Every September, returning Camosun students and fresh-faced rookies meet at both campuses to partake in CamFest, which is more or less exactly what it sounds like. Put on by the Camosun College Student Society (CCSS), CamFest is the annual festival at Camosun, a day to welcome back returning students and say hello to new ones, a place where information is shared and received, and, hopefully, some fun is had in the process.
CCSS clubs and events assistant Quinn Park says that CamFest is a way for the CCSS to interact with returning students and to get to know new students and figure out what their interests are.
“CamFest is also a way for students to meet new friends, to see old friends, and carve out a social circle,” he says.
There is always an array of clubs, groups, and services at CamFest, and they’re all there to amp up the excitement of coming to school. Park has been helping run Camfest since 2014 and sees no reason to change what has always worked so well; however, he says that there may be some interesting additions this year.
“CamFest at its core is pretty much going to be business as usual,” says Park. “One addition that we have this year, though, is a bit of a carnivalesque-type feel to it. That might entail some wandering magicians, or some other carnivalesque entertainers that will be adding some fun.”
Park says that, based on the number of students, CamFest is growing every year (“Especially with enthusiasm,” he adds). Students will also be able to talk to Camosun College Welcome Week volunteers at CamFest, asking them any questions they may have.
“A lot of times there are questions that aren’t in the information booklet,” says Park. “Simple questions like, ‘Where is the bookstore? Where can I get my UPass? Where is the Young Building?’ The volunteers at Welcome Week can and will answer all of them, and that is such a helpful addition.”
Park says that CamFest takes a great deal of planning, adding that the CCSS started getting ready for this year’s CamFest after last year’s ended.
“The college is really instrumental in making Camfest happen. We have seen support from the office of Student Affairs, which has been great. Then there are the sponsors of CamFest, some private companies which have been so helpful in making this happen. It’s expensive,” Park says with a laugh, “so we appreciate all the help we can get.”
CamFest
10 am – 2 pm Tuesday, September 3
Lansdowne campus
10 am – 2 pm Thursday, September 5
Interurban campus
camosunstudent.org