Beach Days
About the Week:
Housing and Residential Life has planned activities, workshops, and events that will prepare you for your residential life experience and equip you with the tools for academic success. Consider this is your orientation to housing.
How to Prepare for Beach Days?
Please be sure to check your email on a frequent basis to ensure that you are up-to-date with the most current information. You can also visit our social media pages on Instagram and Facebook for announcements! Please note that while Beach Days is a “choose your own adventure”, there are a few mandatory events and online modules.
A Beach Days Participation Waiver will be sent to all students - students under the age of 18 must get a parent signature.
All students should download the Microsoft Teams app to stay in communication with their hall community and Housing staff throughout the year. It is recommended to download this app prior to move in!
Shuttles
For residents living at Beachside Village, we will have shuttles going to and from campus from Thursday, August 21st - Friday, August 22nd.
Outside of Shuttles to the Bookstore Bash, shuttles during Beach Days are only for Beachside residents. You will be getting a Beachside shuttle sticker for your ID card at move-in that you will use for beachside shuttles during Beach Days and throughout the year.
Mandatory Modules:
Residents will be added into a Housing & Residential Life Canvas course and must complete the "Living On-Campus" introductory module by August 31, 2025.
These modules are mandatory and failure to complete them by the assigned deadline will result in follow-up via the student conduct process.
Residents within our Thematic Communities will have an orientation to attend and are invited to a social gathering with all thematic community residents.
Specific session information will be available closer to Beach Days.
The Thematic Community Mix-and-Mingle will be hosted Friday, August 22nd, from 2-4pm in front of The Walter Pyramid. Light refreshments will be provided along with games and activities.
8am-5pm Move-In
11am-2pm Beach Bash at The Bookstore!
- Campus resources and departments will be tabling outside to share information along with discounts, prizes, and more!
7:30pm-10:30pm Area Welcome Programs
- Refer to posters in your Microsoft Teams chat and posted in the hallways for information about your specific welcome events.
Dining Schedule:
- The dining hall will be open from 9am-7:30pm
- outside of scheduled meal times, transition meals will be available
- Breakfast 9am-10am
- Lunch 11am-2pm
- Dinner 4pm-7:30pm
Shuttle Schedule:
- Shuttles will be available from 10am-5pm giving round trips to and from The Bookstore. Shuttles will depart about every 15 minutes.
- Beachside > Bookstore
- Parkside > Hillside > Bookstore
8am-5pm Move-In
11am-2pm Beach Bash at The Bookstore!
- Campus resources and departments will be tabling outside to share information along with discounts, prizes, and more!
7pm-10pm Village Block Parties
- Come meet your neighbors and Village staff! Activities will occur throughout each village (Beachside, Hillside, and Parkside)
Dining Schedule:
- The dining hall will be open from 8am-7:30pm
- 8am-10am Continental breakfast
- 10am-5pm Quick lunch (sandwiches, wraps, etc.)
- 5pm-7:30pm Hot dinner
Shuttle Schedule:
- Shuttles will be available from 10am-2pm giving round trips to and from The Bookstore. Shuttles will depart about every 15 minutes.
- Beachside > Bookstore
- Parkside > Hillside > Bookstore
- Shuttles will be available from 2pm-5pm
- Beachside > Parkside
- Parkside > Hillside > The Pyramid
9am-10am Morning Mindfulness with Heidi Girling at Hillside Los Cerritos Classroom
9am-11am Find your classes campus tours!
- Bring good walking shoes, a water bottle, sunscreen, and your Fall 2025 class schedule! Staff will take interested students on a walking tour to specifically locate your classes this fall. RSVP encouraged - link coming soon.
11:30am-1:30pm Major Mingle Lunch at all three dining halls
- Head to your village dining hall to grab a bite and meet other students within the same academic college
- This is a great time to share contact information to set-up study groups if you are in the same class(es)!
1pm-3pm Pool and Popsicles at the Student Rec and Wellness Center (SWRC)
- SWRC staff will have the pool open and popsicles ready for any residents interested in learning more about what the SWRC has to offer!
- The Student Wellness & Recreation Center is open to residents! Feel free to head over to the SWRC at any point during Beach Days to get a tour of the facility, drop in on a fitness class, use the pool, or get a workout in using the updated machines! Just be sure to download the SWRC Go app (which you can find by logging onto your SSO and scrolling down to the SWRC chiclet)
3pm-4pm Kitchen & Grocery Bingo at The Pointe
- Come learn more about cooking, grocery shopping, and budgeting while winning fun prizes!
4pm-6pm Speed-friending
- Feeling excited or nervous to meet new people? Speed friending gives residents a chance to chat with other residents in a facilitated environment.
7pm RHA presents Casino Royale at The Walter Pyramid
- Join the Residence Hall Association for a night of dancing, photobooth fun, and casino tables up on the concourse of The Pyramid! Attendees can opt into playing casino games with provided "funny money" for a chance to win some cool prizes or come for the vibes and enjoy a live DJ, activity stations, food, and more!
Dining Schedule:
- The dining hall will be open from 9:30am-7:30pm for brunch and continuous dining
Shuttle Schedule:
- Shuttles will be available from 8am-6pm
- Beachside > Hillside > The Pyramid
- Shuttles will be available from 6pm-11pm
- Beachside > The Pyramid
Zero Shades of Gray
- Zero Shades of Gray Performances are mandatory for all residents, even those returning to housing, as we will begin the session with a welcome from our Housing Team (including important information to know about living on-campus).
- Location: The Carpenter Center
- Please note that bags are not allowed into The Carpenter Center. Please leave bags, skateboards, scooters, or other large personal items at your room.
- Each Rotation will take about 2 hours starting at arrival time. The first 30 minutes will be checking students in and finding your seats.
- 9am-11am: Parkside Central (M, N, P, Q) and Parkside South (G, H, J, K, L)
- 12pm-2pm: Hillside Village
- 2:30pm-4:30pm: Beachside and Parkside North
- Attendees who arrive more than 20 minutes after the start of the presentation (30 minutes after arrival) will not be allowed in.
4pm-6pm Self-Care Corner at The Parkside Promenade
7pm-10pm Live Band Karaoke at The Pointe
7:30pm-10pm Movie Night at The Parkside Promenade
Dining Schedule:
- The dining hall will be open for brunch and continuous dining
- Parkside: 8:30am-7:30pm
- Hillside: 9:30am-7:30pm
- Beachside: 11am-7:30pm
Shuttle Schedule:
- Shuttles will be available from 1pm-11pm
- Beachside > The Pyramid
Mandatory Community Meetings - various time starting at 6pm
- RAs will provide your community meeting time
While Beach Days is formally wrapped up, our commitment to welcoming you to campus does not! Check out Housing & Residential Life on Events & Orgs to stay up to date on events happening throughout housing.
