Inside Iowa State

May 21, 2004

Summer brings thousands of visitors to campus

by Anne Krapfl

Lest you're thinking there's "nobody" on campus this summer, heads up.

The university actually is expecting lots of visitors, of all ages, to campus this summer. Here's a quick rundown of who's coming, when and where on campus they'll be hanging out,.

Iowa Special Olympics

The activity picks up this week. About 9,000 people, including 3,000 athletes, visit campus Thursday through Saturday noon (May 20-22) for the Iowa Special Olympics summer games. They'll be living and eating in the Maple-Willow-Larch residence complex and competing in and around the Lied Center and Forker, the Iowa State Center lots (Thursday only) and at Beyer Hall. A large crowd is expected at Hilton Thursday evening for the games' opening ceremony. As previously announced, Wallace Road will be closed from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, May 20-21. Staff will have limited access to lots adjacent to competition sites on Friday.

Alumni return

An estimated 400 alumni and guests, including about 250 from the class of 1954, return to campus May 20-21 for Alumni Days. Activities are centered at the Memorial Union, but there will be tours and small group activities around campus during those two days.

Girls State

For the second year, Iowa State will be the site June 20-25 of the American Legion Auxiliary's Iowa Girls State, a government conference of 350 girls entering their senior year of high school this fall. The girls will live at Larch Hall; their daytime activities will be held at the Scheman Building, with a closing event Friday night at Stephens.

High school cheerleaders

In mid-July, a total of about 800 high school cheerleaders will attend four cheer camps on campus, sponsored by two separate national cheer associations. The four camps will be held between July 11 and July 23. Campers will live at the Maple-Willow-Larch complex. They will have outdoor practices and indoor sessions at Beyer Hall and State Gym.

Iowa Games

The summer edition of the amateur Iowa Games returns to campus Friday through Sunday, July 16-18. About 10,000 athletes will be joined by another 10,000 to 12,000 coaches and spectators. The Maple-Willow-Larch residence halls will be full, as will be the Lied Center, Beyer and Forker halls, State Gym, intramural fields east of Jack Trice Stadium, Veenker golf course, an equestrian area at the Vet Med complex, and the soccer fields adjoining the Towers and Willow residence halls. An opening ceremony Friday evening will be at the stadium. A second, smaller weekend of mostly adult Iowa Games venues -- darts, flag football, soccer -- is scheduled for July 23-25.

Chemistry faculty

The Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, an event of the American Chemical Society, will be held at Iowa State July 18-22. Chemistry faculty member Tom Greenbowe is chairing the conference. The anticipated 1,500 attendees are primarily college-level (some high school) chemistry instructors from all over the country. They will stay in Maple-Willow-Larch, Frederiksen Court apartments and Ames hotels. Their large-group events will be in buildings at the Iowa State Center; their daytime classroom and lab activities will be primarily in Gilman and Hoover halls and Molecular Biology building.

Boy Scouts

National Order of the Arrow, the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America, will hold its biennial conference on campus July 31-Aug. 5. NOAC also came to Iowa State in 1998. About 7,500 scouts -- adults to 8-year-olds (although 75 percent are youths) -- will attend. They'll live in residence halls in all corners of campus, from the Towers to Frederiksen Court. Their schedule includes three days (Aug. 1-3) of training courses in 130 campus classrooms and auditoriums, and a large group event and celebration Aug. 4 at the Iowa State Center.

Cyclone sports camps

Additionally, during June and July more than 5,000 school-age campers will attend about three dozen Cyclone sports camps coordinated by the athletic department.

Orientation for incoming students

The month of June also is orientation season for incoming students to Iowa State. Between June 2 and 30, an estimated 3,300 freshmen, some with parents, will participate in a two-day program coordinated by New Student Programs in the admissions office.