Beyond Blocks

9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Intramural Sports: Fall Registration | FusionPLAY app

Interested in playing Intramural Sports? Download the FusionPLAY app or visit recwell.rpi.edu and click on Intramural Sports. You can register as a team or as a free agent. Questions? Contact Jen Lucero-Wehner at wehnej@rpi.edu.

5–7 p.m. | Chabad Barbeque | Chabad House, 1908 Burdett Ave Troy, NY 12180

Join Chabad of RPI for an amazing barbecue at your Jewish home away from home! We hope to see you there.

5–7 p.m. | Coaching Session with Boxing Club | '87 Gym Dojo

This is your opportunity to learn boxing fundamentals or refine your skills, build confidence, stay active, and meet other students in a welcoming environment. We will have an experienced coach leading the lesson, so participants can expect helpful instruction, supportive guidance, and a fun introduction to boxing technique and training.

All skill levels are welcome, whether you are completely new to boxing or already have experience. Come ready to punch, learn, and connect with others. We are so excited to see everyone there!

5–11 p.m. | First Day of Fall Club Sports Tryouts | Athletic Fields

Fall Club Sports will be hosting the first of multi-day tryouts beginning August 27, 2026. This includes Men’s Club Soccer, Women’s Club Soccer, Men’s Rugby, Women’s Rugby, Quadball (formerly Quidditch), Field Hockey, and Ultimate Frisbee. Reach out to the respective club that interests you for more information, official times, and locations.

7–10 p.m. | UPAC Comedy Games & Songs Night | Union 1st Floor Ballroom, Arcade, and Theater

Enjoy a night of laughs and songs with UPAC Comedy. Play games of Jackbox on the Nintendo Switch, or funny card and board games with friends and future friends. You can also sing karaoke to your heart's content.

6–8 p.m. | National Society of Black Engineers Ice Cream Social | Rensselaer Union, Shelnutt Gallery

Meet fellow incoming students, connect with current NSBE members, and enjoy free ice cream! Learn about campus life, leadership opportunities, and how NSBE can help you thrive academically, professionally, and socially. Start building your community!

8–10 p.m. | A Night of A Cappella | Chapel and Cultural Center

Join RPI’s A Cappella Groups (The Rensselyrics, The Rusty Pipes, RPI Raaga, Duly Noted, and Partial Credit) for an unforgettable night of music and mingling! Refreshments will be provided.

9–11 a.m. | Fun 5k Run/Walk | ECAV

Join Rensselaer Running Club and the Health and Counseling Centers for a fun 5K run/walk! Whether you are a competitive racer or someone just wanting to enjoy the outdoor air, we have a place for you. Here, you’ll get to run and walk along a designated route, meet people with similar interests, have some post-race snacks, learn about support opportunities at RPI, and enjoy the good vibes!

10 a.m. –12 p.m. | 100% Natural Noise - America's Pep Band! | J-Building Large Rehearsal Room

Join America's Pep Band for our first rehearsal! Bring your instruments and make new friends as we practice the songs we play at games!

12–2 p.m. | Paint and Chat with RPI Sunrise! | Rensselaer Union

Join RPI Sunrise for a paint and chat to kick off the fall semester!

1–3 p.m. | CS Club Ice Cream Social | Rensselaer Union, Horseshoe Lobby

What’s better on a hot day than free ice cream? Stop by for some ice cream with HackRPI and other CS clubs. Meet other students and get some swag!

11 a.m. –1 p.m. | RPI Dance Team - Open Practice | Mueller Center Studios 1 & 2

Learn a combo and see what a practice is like on the RPI Dance Team! We perform collegiate Pom, Hip-Hop and Jazz routines at RPI home football and basketball games as well as compete at NDA Nationals in the spring. Whether you have previous experience in dance, cheer, gymnastics, or you’re looking to try something new, this is a great opportunity for students to get a taste of what the RPI Dance Team does! We will be learning game-day choreography, followed by an info session at the end! Be sure to wear athletic clothes and bring water. We can’t wait to see you there!

11 a.m. –1 p.m. | Percussion Ensemble | J Building (Large Rehearsal Room)

Play music with the Percussion Ensemble! Meet everyone in the group, see what a rehearsal looks like, and play some fun music.

11 a.m. –1 p.m. | Bard and Baker Silent Book Club | Bard and Baker, Downtown Troy, NY

Bring your own reads and sit in silence together!

12–2:30 p.m. | Explore Fencing with RPI Fencing Club! | Armory Basement

Join us in the basement of the Armory for a fun introduction to fencing with the RPI Fencing Club! Make sure to wear athletic clothing!!

