Campus Attractions for 'Tweeners?

Parents Forum
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<p>I'm writing an article for the College Confidential Web site about campus attractions for younger siblings (ages 10 to 14 or thereabouts) who go on college visits with their families, whether it's by choice or a forced march.</p>

<p>Can any of you suggest campuses that have special features that would appeal to the middle-school set. Granted, most colleges and universities offer snack bars, swimming pools, gyms and sports arenas (some quite celebrated) that younger kids might like, and even classrooms, science labs, art studios, etc., can catch a pre-teen's eye.</p>

<p>But I'm looking for more unique features. For instance, when I worked at Smith, visiting parents and applicants with younger kids in tow sometimes commented that the I.D. tags on trees and plants throughout campus made a hit. (The Smith campus was created as an arboretum by Frederick Law Olmsted, the same guy who designed NYC's Central Park, thus the ubiquitous labeling). </p>

<p>And last year, my son, who was 10 at the time, liked the Claes Oldenburg "Split Button" sculpture in the middle of the University of Pennsylvania campus, which seemed to be doubling as a climbing structure.</p>

<p>Admittedly, this isn't tantamount to having a Six Flags next to the quadrangle, but I'm not necessarily looking for big-woof submissions, just anything that's not standard fare and might appeal to younger visitors. Suggestions could include interesting architecture or eateries, animal barns, cool museums (probably NOT art unless it's unusual :)), etc.</p>

<p>I'm not looking for NEARBY attractions either unless they're really close to campus and truly exceptional (e.g., Historic Williamsburg adjacent to the College of William and Mary would probably qualify).</p>

<p>Any recommendations? Thanks in advance for your help.</p>

2

<p>At Allegheny college they have a circle of big sculptures made out of ... what looks like really cool green glass... and if you stand right in the middle, your voice echos. It's even cool for grown-ups.</p>

3

<p>At UCSD - </p>

<ul>
<li><p>The campus library, the Geisel library (after Dr. Seuss who lived in the area and donated to the library) has some statues of Dr. Seuss characters out front and a number of Seuss drawings on display inside. The library, an inverted pyramid, was also used in a number of movies as a 'building in the future' and was used in the classic movie - Attack of the Killer Tomatoes".</p></li>
<li><p>'Singing Trees' - a wooded area in the middle of campus has random music coming from the trees.</p></li>
<li><p>Birch Aquarium - a large aquarium exhibit (for a charge) that's part of UCSD Scripps institute. It's part of the campus but away from the main campus by a mile or so. Fantastic ocean views on the way to it. </p></li>
<li><p>Fairly nearby - La Jolla cove with beaches, seals, etc.</p></li>
</ul>

4

<p>Things that stuck with me, for whatever reason:
"C" bench at the U of C - has this cool echo if you stand in a certain spot that only you can hear
My first Johnny Rockets visit by JHU
I loved the maps at JHU--you could press a button and ask how to get somewhere and someone's voice would answer you from the map. Creepy.
The student paintings on the walls in the dorms at Caltech
That women's fountain at Yale (I think that's what it's called)
For some reason the graveyard at Yale really stuck out to me
Pep rally at Notre Dame, how every dorm had their own cheers and themes</p>

5

<p>At *Penn State's **main campus, families can make a stop at the Creamery to sample ice cream flavors such as *Peachy Paterno! :)
Berkey</a> Creamery - Creamery</p>

<p>At Smith College, a tour of the wonderful Art Museum should include a visit to the rest rooms ;)
Smith</a> College: Brown Fine Arts Center
[url=<a href="http://backissues.saqonline.smith.edu/aarticle.epl?articleid=1200%5DSmith"&gt;http://backissues.saqonline.smith.edu/aarticle.epl?articleid=1200]Smith&lt;/a> College Alumnae<a href="%22Flush%20with%20Art%22">/url</a></p>

6

<p>At Princeton, there are two booklets available that are great fun: one is a hunt for tigers on campus, one is a hunt for gargoyles on campus.</p>

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<p>Anything for RPI? We are going this summer with a 9 yr old.</p>

8

<p>University of Washington campus is the home of the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture:</p>

<p>Welcome</a> - Burke Museum</p>

<p>I'm going down there to see the Last Polar Bear photo exhibit when it opens.</p>

9

<p>Jumbo (elephant) hunting at Tufts is fun. </p>

<p>Swarthmore is also an arboretum, with tags on all plants/trees. Also, a new version of the giant chair should be on campus soon.</p>

