Blugold Experience Days
Come see us in person!
Hey there, Blugolds! We are so excited that you will be joining us at UW-Eau Claire. Welcome to Wisconsin's most BEAUTIFUL campus!
Blugold Experience Days (BGE) - Your In-Person Orientation
Summer BGE Days (for fall admits) | Summer dates are held in June, July, and August, prior to the start of fall classes. The release of Summer 2025 dates will be available on this page in February 2025.
- First Year Students: During BGE, students and their guests can tour our beautiful campus and residence halls, connect with staff, faculty, and other Blugolds, dine on campus, attend a resource fair and other sessions, check out places in the community, and much more! Because all first year fall admit students will register for their first semester of classes during BGE, registration is required. Students only need to attend 1 day of the several offered throughout the summer.
- Transfer Students: New transfer students are not required to attend BGE, but are highly encouraged to attend with their guests. Each summer, we will offer specific transfer-focused BGE dates, primarily in July and August, and this is a fantastic way for students to connect with other transfers, both incoming and current. In most cases, transfer students will register for classes virtually with a professional advisor before they come to BGE.
Winter BGE Day (for spring admits) | Our Winter BGE Day (for spring admits) is held just before classes begin. In this case, both first year and transfer students for the spring will register for classes virtually before coming to BGE. Our spring 2025 BGE Day is confirmed and will be Friday, January 24, 2025. Registration for this date will open via CampS on November 6, 2024.
Registration for Blugold Experience Days happens in the student's CampS account, and typically opens in March (for fall admits) and November (for spring admits).
Registration for the Winter BGE Day (for spring admits) on January 24 will open on November 6, 2024.
- Go to MyBlugoldCamps.
- Log in using your username and password created during the admission process when you activated your account.
- After logging in, select the “Admissions" tile.
- Choose “New Student Orientation” and check for your name at the top of the screen.
- Follow the steps to complete your registration.
**If you are having trouble with registration, here are a few troubleshooting tips:
- Make sure you are using the correct browser to register: Are you using Chrome or Edge? The registration program might not work with Firefox or Safari. You may also have trouble if you are using a Chromebook.
- Restart your browser/clear your cache: You can do this under your browser settings (usually by clicking on the three dots/menu on the upper right-hand side of the browser when you first open it); it could be that the system is remembering a time you'd logged in to view it before and not refreshing.
Yes! These are two different programs - Admitted Day is hosted through our Admissions office.
Blugold Experience Days are a crucial part of the orientation experience, as each new first year student will register for their first semester of classes on these days with a professional academic advisor (summer sessions only; winter sessions have a slightly different process). Although not required for transfer students, it's highly encouraged for them to participate, so they can also connect with academic resources, take care of important checklist items, and meet other transfer Blugolds.
These days also provide opportunities for students and families to explore our beautiful campus, engage more directly with Academic staff and faculty, build deeper relationships with other Blugolds, get some cool UWEC swag, pick up textbooks ahead of the first semester (and beat the lines!), and essentially allow for new students to check out their new home with a different lens (touring the spaces they'll be attending class, connecting with roommates / friends in person, asking important questions of faculty, etc.). You can also tour the city you're living in with one of our downtown tour trolleys or witness our fabulous Cabaret performances!
We can't wait to see you here!
Blugold Experience Days are a crucial part of your New Student Orientation Experience. If you are unable to make BGE for any reason, please reach out to us at orientation@uwec.edu or 715-836-5053, and we'll be happy to discuss your schedule!
Registered participants will receive a confirmation email immediately following registration with more information - this email will be sent to their UWEC email account (they made need to check spam/junk mail).
Those participants will also receive a reminder emails with details on the day's schedule, parking, check-in, and more prior to their scheduled Blugold Experience Day - these are typically sent out 1-month, 2-weeks, and 5-days in advance of their scheduled date.
If you have questions or haven't heard from us once you've registered, please contact orientation@uwec.edu.
Although subject to variations year to year, below you'll find a listing of anticipated activities for each Blugold Experience Day. Participants who've registered will get a more detailed schedule in their email closer to the date.
Blugold Experience Days usually run from 7:45am (when check-in begins) to 4:30pm.
Blugold Experience Day Schedule (subject to change)
- **Registration for your first semester of classes (summer sessions)
- Check-in + continental breakfast
- Free UWEC swag
- Welcome program from Executive Staff
- Faculty presentations on UW-Eau Claire and the Academic Experience
- Housing tours
- Campus tours (+ individualized classroom tours)
- Current student panels
- Opportunities to connect with other incoming Blugolds
- Free lunch on campus
- Campus department resource fair
- Presentations on study abroad and research - two high impact practices you'll engage in as a student!
- Opportunities to pick up your textbooks and secure your mobile ID
- Live sessions for guests on positive partnerships with the university, and supporting our Blugold students
- Optional activities such as outdoor yard games (summer sessions), free UWEC Cabaret concert tickets (winter sessions), trolley tours to downtown Eau Claire, and more!
There are!
We partner with several local hotels to offer discounted rates for families visiting UW-Eau Claire. You can find the hotels listed here under the Eau Claire Hotel Accommodations. All you will have to do is find the hotel from the list that works best for you and your family and give them a call to find out what the discounted rates are. If you have any questions or concerns about your travel plans, please reach out to us at orientation@uwec.edu.
*If you are an incoming fall 2025 admit, and are considering staying overnight during one of the following times, be sure to book early! Eau Claire hosts some of the area's largest music festivals throughout the summer (which can be a fun event to attend with your Blugold!) and so hotels may book up early. Key dates included below!
- Summer Jam Music Festival happening June 20-21, 2025
- 'Hoofbeat' Country Fest and Blue Ox Music Festivals happening June 26-28, 2025
- Country Jam Music Festival happening July 17-19, 2025