University of Oregon Campus Tour

Thinking about University and future post-high school plans can be very confusing and difficult for students. Thankfully, this past October, ORCA had planned various campus tours around the state to give students the opportunity to explore their options and give them a better idea of what their future might look like. 

One of these tours was for the University of Oregon in Eugene, which lasted from 11 a.m to 2 p.m on October 24th. After students had confirmed their registration with staff, they were welcome to talk with ORCA teachers from many different grades and classes. After everyone was accounted for, everyone was then led by a University of Oregon tour guide, who walked everyone through many important locations, giving knowledgeable information about each building’s use, design elements, and fun facts about the school. 

Students were given a fun, interactive way to learn about various aspects of the University of Oregon. Instead of reading on a pamphlet, they were able to visually see and learn about areas of study, academic opportunities, day to day classes and lectures,  and general student life like living on campus, popular event spots and where students like to study around campus.

“All the different options and opportunities that this college provides for you was things that I did not know about, and things that students that hear about, they’ll be more interested in potentially going to a college.” Says Ms. Nguyen, one of the teachers that organised the event, emphasising the importance of campus tours like this. 

Among some of the most interesting locations the tour covered, was Huestis Hall, which is where the Institute of Neuroscience in the University of Oregon is located. The tour guide explains that this is a group that expands through many different fields of study. Together, they run labs, experiments, and studies in order to investigate and learn more about neuroscience and how the nervous system operates in our bodies. The side of the building is decorated with a metal design which represents the activity between neurons in the brain. 

Another fascinating aspect of the campus that ORCA students were able to visit was Hayward Field, and its tower resembling a torch, which commemorates the athletic achievements and history of the University of Oregon since the field was first built in 1919. Many parts of the campus go out of its way to honor and celebrate past victories, either academic, athletic,  discoveries, or even revolution. This creates a very confident and inspiring environment for onlookers, as well as future and current students at the university. 

Throughout the tour, students can note that the campus itself prides itself in the environment. Many buildings are LEED-certified, and there are various species of trees that you could only find in the specific climate of the Pacific Northwest. The tour guide even noted that many students at the University of Oregon have the opportunity to go out on campus and study or sample these unique plants as part of their studies if they are a part of a Biology-adjacent field.

Even if students are not actively planning post-high school opportunities, or just not necessarily focusing on going to a 4-year university, campus tours like the one held at the University of Oregon can give students a better idea of what their futures can look like, or even inform them about things they didn’t realise they were able to be a part of. 

If interested in other upcoming events, please visit Field Trip Central for more information.