10

<p>Reed College has a swing set.</p>

<p>Reed also has a comprehensive web site of their trees & I suppose if you had an interested party they could find their way around by identifying the trees
The</a> Trees of Reed College</p>

11

<p>UW also has [MOHAI[/url</a>] just north of the Montlake cut- south of football stadium</p>

<p>Oh and if you are in Seattle & at all interested in airplanes
[url=<a href="http://www.museumofflight.org/Display.asp?Page=GreatGallery%5DMuseum"&gt;http://www.museumofflight.org/Display.asp?Page=GreatGallery]Museum&lt;/a> of Flight](<a href="http://www.seattlehistory.org/%5DMOHAI%5B/url"&gt;http://www.seattlehistory.org/)
You will have to get into your car- as is south of UW, but worth it.</p>

12

<p>USC has the Natural History Museum and the Science Center (lots of interactive stuff), as well as an aircraft museum practically next door. No, not on campus, but across the street. Body Worlds 3 is presently on exhibit till Sept 7th at the Science Center.</p>

13

<p>My son was 14 when we visited UT Austin this spring and he loved this outdoor sculpture that was like giant noodles hanging down. We spent two days on campus, and he and my college visit daughter played in it and took pictures of each other in it whenever we walked by it. Any tween would love it. Someone posted a photo of it online here:
U</a> Texas Austin "noodles"</p>

<p>Also, UT has a bowling alley (open to the public and very reasonably priced) in the basement of the student union - my cousin who lives in Austin takes his 13 year old there. </p>

<p>And you can take guided tours of the Tower, but I think you need to reserve in advance.</p>

14

<p>Many decades ago (when I was a 'tween myself) I recall visiting the butterfly specimen collection at Harvard. I don't know if that is still open to the public, but here's a link to the current exhibits:
On</a> exhibit<em>-</em>Harvard Museum of Natural History
The collections are listed at
Entomology</a> Department - Historical Collections</p>

15

<p>Scripps College also offers a "tree tour" (tags on trees + a brochure available to follow them). I've never imagined it appealing to younger kids, though I'd occasionally get grateful comments from parents. The Graffiti Wall (a big wall where every graduating class has left a logo/quote/motto/names, etc.) would be fun for a look, as well. </p>

<p>While getting dragged along, my own sister had the best time at Pepperdine and USC. The location of the former is enough to keep everyone pretty engrossed, and in addition to what was mentioned by Sequoia, there was a good amount of kid-friendly trivia in USC's tour (esp. when we came to the film buildings). I only toured once, so I don't know how much of that was guide-specific, but my 12-13yr old sister had a ball. On-campus Jamba Juice helped, too.</p>

<p>Really just adding to the list of tree-loving campuses :)</p>

16

<p>At Cornell, climbing the 161 steps to the top of the bell tower to be there while a chimesmaster does a concert is very popular. Often the chimesmaster will do a demonstration and question and answer session following the concert.
The</a> Cornell Chimes</p>

17

<p>That reminds me...at Stanford, going to the top of Hoover Tower for a great view of the campus and at UC Berkeley, going up the Campanile for an amazing view of the campus and beyond.</p>

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<p>I guess I am a bad parent. When D was 13 (4 years ago) and brother was looking, I bought her a notebook and told her to take notes. </p>

<p>They were actually pretty good. :)</p>

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<p>This is great stuff. Thanks so much. Please keep it coming!</p>

<p>Queen's Mom ... when will you be at RPI? I'll be there with a couple 11-year-olds near the end of July, but that may be too late for me to provide you with suggestions.</p>

<p>But there are also things to do that work most anywhere. Because I've visited lots of campuses with my son, starting when he was about 5 or 6, I've made up assorted "scavenger hunts" to help keep him engaged when we're on tours or strolling around campus. I give him a list of things to look for, and he tries to find everything on the list. Even if I've never been to the campus before, there are plenty of generic items that are almost sure-things (e.g., "discarded coffee cup," "orange backpack"). If I've done my homework in advance, I can add more specifics like "building shaped like an octagon" or "anything with a blue hen (or bobcat, bulldog, eagle, etc. ... depending on the mascot-du-jour) on it." At RPI, you could try counting the "Red Hawks" you see on campus.</p>

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<p>They are having an open house on the 14th and 15th of July. Maybe I can provide you with suggestions when I get back.</p>