Friday Focus: Enjoy summer activities at UAF

June 14, 2024

— By Julie Queen, vice chancellor for administrative services

Although we are still awaiting the news of the final FY25 State of Alaska budget, there is plenty to do to pass the time. With all of the fun under the Midnight Sun, I hope you are out enjoying all that Fairbanks and UAF have to offer!

A few of our family's favorite summer activities this year have been primarily connected to activities with the kids. The Queens are making a showing this year at the Rotary Golden Heart Kids Running Club. This has gotten both kids and adults outside, staying active, and participating in many of the local fun runs, which are often fund-raisers for important community programs. With Beat Beethoven, the Chena River Run, the Mosquito Meander, and the Jim Loftus Mile under our belts so far, we’re on a roll and it is a joy to see the community engagement and support at each of these events. For those interested, don’t forget about the biggest one of all - the Midnight Sun Run - starting on the Troth Yeddha’ Campus at the Patty Center next weekend in celebration of the summer solstice. You’ll never see anything like it so feel free to come out and participate as a runner, walker, volunteer, or spectator to cheer on the thousands that participate each year.

Running may not be for everyone, so if that is the case, not to worry. UAF has a little something for everyone. Summer Sessions and Lifelong Learning is putting on over 40 free events, from a UAF Legacy Lecture to Fairbanks Tall Timbers, Healthy Living, and a Discover Alaska series. Lectures are every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night at 7pm in the Usibelli Engineering Facility and are also available online via live webstream.

Of course, one of the most popular events is Music in the Garden, every Thursday night. These are family-friendly concerts with the first band starting at 6pm and second band at 7:30pm at the Georgeson Botanical Garden. A perfect way to enjoy our friends and family, or it just provides a great excuse to relax in the evening sun with a picnic to enjoy the music that brings us together. 

If the kids are bouncing off the walls at home, there are also a variety of kids camps to help burn off those wiggles and learn something new. My kudos to Summer Sessions and their generous sponsors for making this possible and helping to keep UAF abuzz with activity all summer. 

If you are on campus each Thursday, don’t forget about Ice Cream Thursdays put on by the Student Activities Office. A sweet summer tradition that runs weekly until August 1st, has people lining up outside of the Wood Center from 12-2pm to see what new flavors are available. If you were lucky enough to snag one of the special personalized ice cream mugs, your weekly scoop is free, but if not they have punch cards available for a free scoop after every 10. What a fun way to enjoy a treat with colleagues and friends, rain or shine! If all that talk about ice cream made you hungry, also keep an eye out for local food trucks on campus throughout the summer. I see no reason not to have dessert first! 

As we use the summer months to gear up for our next semester start, please be on the lookout for some communications on new spaces opening to support students and employees this fall. Stay tuned for more updates from our friends at UAF Facilities Services, Residence Life, Athletics, and Nanook Technology Services. Renovations and exciting improvements are underway and we can’t wait to see the results.

I hope you are able to enjoy all that summer in Fairbanks and UAF have to offer. Happy Solstice!

Friday Focus is written by a different member of UAF’s leadership team every week.