12–3 p.m. | Welcome Back BBQ | '86 Field

Kick off the new semester with great food, music, and community! Join the campus minority organizations for our annual Welcome Back BBQ, where students can connect with peers, meet organization leaders, and learn about opportunities to get involved throughout the year. Whether you’re a returning student or new to campus, this event is a chance to build friendships and start the semester feeling connected and supported. We can’t wait to welcome you back!

12:30– 4 p.m. | Ground Zero Basement Presents: DIY Fit Making | Rensselaer Union

GZ Basement’s DIY Workshop teaches you how to paint, draw, and put studs on clothes, cut linoleum stamps, and create patches. The best part? You can take your creation home!

1–3:30 p.m. | RPI Chess Club Mixer! | RPI Student Union, Room 3202

Open to anyone who loves the game, our RPI Chess Club facilitates fun activities for players in the community. Join us for a chill, exciting session of chess!

5–6 p.m. | Catholic Mass | Chapel + Cultural Center 2125 Burdett Ave., Troy, NY 12180

Catholic Mass, offered especially for university students, is a time to step away from the busyness of campus life, reflect, and be renewed in faith. All are welcome to attend this uplifting celebration of the Eucharist, connect with our vibrant student community, and grow spiritually during your time at college.

7–9 p.m. | Art in the Park with Student Sustainability Task Force | Prospect Park (Meet in Rensselaer Union)

Enjoy a scenic hike at Prospect Park, then unwind with a fun, relaxed art session!

6–7:50 p.m. | RPI Symphony Orchestra | DCC, Room 308

Interested in joining the RPI Orchestra? Come meet the students and conductor of the RPI Symphony Orchestra for an exciting side-by-side rehearsal, and experience what it feels like to be part of this flagship musical ensemble!

7–8 p.m. | RPI Circle K Social Scavenger Hunt & Game Night | Rensselaer Union

Kick off the year with RPI Circle K's first meeting! Enjoy a social scavenger hunt and games, make new friends, and learn more about our organization!

7–9 p.m. | Irish / Bluegrass Jam | J Building (Small Rehearsal Room)

Join the small groups Ceili Band and Not Quite Bluegrass (NQB) as we play some traditional Irish and bluegrass tunes!

9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Campus Thrift Store | RecWell at the Mueller Center

The Campus Thrift Store offers students an affordable and sustainable way to shop for clothing and other essentials right on campus.

2-4 p.m. | School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Science Student Game Break |4th Floor Sage Lab Study Hub/HASS Hub

All HASS students including future HASS duals are welcome to attend the HASS hub game break! We will have board games as well as Mario Kart and Mario Party. We will also have some snacks and drinks. Can't wait to connect with you!

2-5 p.m. | Access & Neurodiverse Student Success Social Hours | Success Center, 1st Floor of the Folsom Library

Join Access & Neurodiverse Student Success (ANSS) for social hours! Meet other students while enjoying snacks and activities.

6-8 p.m. | Purl and Play | Bard and Baker, Downtown Troy, NY

Bring your own craft supplies for a fun and social crafts session! 

September 2-5 | TOPOS Music Festival | EMPAC & The Sanctuary

What does music know about us that we don't yet know ourselves? Join us at EMPAC for a festival of music as provocative sites to experience.

11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Tour of the Lally School of Management Pittsburgh Student Spaces | Pittsburg Building

Join us for a fun, interactive tour of the student spaces in the Pittsburgh Building while enjoying popcorn and other snacks!

12-3 p.m. | Talk Without Borders Weekly Meeting | RecWell at the Mueller Center

Talk Without Borders (TWB) creates welcoming spaces where international and domestic students can connect through conversation and shared experiences. TWB programs celebrate global perspectives, encourage cultural exchange, and help build friendships across campus. From casual meet-ups to themed events, each gathering is designed to spark meaningful dialogue and broaden horizons. Check out our meetings on Wednesdays and Fridays, 12–3 p.m.

1-3 p.m. | Wellness Wednesday | RecWell at the Mueller Center

Looking for a way to recharge, connect, and prioritize your well-being? Join us for Wellness Wednesday, a weekly opportunity to take a break from the demands of college life and explore activities that support your physical, mental, and emotional wellness.

1-5 p.m. | Bookmark Making, Coloring, and Classic Novel Trivia | Rensselaer Union

Join the RPI Classical Book Club as we make and decorate our own bookmarks, color some classic novel inspired coloring pages, and quiz each other on important classical works and their authors!

