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Welcome back to campus, students!

Come explore Camp Alden as we trek through all seven floors of Alden Library on a scavenger hunt; roast late-night sā€™mores; take in a game of cornhole toss or a few putts of mini-golf; and create some wearable art with our button-making station. Held outside Alden Libraryā€™s fourth floor on Thurs., August 26, 2021, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., the event is free and open to the OHIO community. 

Back by popular demand, this year the Libraries is returning to an in-person event to kick off the fall semester.

ā€œMy hope is to set the whole thing outside,ā€ said Jen Harvey, the Librariesā€™ events coordinator. ā€œOutside Aldenā€™s fourth-floor veranda, there will be the preview mini-golf hole, the cornhole boards will be out, the Athens Public Library will be there with their ā€˜pop-upā€™ libraryā€¦in front of Wolf Garden and Campus, Recreation will have some camping equipment, [which will set the whole atmosphere for a camp out].ā€

And of course, roasting sā€™mores will be taking place to all who stop by.

Inside Alden Library, students can earn a prize by completing the self-directed scavenger hunt and maybe even learn a little about what the Libraries has to offer along the way.

ā€œThe scavenger hunt is so sneaky, just because you have to go to the different floors to learn a little bit about what each of the floors offers,ā€ explains Joey Walden.

Walden, a 2016 alumnus of OHIO who completed two masterā€™s degrees while working as a student employee at the Music and Dance Library, understands first-hand how daunting it can be for new students coming into Alden Library.

ā€œWhen I first came over from the Music and Dance Library, I was terrified just because of the size of the operation. And I think the [Camp Alden activities] help break the ice a littleā€¦[and] you have something fun [to do],ā€ said Walden. ā€œI think it helps tear down that fear of ā€˜Oh no, I donā€™t know what I am doing.ā€™ ā€

The scavenger hunt, the brainstorm of Harvey and Jacob Jakuszeit, Librariesā€™ support specialist, is set up for students to explore Alden Library using clues that help demystify the seven floors and maybe learn somethingā€”in a fun way.

ā€œThe hope is to get students more comfortable and familiar with the services and spaces inside Alden Library. A lot of the second-year students have not even been on campus yet. They may have had a virtual tour, but [many] may not have been in Alden,ā€ explained Harvey.  ā€œWe want to introduce Alden Library to our returning second year and first year studentsā€”but really, anyone who wants to can come.ā€

Be sure to mark your calendar to stop by on Thurs., August 26, 2021, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. outside Alden Libraryā€™s fourth floor for an evening filled with food, fun and games.

For more information, or to request accessibility accommodations for this event, please contact Jen Harvey.