Free Time Activities

"If you are bored with Berkeley, you are bored with life."

—Clark Kerr, former Chancellor

After your arrival at Cal on Friday, there might be quite a few hours to kill before dinner and the rest of the conference takes place.  Don’t worry about having nothing to do, because there’s always something going on at Cal!

The California Golden Overtones – Among the top a cappella groups in the nation (and Canada), these girls generously share their beautiful voices with the Cal community singing every Friday 1pm by the Sather Gate.

“Club Fair” – Experience the diverse clubs on the Berkeley campus by strolling through Sproul Plaza, where every club that is any club has a table to attract people to their next event.

Campus Tour – Come enjoy with us the diverse cultures that can be seen in our buildings on campus while savoring the peaceful setting.

Drop in lectures – Are you wondering how the Berkeley teacher’s run their classes? Well, ponder no more. Join us in attending one of the lectures anywhere on campus.  Our volunteers will have a schedule of classes so you can find the class you are interested in.

Hike to the “Big C” – High above the Berkeley campus and overlooking the entire Bay Area, the Big C provides a great retreat from all the humans down there.  Great hike, great view.  Beware of wet paint due to our rivalry with Stanford!

Berkeley is an urban campus with too many local landmarks to list.  Here are a few most famous ones:*

Telegraph Avenue – Come savor the unique experience of a diverse shopping center located on the sidewalks of Telegraph.  Enjoy not only the diverse stores but also the interesting street vendors and their crafts.

Berkeley Art Museum – The Berkeley Art Museum houses a permanent collection including California and Asian art, along with important touring exhibitions, all in an ultra-modern building with adjacent sculpture garden.

Lawrence Hall of Science – A public science center where people of all ages can participate in astronomy, computer, and biology activities.  Planetarium programs, films, and lectures weekly.

Berkeley Iceland – Berkeley Iceland has the largest ice skating surface in Northern California.  Beginners and advanced skaters alike can all have fun.