Workshop & Wellness Break Schedule 2026

Bird Sit

Meet at Leonard Center portico

Join Chaplain Sorrel for some storytelling and conversation about birds and our belonging on this planet. No equipment or gear required. There will be an opportunity to do a bird sit; journal and writing/drawing pad optional. We will be sitting outside, so bring a picnic blanket, outdoor chair and whatever else you need for your comfort!

 

Chill Time with the Counseling Team

Marvin Plaza (Rain: JWall)

All students are invited for a casual meet and greet with Macalester’s amazing counseling team.  Grab a snack, pick up a resource, and make a quick connection at this drop-in event.

 

Coffee Crawl

Meet in front of Campus Center (Rain: Campus Center Atrium)

Come see what beautiful Mac Grove has to offer in terms of coffee/sweet treat/study spaces in the area! Come discover some lovely locations for when you need to get off campus. Come walk, meet some people, and cool off with a delicious cold drink!

 

Craft in Community in the Idea Lab

Idea Lab, 2nd floor of the library

Learn about and explore everything the Idea Lab makerspace has to offer. You can choose from a variety of hands on activities, relax, and sharpen your maker skills all while you build your Mac community.

 

Cricket Cookies

Sustainability Office

Do you like eating bugs? No? Well, do you like cookies? Come to learn about entomophagy (eating bugs) and alternative protein sources while we bake cricket powder into cricket cookies!

 

Keep Calm and Color On

Center for Study Away, 2nd floor of Markim Hall/ Kofi Annan Institute for Global Citizenship

Take a break with the Center for Study Away for a chance to flex your artistic skills (or not). Chill vibes, no textbooks! All supplies will be provided.

 

Movement and Performance Workshop

Fox Dance Studio JWall T120

This workshop will get you on your feet! Department of Theater and Dance faculty members offer an exploration of voice and movement in a safe and supportive environment. Through collaborative ensemble building exercises, participants explore techniques for creative expression, strengthening a mind body connection, and developing performance skills. No previous experience required, all are welcome. There will also be an introduction to the opportunities offered by THDA both on and off campus. This session takes place in the beautiful light-filled Fox Dance Studio in the Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center.

 

Tech for Success

Harmon Room, Library

Want to hear your readings out loud? Get help focusing on webpages? Navigate Moodle sites like a pro? Come learn about the tools we have at Mac to help you succeed on assignments. Bring a laptop and get started right away. Get your Moodle questions answered, too!

Artmaking in the Art Department

Studio Art Building Lounge (outside of Studio Art 102)

Drop by the Art and Art History department and make a piece of art for your dorm room! Visit the building where creativity happens year-round, and learn about upcoming Art and Art History courses and events. No experience necessary and all materials provided.

 

Digital Resource Center Tech Petting Zoo

Digital Resource Center

Want to learn more about technology available to you in the DRC? Stop by for snacks and to get hands-on demos of equipment and talk to student and staff experts about how to use different resources.

 

Movement and Performance Workshop

Fox Dance Studio JWall T120

This workshop will get you on your feet! Department of Theater and Dance faculty members offer an exploration of voice and movement in a safe and supportive environment. Through collaborative ensemble building exercises, participants explore techniques for creative expression, strengthening a mind body connection, and developing performance skills. No previous experience required, all are welcome. There will also be an introduction to the opportunities offered by THDA both on and off campus. This session takes place in the beautiful light-filled Fox Dance Studio in the Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center.

 

Pre-Health at Mac

Smail Gallery

Are you interested in pursuing a career in healthcare? Join this session to learn about the pre-health community at Macalester and connect with peers who have similar goals! We will help you get connected to health professions advising, student organizations, and resources and will discuss opportunities to engage with the healthcare community in the Twin Cities. We’ll also discuss important considerations for your first semester and first year at Macalester to ensure you are building a strong foundation toward your future goals. We look forward to meeting you!

 

Scoop and Share with MCSG

Bateman Plaza (Rain: Campus Center Atrium)

Meet your Student Government for free ice cream! It’s the perfect, low-stress opportunity to connect with your representatives, grab a sweet treat, and share your ideas for the upcoming school year. Plus, you’ll get the inside scoop on how to get involved and make your voice heard on campus from day one. We can’t wait to meet you!

 

Surviving Minnesota Winter

Harmon Room, Library

Ope! You’ve ended up in Minnesota, but you’re new to the cold (maybe haven’t seen snow before), and are feeling a bit nervous about Minnesota’s infamous winters. While the chilly weather is still a few months away, now is a great time to start learning about how to stay warm (and happy) during the winter. Learn about clothing essentials, things to keep in mind, and how to have fun during the colder months!

 

Tea with the Chaplains

Center for Religious and Spiritual Life

Want to meet other students coming from a variety of religious, spiritual, and cultural frameworks interested in asking questions of meaning and purpose together?  Come meet up with Macalester’s chaplains for a breath and some snacks in the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life.

 

Thrifting and Block Printing at the Free Swap Outlet

Free Swap Outlet, 1550 Summit Ave

Did you know we have a free on-campus thrift store? Come find clothing, dorm decorations, schools supplies, and more at 1550 Summit Ave. In addition to thrifting, we will be upcycling old t-shirts and printing them with new designs. You can bring your own shirt, but we have plenty to thrift!

