"There's way too much to do," said Cameron Bilger '80, reunion chair for the Class of 1980.
The Class of 1980 has a variety of events planned for its 30th reunion, including a panel on reinvention during which alumni will discuss ways they changed their lives in order to "follow their dreams," Bilger said. One alumnus will discuss his transition from working on Wall Street to running a comedy club, according to Bilger.
The Class of 1980 reunion will also feature squash tournaments, baking workshops and presentations about sustainable engineering projects, she said.
"It's fun to see [former classmates] every five years, but I wish we could see each other more often," she said. "[The reunion] really is about reconnecting."
According to Bilger, over 200 members of the Class of 1980 will likely attend the reunion.
Reunions also provide fundraising opportunities for the College because alumni typically donate more during their reunion year, Class of 1980 President Michael McClintock '80 said. Together, the Class of 1980 aims to raise $4 million this year, McClintock said, adding that donations have already reached $3 million.
The Class of 1960 will hold three great issues panels in which alumni will discuss topics such as health care and the war in Afghanistan, according to Lori Harris, associate director of alumni events for the Office of Alumni Relations.
The Class of 1960 is also hosting a barbecue for members of the graduating Class of 2010. The two classes are partnered through Class Connections, an informal relationship between current undergraduate classes and the returning 50-year reunion class.
Various Greek organizations have also planned social events for the alumni of their organizations, according to the Alumni Relations website.
In addition to activities organized by individual classes, the College is also sponsoring a number of lectures and panels where Dartmouth professors will speak on topics that range from Dr. Seuss to the global economy. Academic departments and various campus organizations, such as the Dartmouth Outing Club, will also hold open houses for returning majors and members.
Alumni can also take unique tours of the College, including an architectural walking tour and a tour of the underground steam tunnels, according to Harris.
"Alumni College [events are] designed to supplement the class reunion activities, not replace them," she said.
All classes will have various opportunities to meet and socialize with old friends and classmates, Harris said.
"From the surveys, we see that the number one reason people come back is to reconnect with their old classmates," she said.
Reunions are designed to be family-oriented events, as more than 500 children are expected to visit campus with their parents this year, Harris said.
Young children between two and five years old can read Dr. Seuss books, sing and dance to kid's songs and make jungle-themed arts and crafts projects at the events planned for them. Older children will have the opportunity to play capture the flag, watch movies and take trips to the nearby Montshire Museum of Science.
While their parents reunite with friends, children in their teenage years can use Dartmouth's climbing, swimming and boating facilities, according the Alumni Relations website.
For teenagers, however, the reunion period will involve some work, as the Alumni Relations and the Admissions Office will offer a workshop for alumni and their high school-aged children designed to prepare them for the college admission process. This workshop, which includes advice on application essays and the interview process, has proven popular in past years according to Diana Lawrence, director of communications for the Office of Alumni Relations.
"It's not how to get into Dartmouth, it's about how to get into a school best for you," Lawrence said.
The Office of Alumni Relations plans has hired around 74 students to help run reunion activities. Some students will assist with registration and setting up venues for events, while others will undergo bartending training to help serve drinks at the reunion festivities.
