Students create tie dye tote bags and bandanas at Messy Tie Dye Event hosted by ASG. Madison Sessler | Courtesy
As the new college year begins, a fresh set of freshmen have arrived on campus with no idea how to navigate it or what resources are available. Luckily, Welcome Week booths and events were here to help!
With the first two weeks of college complete and the initial jitters starting to wear off, Saddleback offered plenty of opportunities for students to learn about campus, meet new people and get involved. Hosted by the Student Development Office and Associated Student Government, Welcome Week brought tents, activities and resources to different parts of campus throughout the week.
For new students, one of the most useful parts of Welcome Week was the Welcome Tents. Located around campus, staff and members of Associated Student Government were available to answer questions about where things were, what resources were available and how to get connected! With the August heat taking over, the tents also provided water, snacks and other free items for students passing by.
The tents served as an easy first stop for students who weren’t sure where to go or who to ask. Whether someone needed help finding a classroom or wanted to learn more about a campus program, someone was there to point them in the right direction. However, not everything went perfectly.
According to Armon, ASG Senator for Campus Life and Events, one issue during Welcome Week was making sure students knew about the free items available at some of the welcome stands.
“I believe the Welcome Week went well,” Senator Armon said. “However, there were a few issues with conveying the information about free items at some of the welcome stands.”
Along with the Welcome Tents, several tables throughout campus provided information about programs and services available to students. Some of the organizations included:
- The Basic Needs at the Den at Saddleback: Students could learn about available assistance, pick up applications and ask questions about basic-needs resources.
- CalFresh: Representatives answered questions about the program, including how students can apply for food assistance
- Saddleback Honors Program: Flyers and information about the program were available, along with staff members who could answer questions
- Associated Student Government: ASG introduced its 2026-27 members and allowed students to learn more about getting involved.
- Other campus and community organizations: Various groups, including career opportunities, campus shuttle, community organizations and other organizations, were also available to introduce themselves and answer student questions.
For students who may not know what Saddleback has to offer beyond their classes, these tables were a good reminder that college has more to offer!
Welcome Week wasn’t all flyers and information tables though; the events also gave students a chance to actually enjoy campus and meet people!
The first week featured events such as “Chillin’ on the Quad: Treats & Beats,” where students could hang out on the Quad with free ice cream and live music. There was also an Involvement & Campus Resource Fair, giving students another chance to explore both on-campus and off-campus resources.
Students looking for something more hands-on could participate in “Messy Masterpieces: Tie-Dye Day”, where they could refresh their tote bags with tie-dye! The week ended with an Outdoor Movie, giving students the chance to bring a blanket, relax and watch a classic film with others.
The second week kept the activities going with events including the Quad Brew Club, where students could cool off with free iced coffee, tea and live music! Students could also participate in the American Red Cross Blood Drive, while other students had the opportunity to meet the ASG & Trustee and learn more about the leadership team for the upcoming year. And for those who wanted some friendly competition, game day and game night offered tournaments plus games.
While the events were available, one of the biggest challenges was making sure students actually knew about them. The senator explained that students were not always aware that events such as movie night were free and open to them. Because of this, their committee and the publicity committee stepped in to help spread the word.
“Students were not aware that movie night and other activities were complimentary,” Senator Armon said. “So I had to personally involve my committee to promote the movie night, even though it was an initiative from the Student Development Office.”
ASG served free popsicles to students during Welcome Week. Victor Jara | Courtesy
That extra outreach appeared to make a difference! According to Senator Armon, the committees were able to get a good number of students involved in movie night after helping promote the event.
The publicity committee also documented the event by taking photos throughout Welcome Week, giving students a chance to see some of the activities they may have missed.
So, Was Welcome Week Worth It? As someone new to campus, Welcome Week made Saddleback feel a little less intimidating and overwhelming. Walking onto a new campus and trying to figure out where everything is can be overwhelming, especially when you don’t know anyone yet.
Having people stationed around campus specifically to answer questions made that process easier. The biggest takeaway from Welcome Week was realizing just how many resources and opportunities are available to students! From academic programs and basic-needs assistance to student government, social events and community organizations, there were plenty of ways for students to find something that fit them.
At the same time, Welcome Week showed that having events available is only half the battle. Students have to know about them, and better communication about free items, activities and events could make future Welcome Weeks even more successful! For new students still trying to figure out campus, the advice is simple: don’t be afraid to stop by a table, ask a question, or show up to an event. You might find a resource you didn’t know existed, meet someone new or get some free snacks along the way!