 

Tree Tour

Meet outside of the Weyerhaeuser Hall at the bell

Did you know that our campus is a certified arboretum? In this tour—featuring the trees of Macalester College—we’ll identify the trees around campus, tell stories about individual trees, and learn some tree-via.

Basic Needs at Mac

Campus Center 235

Learn about some of Macalester’s basic needs resources like the Open Pantry, MacShare and more.

 

CD Burning at the Digital Resource Center

Digital Resource Center

Learn how to burn your own CD mixes in the DRC. We’ll go through how to source music (legally) and burn it to CD. We’ll provide CDs, sleeves, and some pre-made playlists.

 

Community Bike Ride

Meet outside of the Library

Join the MacBike Student Org and the Macalester Sustainability Office for a bike ride in the local community. During this session you will learn how to rent bikes from the library and get to know some great spots to bike in the local community.

 

Cool treats, law games, and wellness wheel

Shaw Field (Rain: Leonard Center Portico)

Grab a popsicle, play bags (new to the Midwest?  Learn how to play bags), and spin the wheel test your TMAM knowledge and win a prize at this casual event hosted by our Student Athlete Mentors.

 

Creative Calm: Design Your Own Folk-Art Keychain

Arts Commons 102

Create your own sparkling diamond-art keychain inspired by traditional Slavic folk art, choosing from a matryoshka doll or a colorful rooster design. This relaxing, hands-on activity is a chance to slow down, be creative, and meet other new students. No artistic experience is needed, all materials are provided, and you’ll leave with a unique keepsake for your backpack or keys.

 

Garden Harvest Party

Mulch Garden between Spanish and German House (Rain: Greenhouse)

Do you like gardening? Or have you ever wanted to try? Come to the gardens (next to Spanish and German) houses to harvest produce and enjoy garden-related snacks.

Connect with nature and learn about our campus greenhouse and gardens.

 

Insurance Questions? We’ve Got Answers!

Wellness Lounge in the Leonard Center

Have questions about your student health insurance? Our staff will be available to explain coverage, waivers, referrals, billing, and other insurance topics. Whether you’re a new or returning student, this is a great opportunity to get answers, learn helpful tips, and connect with the Hamre Center team in a relaxed setting. No appointment needed—just drop in!

 

Making Dorm Décor

Campus Center Atrium

More to come!

 

Summit Ave River Run

Meet under the scoreboard of the football stadium

Join Coach Nic, Macalester’s Head Football Coach, for a leisurely 4(ish) mile run down Summit Ave to explore the Mississippi River Trail.  Meet at the north end of the Football Stadium (under the scoreboard).

#ColorOurCollections with Archives and Special Collections

Library 254

Take a mindful, multi-sensory coloring break with Macalester College Archives and Special Collections! Let yourself slow down, breathe deeply, and connect the past with the present moment through the creative act of coloring. Launched by The New York Academy of Medicine Library in 2016, #ColorOurCollections is an annual coloring festival during which libraries, museums, archives and other cultural institutions around the world share free coloring content featuring images from their collections. Relax with coloring sheets created from materials in our College Archives and Special Collections, and learn a little college and book history along the way!

 

Card Making

In front of Kagin (Rain: Kagin, 1st floor)

Spend time outdoors expressing creativity and spreading positivity. Participants will create handmade encouragement cards on one side and use sidewalk chalk to design uplifting messages, artwork, and affirmations on the sidewalk.

This event promotes mindfulness, creativity, community connection, and acts of kindness while providing a relaxing opportunity to unwind.

 

Crocheting

CC Atrium

More info coming soon!

 

 

Get Connected: Using Your Patient Portal

Wellness Lounge in the Leonard Center

Join us to learn how to make the most of your health resources at the Hamre Center. We’ll demonstrate how to use the Patient Portal to schedule appointments, securely message your healthcare team, complete required forms, upload documents, and access important health information.

 

Getting Around Minneapolis & St. Paul with the Community Engagement Center and Sustainability Office

In front of Weyerhaeuser Hall (Rain: Campus Center, 2nd floor)

Interested in using transit and/or bicycles to get around and explore the Twin Cities? This workshop will help you to take advantage of your Metro Transit Universal Pass and Macalester bicycle resources. Learn about the major transit routes and bicycle infrastructure close to campus. Ask questions about neighborhoods and start to feel comfortable getting around nearby neighborhoods.

 

Indigenous Land Mural: Creation

Harmon Room & mural

Institutional Equity invites you to learn more about Indigenous Land Mural: Creation under The Link (between DeWitt Library and Old Main). This session will be an opportunity to  deepen our understanding of Dakota land and their ways of knowing. During this time you will also get to learn more about the Native land you call home.

 

Mac Fund & Macarons

Marvin Plaza (Rain: JWall)

Come hang out with the Mac Fund and try some of Saint Paul’s best Macarons! Meet Mac Fund staff and learn about philanthropy at Macalester while testing out some of the best Macarons St. Paul has to offer?

 

Safer Sex Fair with Health Promotion & Sexual Respect

Outside of Campus Center (Rain: Campus Center Atrium)

Play games, get sexual health supplies, and become a part of a culture of everyday consent! Test your knowledge and skills in using health supplies and join Macalester’s ongoing culture of sexual respect.

 

Tech at Mac

Campus Center 229

Learn how to navigate sites like Moodle, Gcal, the Library website, TechCheckout, and more! This workshop will be a great introduction to some of the awesome online resources we have at Macalester, such as HBO Max and ESPN.