The 2008 Grinnell College Summer Potluck Picnic Tour, sponsored by the Office of College and Alumni Relations and the Office of Admission, was a wonderful success! Now we have started the 2009 Summer Picnic season! We kicked the summer off with a very large group in New York City for the annual Summerparty. Then, two weeked later, we had the Des Moines and Hawaii picnincs. Alumni and current students enjoyed an afternoon reminiscing about their time at Grinnell. The picnics have also given incoming first-year students and their parents a great chance to meet each other and ask alumni or current students any questions they still have about Grinnell.

Four years ago, we hosted seven Grinnell College Summer Picnics nationwide. The summer of 2009 will include more than 22 picnics, in cities from Boston to Los Angeles and from Denver to Austin, Texas. More than 150 people have joined us so far. By the end of the summer that number will be more than 1,000 nationwide. Alumni have a wonderful time seeing familiar faces, catching up, meeting new Grinnellians, and learning from faculty, students, and staff about what is currently happening on campus.

Recent graduates learn about local life from older alumni, some of who have young children romping around the picnic site, while others have children about to enter Grinnell. More than 65 years of Grinnellians come together, have a great time, and make connections to help one another. Last year, even a raging thunderstorm couldn't stop more than 60 people from having a great time under the shelter at the Iowa City Picnic!

If you missed a picnic last year (or even if you didn't), please join us this summer as we continue to improve the Picnic Tour!