Welcome Week may be over, but the opportunities to get involved at Saddleback are just getting started.
Student holds up his tie-dye canvas bag at the Tie-Dye event hosted by Student Development and ASG. Stephanie Reyna | Courtesy
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Saddleback unfiltered: Welcome week review
Students create tie dye tote bags and bandanas at Messy Tie Dye Event hosted by ASG. Madison Sessler | Courtesy
As the new college year begins, a fresh set of freshmen have arrived on campus with no idea how to navigate it or what resources are available. Luckily, Welcome Week booths and events were here to help!
With the first two weeks of college complete and the initial jitters starting to wear off, Saddleback offered plenty of opportunities for students to learn about campus, meet new people and get involved. Hosted by the Student Development Office and Associated Student Government, Welcome Week brought tents, activities and resources to different parts of campus throughout the week.
For new students, one of the most useful parts of Welcome Week was the Welcome Tents. Located around campus, staff and members of Associated Student Government were available to answer questions about where things were, what resources were available and how to get connected! With the August heat taking over, the tents also provided water, snacks and other free items for students passing by.
The tents served as an easy first stop for students who weren’t sure where to go or who to ask. Whether someone needed help finding a classroom or wanted to learn more about a campus program, someone was there to point them in the right direction. However, not everything went perfectly.
According to Armon, ASG Senator for Campus Life and Events, one issue during Welcome Week was making sure students knew about the free items available at some of the welcome stands.
“I believe the Welcome Week went well,” Senator Armon said. “However, there were a few issues with conveying the information about free items at some of the welcome stands.”
Along with the Welcome Tents, several tables throughout campus provided information about programs and services available to students. Some of the organizations included:
For students who may not know what Saddleback has to offer beyond their classes, these tables were a good reminder that college has more to offer!
Welcome Week wasn’t all flyers and information tables though; the events also gave students a chance to actually enjoy campus and meet people!
The first week featured events such as “Chillin’ on the Quad: Treats & Beats,” where students could hang out on the Quad with free ice cream and live music. There was also an Involvement & Campus Resource Fair, giving students another chance to explore both on-campus and off-campus resources.
Students looking for something more hands-on could participate in “Messy Masterpieces: Tie-Dye Day”, where they could refresh their tote bags with tie-dye! The week ended with an Outdoor Movie, giving students the chance to bring a blanket, relax and watch a classic film with others.
The second week kept the activities going with events including the Quad Brew Club, where students could cool off with free iced coffee, tea and live music! Students could also participate in the American Red Cross Blood Drive, while other students had the opportunity to meet the ASG & Trustee and learn more about the leadership team for the upcoming year. And for those who wanted some friendly competition, game day and game night offered tournaments plus games.
While the events were available, one of the biggest challenges was making sure students actually knew about them. The senator explained that students were not always aware that events such as movie night were free and open to them. Because of this, their committee and the publicity committee stepped in to help spread the word.
“Students were not aware that movie night and other activities were complimentary,” Senator Armon said. “So I had to personally involve my committee to promote the movie night, even though it was an initiative from the Student Development Office.”
ASG served free popsicles to students during Welcome Week. Victor Jara | Courtesy
That extra outreach appeared to make a difference! According to Senator Armon, the committees were able to get a good number of students involved in movie night after helping promote the event.
The publicity committee also documented the event by taking photos throughout Welcome Week, giving students a chance to see some of the activities they may have missed.
So, Was Welcome Week Worth It? As someone new to campus, Welcome Week made Saddleback feel a little less intimidating and overwhelming. Walking onto a new campus and trying to figure out where everything is can be overwhelming, especially when you don’t know anyone yet.
Having people stationed around campus specifically to answer questions made that process easier. The biggest takeaway from Welcome Week was realizing just how many resources and opportunities are available to students! From academic programs and basic-needs assistance to student government, social events and community organizations, there were plenty of ways for students to find something that fit them.
At the same time, Welcome Week showed that having events available is only half the battle. Students have to know about them, and better communication about free items, activities and events could make future Welcome Weeks even more successful! For new students still trying to figure out campus, the advice is simple: don’t be afraid to stop by a table, ask a question, or show up to an event. You might find a resource you didn’t know existed, meet someone new or get some free snacks along the way!
Welcome Week may be over, but the opportunities to get involved at Saddleback are just getting started.
Student holds up his tie-dye canvas bag at the Tie-Dye event hosted by Student Development and ASG. Stephanie Reyna | Courtesy
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