OSCCS Bucky List
UW-Madison and the surrounding community have so much to offer students and visitors. We strongly encourage you to make the most of your time here in Madison and try to check off as many of these items from your “Bucky List.”
Share photos of your experience and use #BuckyList.
- Take a one-credit class just for fun
- Visit the Geology museum on campus (free)
- Attend a guest lecture by someone with whom you disagree
- Attend a campus guest lecture on a topic with which you are unfamiliar
- Attend or present at the Undergraduate Symposium
- Attend a Distinguished Lecture Series event
- Check out an event at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery
- Visit the special collections at the Memorial Library
- Visit the University Archives in Steenbock Library
- Visit the Chazen Art Museum (free)
- Rub Abe’s foot for luck before finals
- Visit every one of the 41 libraries on campus at least once
- Visit the Washburn Observatory during its public hours and observe the stars through the large telescope–check its Twitter feed for closures
- Explore the Wisconsin Historical Society
- Visit the Native American/First Peoples effigy and burial mounds on campus
- Attend an event or class, or take a tour of the UW Arboretum
- Visit the public exhibits of the UW-Madison Zoological Museum (free)
- Visit the Ingersoll Physics Museum in Chamberlin Hall (free)
- Attend the Wisconsin Union event
- Go global and study abroad
- Spring graduates: Get your picture taken on the Motion W at the 50-yard line at Camp Randall Stadium the week before graduation
- Support the Wisconsin Idea Scholarship when you get your picture taken in your cap and gown on Abe Lincoln’s lap, then get your photo taken next to the “winnowing and sifting” plaque attached to the front of Bascom Hall
- Try every flavor of Babcock Ice Cream to find your favorite
- Schedule and attend a tour of the Babcock Hall Dairy
- When the ice is safe (2″ thick from Picnic Point to Governor’s Island), take a walk, snowshoe, ski, or skate on Lake Mendota
- Attend the Homecoming parade
- Bowl and/or climb at the Sett in Union South
- Have a picnic or campfire with friends at Picnic Point
- Explore the walking trails of the Lakeshore Preserve
- Sled down Observatory Hill
- See a movie at Union South and on the Terrace
- Attend a snowball fight on Bascom Hill
- Check out the Allen Centennial Garden
- Take a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard out on Lake Mendota (the Union rents them on “green flag” days)
- Spend an evening on the Terrace with friends listening to open mic night
- Attend the Varsity Band concert
- Walk, roll, run, or bike through the Arboretum
- Reflect or meditate on Muir Knoll, looking out at the lake
- Participate in at least one Intramural Sports league
- Take skating lessons at the Shell
- Visit the Wheelhouse Studios at Memorial Union
- Take a photo of sunset over Lake Mendota and share it with friends
- Join Hoofers for an adventure
- Attend a Wisconsin Union Special Event
- Eat breakfast at Mickies Dairy Bar (maybe with a chocolate shake/malt like Ron Dayne used to have)
- Head past Camp Randall and explore Monroe Street, or take off east of the Capitol and explore the shops and restaurants on Willy Street (Williamson St) and/or Atwood Avenue
- Thank a university employee for their contributions to campus
- Support local farmers at the Dane County Farmers Market downtown
- Cheer on the Ironman competitors as they come through campus
- Visit the Henry Vilas Zoo (free)
- Eat at a restaurant that serves food you have never tried before.
- Volunteer and perform public service (the Morgridge Center for Public Service is a great place to start looking for opportunities)
- Get your picture taken with Bucky.
- Try all of the food carts around campus
- Talk with a student from another country about their experience at UW Madison.
- Take an Alternative Break trip and give back through service
- Get a slice at Ian’s Pizza
- Visit the Wisconsin State Capitol and check out the observation deck
- Attend the Taste of Madison at the Capitol square
- Attend Freakfest responsibly: Wear a culturally/socially appropriate costume for this large annual event on State Street
- Attend the Annual Spring Pow Wow (early April) hosted by Wunk Sheek
- Do a “ride-along” with a UW police officer
- Visit Olbrich Botanical Gardens (free) and Bolz Conservatory ($2 donation)
- Don’t just join a student organization–become a leader on campus
- Visit the Wisconsin Historical Museum downtown
- Watch a sporting event at The Sett at Union South
- Attend a Badger away football game at another Big Ten school.
- Cheer participants or participate in the Crazylegs Classic athletics fundraiser in the spring
- Attend home contests for every varsity athletics team
- Get to Camp Randall before kickoff to see the band run on the field and the team run out of the tunnel
- Jump around at a football game and stay for the 5th Quarter
- Attend the spring football game, which raises funds for different campus departments/divisions
Explore local trail networks:
- Pheasant Branch Conservancy trail network in Middleton
- Cherokee Marsh/Yahara Heights County Park and Madison Country Day School (Westport/Waunakee north of Madison)
- Arboretum foot trails north and south of beltline and Lake Wingra bike path
- Lake Farm County Park (trails, camping, and frisbee golf)
- Lower Yahara River Trail (walk, ride, or roll between Lake Farm Park and McFarland)
- Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Blackhawk Unit (trails and Indian mounds; State HWY 78 south of Co. Road Y just south of Sauk City, WI)
- Indian Lake County Park (hiking, XC skiing trails)
- Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area (short hike in a protected area, south of Baraboo)
- Pewit’s Nest State Natural Area (West of Baraboo, short hike in creek gorge)
- Baxter’s Hollow State Natural Area (west of Devil’s Lake, scenic gorge cut through Baraboo quartzite by Otter Creek)
- Ice Age Trail – various segments in Cross Plains, Indian Lake Park, Devil’s Lake Park, Verona, Kettle Moraine State Forest, etc.
Camping
- Lake Farm County Park (south of Madison)
- Mendota County Park (Middleton) – camping on the northwest side of Lake Mendota, about .3 miles from a bus stop
- Kettle Moraine State Forest: Whitewater Lake, Ottawa Lake, Pinewoods campgrounds
- Sandhill Station Campground (south of Lake Mills)
State Parks with camping, hiking, and other recreation:
- Devil’s Lake (south of Baraboo)
- Mirror Lake (south of Lake Delton)
- Lake Kegonsa (southeast of Madison)
- Governor Nelson (hiking only, north of Madison)
- New Glarus Woods (south of Madison)
- Yellowstone Lake (southwest of Madison) has very few mosquitoes due to bat houses maintaining predator population)
State Trails: Badger State, Military Ridge, and Glacial Drumlin all extend away from the Madison area and provide routes on old rail trails. (State trail pass required to cycle or rollerblade)
Canoe camping on the Wisconsin River