As a part of Raider Days Homecoming and Parents’ Weekend, Northwestern will host the annual Morning on the Green a carnival-style event aimed towards engaging young families and children with the college while raising funds for student groups.
Booths designed, set up and run by students will be scattered across the green near the DeWitt Learning Commons and Christ Chapel.
Various departments, residence life groups, and student clubs will make an appearance on the Green to promote their group, raise money and interact with the children of Raider Nation. Past activities have included face painting, water balloon launching, pin the tail on the donkey, bowling, bean-bag toss and more.
This year, the social work department will host a booth called “Digging for Dinos!” The booth will allow children to dig for dinosaurs in sand.
The Student Government Association will be putting together a booth for disc golf putting.
The theatre department will introduce children to this year’s children’s show, “Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook!” and give out information about the department and the work they do.
In addition, an inflatable bouncy castle and slide will be available for the children’s enjoyment.
Additionally, the NW Athletic Band will play on the Green throughout the morning with intermittent performances by the cheer and dance teams. The cheer team will even engage kids in a few stunts and give out temporary NW tattoos.
Each activity costs 2-3 tickets, which cost 25 cents each. Local elementary aged children have been given several free tickets to spend on activities of their choice.
The event will run from 10am-noon on Saturday, Sept 29, with lunch served from 11:30am to 1pm. Lunch will include brats, watermelon, hot dogs, baked beans, chips and drinks. Students may use their meal plan to purchase lunch by submitting their student ID at the cash register.
This annual tradition gives students the opportunity to interact with alumni and community members in a fun carnival environment as well as giving alumni the opportunity to introduce their families to their beloved alma mater.
The energy from the kids is contagious and is a perfect way to set the stage for events later in the day, such as the Homecoming football game, children’s show, concert, student dance and more.
Current students should consider attending the event with friends to support their peers running booths, meet alumni and their families and feed off the contagious joy, energy and school pride the families bring. Staff and faculty from the college also often bring their young children to the Morning on the Green and it’s a wonderful chance to interact with faculty and staff members in a fun and casual environment.
This event is surely a welcome break to the usual routine of laundry and homework on Saturday mornings and a wonderful chance to spread school spirit with the community.
In the case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to the Rowenhorst Student Center.
