What to do at UAF?

Wood Center centerUAF offers a lot of activities for the students! Whatever your tastes are you will be able to find something that you will enjoy and want to do again! Clubs, concerts, food, Alaskan adventures, UAF has everything!

New useful vocabulary you will need at UAF? See our UAF Lingo.

Student Activities

Looking for what to do at UAF? Check the Student Activities page for all the information about upcoming events, such as concerts, First Friday, Nanook Traditions etc.!

Student Organizations

UAF has over 130 active student organizations! Joining an organization is a great opportunity and fun way to meet new people, share your interests, develop leadership skills, and impact student life at UAF.

While academics are the primary focus of your education, student organizations play an integral role in UAF's complete academic program. They provide a valuable service to the UAF campus, the Fairbanks community, and students by facilitating and promoting:

  • career development
  • public service
  • social and cultural interaction
  • activism
  • leadership development
  • faith and worship

For more information about UAF student organizations, from the Aerial Club to “Zombies at UAF” go to the Student Organizations page.

Religious Activities

Faith and religion can be very important to people, especially if they wish to find a place to worship with others with the same beliefs. A current listing for places of worship in the Fairbanks North Star Borough can be found on the Fairbanks New Miner website.

You also can see our Faith and Worship page.

Wood Center

Wood Center offers a variety of services to meet the needs of faculty, staff, students who live on campus, students who live off campus, and the general Fairbanks community. If you ever have any questions about any of our services please do not hesitate to call the Information Desk at 907-474-7034.

Games Area

The Wood Center Games Area is a great place to hang out with friends after a hard day of school! We have an 8-lane bowling alley (Polar Alley), 5 pool tables, 2 ping pong tables, multiple video games, pinball, dance dance revolution and an air hockey table.

Food Services

The Dine 49 is a cafeteria where you can buy food using your own money or your BearBucks.

The Arctic Java is a coffee shop, they also sell snacks and offer different nights themes: board games, movies, exposition etc. All food services in Wood Center are operated by UAF Dining Services.

There are also a sushi bar and falafel stand on the same floor as the Dine 49.

Polaris Newspaper

The Polaris is the student newspaper, written and run by UAF students! The Polaris is published weekly. You can contact the Polaris at 907-474-6039 or check out their website here. The Polaris is now located in Constitution Hall.

The Pub

Need a place to hang out, maybe study a little, indulge in some spirits - if you are at least 21 years of age, then this is the place for you! For more information (hours, events, reservations, etc) check out the Pub's website ;or call the Pub Manager at 907-474-7805 or call the Pub at 907-474-7766. The Pub is closed during the summer and winter and spring break.

Department of Recreation, Adventure and Wellness (DRAW)

DRAW provides the university community with opportunities and facilities to lead active, healthy lifestyles through sport and recreation on campus and out in the beautiful wilderness of Alaska.

DRAW runs several facilities that meet the students’ diverse interests:

Student Recreation Center (SRC)- multipurpose courts, running track, cardiovascular equipment, weight room, climbing wall, fitness studio, pool, racquetball courts and sauna.

Patty Ice Arena - Free ice skating for individuals with a Polar Express card. Events such as intramurals (broomball, hockey) also take place in the Patty Ice Arena.

Outdoor Ice climbing(winter)

Hulbert Nanook Terrain Park

For more information please go to the DRAW website.

Outdoor Adventures

UAF Outdoor Adventures promotes and enables UAF students and affiliates to explore, discover, and understand the timeless beauty of wild Alaska.

Outdoor Adventures Trips

Experienced university staff and student leaders lead trips throughout Alaska year round. Become immersed in the many different ways to recreate in the immense Alaska backcountry. Theirr trips vary in length from short half-day trips to seven days. Summer trips include extended wilderness backpacks, day hikes, canoeing, sea kayaking, rock climbing, and white water rafting! In the winter, they offer the best snowshoeing, cross country skiing, dog mushing, ice climbing, winter camping, and cabin trips! They also offer a Wilderness Welcome trip at the beginning of the fall semester for incoming freshmen and first time students at UAF.

Equipment Rental

Alaska's challenging weather and environmental conditions require expensive high quality outdoor gear. Outdoor Adventures is proud to offer a variety of high quality outdoor rental gear at inexpensive rates. They enable students to explore the immense Alaska Wilderness without spending thousands of dollars on Alaska-worthy outdoor equipment.

For more information on activities and schedule, please go to The Outdoor Adventures site.