500RYT in 2021. Mats will be provided.
9:30 a.m.
Serenity Sisterhood - Women’s AA/Al-Anon Recovery Meeting
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1206 State Street
All women are welcome to this recovery meeting held off-campus, just across Sixth Street.
10-10:50 a.m.
Camp Cycle with Ben Vaughn ‘15
Bear, Multipurpose Studio
Let’s party together! In this 50-minute ride, we will ride and move our whole body to the rhythm and beat of the music. This class is energizing and empowering, inviting all who can join. Due to the limited number of bikes, you are encouraged to show up early to secure a spot. Arrive at 9:45 a.m. or earlier to set up your bike, and we’ll start the party at 10!
Ben is a group instructor, coach, and trainer at Life Time Fitness in Maryland. Follow him @itsmebennyv to stay connected and see some previews of the fun we will have together. Let’s move together again!
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Grinnell Farmers’ Market
Central Park, Fourth Avenue and Broad Street
The Grinnell Farmers’ Market takes place from 10 a.m. to Noon at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Broad Street in downtown Grinnell. All vendors at the market sell products they produce themselves.
10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Brunch
JRC, Marketplace
This meal is through the line.
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Personal Finance 101
HSSC, S1325 (Presentation Room)
The financial habits that recent graduates establish in their first few years after college impact their lifestyles for years to come. This workshop will discuss common financial pitfalls and how to avoid them, budget planning, retirement planning in your 20s (yes, there are things you can be doing already!), and how to plan for the things you care about. Take charge of your money!
12 p.m.
Open Game Lounge
Main Lounge
Don’t forget the game lounge is open all evening long. Join fellow game enthusiasts in the Game Lounge, which offers a variety of card and board games. Check out the sign-up sheet at the Registration Desk if you’d like to coordinate a game ahead of time or simply show up and see who’s playing. This is a substance free space.
12 – 1 p.m.
History of Juneteenth Discussion
HSSC, A1231 (Multipurpose Room)
Join Dr. Kesho Scott for an experiential discussion of Juneteenth. The session will begin with an imagining exercise--What if, for the last 157 years since U.S. slavery ended, Juneteenth had been a National Holiday? How might our racial landscapes be changed in America? The session will be comprised of three parts: History, Strategies for Engagement, and Celebration.
1 – 5 p.m.
Stew Makerspace Open House
927 Broad Street
Join Program and Education Coordinator Craig Gibbens ’95 for an open house at the Stew Makerspace (927 Broad St.). Learn about its role as a creative, multipurpose space in downtown Grinnell, and make buttons to celebrate Young Alumni Weekend. This effort is a collaboration between the Grinnell Area Arts Council and the Wilson Center at Grinnell College. It serves as a free space for fabrication, tinkering, and more for community members, students, and faculty.
1:15-3 p.m.
Juneteenth Celebration and Conney M. Kimbo Black Cultural Center (BCC) Open House
Conney M. Kimbo Black Cultural Center, 1003 10th Ave.
Juneteenth is an important holiday that honors and celebrates African American/Black liberation, culture, history, and life. Stop by the BCC with alumni from the Grinnell African American/Black and ally community for the Juneteenth celebration. Grab a snack, enjoy music, play trivia, and receive giveaways!
2:30-5 p.m.
Relays 2.0
Mac Field
Relays is a long beloved tradition at Grinnell. Redesigned by each class year and sometimes played off campus, Relays has evolved over the years, as many games have come and gone. And while we can’t promise what this year’s games will hold, we can ensure that they will be hilarious and filled with lots of people unafraid to make a fool of themselves. Come join the fun!
3:30-4:45 p.m.
Wine Tasting 101
JRC 209
Join Sommelier Vernon Jackson Jr. ’15 for a dive into the magical world of wine. Learn how to become comfortable and trust your palate!
4-5 p.m.
Open AA/Al-Anon Recovery Meeting
Goodnow, Room 109
Alumni, their families, staff, and students are welcome to attend.
4:30-6 p.m.
Stonewall Resource Center Open House & Reception
Stonewall Resource Center, Younker Hall, lower level
Join current students, as well as alumni from the Grinnell LGBTQIA+ and ally community for this casual reception and open house.
5-8 p.m.
Block Party – Food Truck Dinner
Eighth Avenue
Join fellow Young Alumni attendees for a fun evening of yard games and food trucks. There also will be a beer and wine tent. Wristbands will be required for this event and each guest will have wristband tabs to exchange for food and beverages from our diverse array of local vendors.
8-11 p.m.
Trivia Night
Bob’s Underground
Test your knowledge about current events, pop-culture, and all things Grinnell. Trivia starts promptly at 8:30 p.m. so arrive early and form a team with a clever name. Late arrivals are welcome to watch, but will not be able to join. This is a substance free event.
9 p.m.-1 a.m.
"Choose Your Own Adventure" Harris Party
Harris Center, Concert Hall
Dress up for your favorite Harris Party – maybe it’s Disco, Mary B. James, Fetish… or something totally new – anything goes at “Choose Your Own Adventure" Harris.
10-11:30 p.m.
Grant O. Gale Observatory open hours
College Observatory
Professor Bob Cadmus will show you the stars. Shuttles will depart from the JRC parking lot approximately every half hour. Or feel free to walk out to the Observatory. Last shuttle will depart at 11 p.m.
Sunday, June 19
Registration Desk open 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
8:30-11 a.m.
Farewell Breakfast
JRC, Marketplace
This meal is through the line.
1:30 p.m.
Campus Closes
Updated 6/1/2022