Sounds of nature — birds chirping overhead — and the sun rising over the horizon create a mellow atmosphere and a sense that the day is infinite; a sharp contrast to the usual city traffic most of us are accustom to.

Camping trips such as these are available to students involved with the Science Club. Clubs on campus provide opportunities for students to get the true college experience. It is an opportunity to gain lifetime friendships, explore interests, and strengthen college applications.

Science Club

Meeting Time: Tuesdays at 1 p.m. in the Natural Science Building Room 206

The Science Club is geared towards students that are interested in real-world experiences. Activities include hiking, museum visits, and field trips. There is a weekend field trip in the fall and a weeklong trip during spring break to out-of-state destinations. Students must pay for their own food and camping equipment, but there are fundraisers throughout the semester to help with the expenses.

“For a lot of the students, it’s the first and only opportunity to go someplace other than Los Vegas and to be able to go to Grand Canyon or Bryse Canyon or the Meteor Crater in Arizona is a life changing event,” club adviser Joseph Holliday said.

Robotics

Meeting Time: First and third Saturday of the month at 4 p.m. in the Communications Building Room 101/103

Members of the Robotics Club build machines, which enter a competition every November. The VEX Robotics Competition features student-made machines that battle against one another; the winner gains entry into the state championship. Science students also get benefits if they join.

“If you’re an engineering major eventually you’re gonna have to sign up for an internship or do a design challenge and we’re basically just like that, where we get the experience, (and) where we learn to work as a team,” club treasurer Brandon Marshall, 30, music major, said. “It allows you to use the stuff you learn, apply it, and it gives you experience.”

Opera Theater

Meetings: Mondays at 6 p.m. in the Music Building Room 131

The Opera Theater Club is tied closely with the opera workshop class and it is a place for singers to get practice. The club was created in an effort to continue the opera workshop class on campus. “It’s a class that’s almost been cut a couple times because it’s expensive so the club came about as a function to students to save the class,” member Tiffany Hail, 31, music major, said.

In collaboration with the music program, a show occurs every fall. The show consists of scenes from various productions and will take place on Dec. 11 in the Campus Theatre.

Honors Transfer Club

Meeting Time: Every other Thursday at 1p.m. in and the Humanities Building Room 210

The Honors Transfer Club (HTC) is a separate entity from the Honor Transfers Program. The club provides a working environment for students to focus on both academia and transferring. There is also a social component to the club. Activities include field trips, laser tag and other social events.

The HTC executes fundraisers to help fund scholarships for members.

“All the money the students raise they keep to go in this fund, and at the end of the year people who have been active in the club can apply and try to get a scholarship,” Co-Director of HTC Tiffany Williams said. “I think that’s pretty unique. I don’t think any other club does that.”

Society of Music

Meeting Time: Tuesdays at 1 p.m. in the Music Room 125

The Society of Music Club provides musical opportunities for students to perform; additionally, members participate in fundraising events, which garner money for equipment.

“There’s performance opportunities like the recital they do every semester and there’s also opportunities to perform during Club Rush so if you see a soloist or a group performing out there, that’s Society of Music” Rachel Lilagan, 22, music major, said. “You don’t have to be a musician to join (but if you are) it’s a great way to meet fellow musicians.”

Newspaper

Visit our booth during Club Rush to enter a raffle to win tow tickets to see Kenichi Ebina, last year’s “America’s Got Talent” winner.

CLUB RUSH

September 15-18

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Library Lawn