2-3:30 p.m. | RPI Libraries Open House | Folsom Library

New first-year and transfer students are invited to join for a fun, relaxed introduction to the RPI Libraries. Grab a bingo card and explore stations featuring library services, research help, interlibrary loan, study spaces, technology, the Student Success Center, and more. Along the way, you'll discover resources that can help you succeed at RPI—and you'll be entered for a chance to win great raffle prizes from local restaurants and shops. Even better, the first 100 students who complete their bingo card will receive free ice cream and a library goodie bag! Stop by, meet friendly staff, learn about campus resources, and see what the Libraries have to offer. We look forward to welcoming you!

4-6 p.m. | RPI Choir - Side-by-Side Rehearsal | RPI Chapel and Cultural Center, 2125 Burdett Avenue

Join the Concert Choir in a fun and engaging open rehearsal! Singers from any genre and level of experience are welcome! You'll learn new music, develop new singing techniques, and make new friends in this inviting and joyful musical experience.

5-7 p.m. | What in the World is SWE? | Rensselaer Union, Shelnutt Gallery

Get to know the RPI Society of Women Engineers (SWE) through an interactive meeting to learn about membership benefits, events, and involvement!

5-8 p.m. | Grill & Chill: Beach Volleyball + Backyard Football | 200 Sunset Terrace, Troy, NY

Hangout and enjoy some barbeque, beach volleyball, and backyard football with Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity.

6-7:30 p.m. | Capture the Flag Kickoff | Low 4050

Join ACM-W and RPISEC for a beginner-friendly Capture the Flag (CTF) event! Work through challenges on binary exploitation, forensics, and more. 

6:30-8:30 p.m. | Mochi Bash with the Chinese American Students Association | Rensselaer Union, Shelnutt Gallery

Get introduced to Chinese American Students Association (CASA) at our first meeting of the year! Join us as we discuss our plans for the year, make new friends, and have fun making mochi.

7-9 p.m. | Orchestral Jam | J Building (Large Rehearsal Room)

This event, acting as the first rehearsal, is open to anyone interested in performing media and videogame repertoire across the semester.

9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Campus Thrift Store | RecWell at the Mueller Center

The Campus Thrift Store offers students an affordable and sustainable way to shop for clothing and other essentials.

4-6 p.m. | Forge New Relationships with Materials Advantage | Materials Research Center Lounge

Materials Advantage needs your help! Along with a mocktail bar, we will screen episodes of Forged in Fire to help us brainstorm new ideas for our bladesmithing project. Come and meet our club and make new friendships!

9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Campus Thrift Store | RecWell at the Mueller Center

The Campus Thrift Store offers students an affordable and sustainable way to shop for clothing and other essentials.

12-3 p.m. | Talk Without Borders Weekly Meeting | RecWell at the Mueller Center

Talk Without Borders (TWB) creates welcoming spaces where international and domestic students can connect through conversation and shared experiences. TWB programs celebrate global perspectives, encourage cultural exchange, and help build friendships across campus. From casual meet-ups to themed events, each gathering is designed to spark meaningful dialogue and broaden horizons. Check out our meetings on Wednesdays and Fridays, 12–3 p.m. 

4 p.m. | Book Club | RecWell at the Mueller Center

Whether you’re an avid bookworm or just looking for a fun way to connect with fellow students, this is a relaxed and welcoming space to discuss books, explore different perspectives, and build friendships across campus.

11 a.m.-3 p.m. | RPI Esports Social | REC Arcade and Ballroom

Join the RPI Esports Club to game in the new Arcade space. Meet the club, enjoy some pizza, play a variety of games, and learn the rules associated with using the REC Arcade.

12 p.m. | Men’s Football vs Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Transit Trophy Game | East Campus Athletic Village, Stadium

12-1:30 p.m. | TOPOS Festival BBQ | EMPAC Main Entrance

Saturday at TOPOS begins with a free community BBQ with Sound House Records of Troy selling and spinning music. All are invited.

3-4:30 p.m. | Unlock RPI with Google Developer Group! | In front of Commons Dining Hall

Explore RPI, meet fellow students, and discover campus while collecting QR codes to win a prize!

5-7 p.m. | Pizza & Projects | Rensselaer Union, Room 3202

Join Engineers Without Borders for a night of delicious pizza and fun Kahoot-style activities about our three international projects!

5-6 p.m. | Catholic Mass | Chapel + Cultural Center 2125 Burdett Ave., Troy, NY 12180

Catholic Mass, offered especially for university students, is a time to step away from the busyness of campus life, reflect, and be renewed in faith. All are welcome to attend this uplifting celebration of the Eucharist, connect with our vibrant student community, and grow spiritually during your time at college.

6-8 p.m. | Catholic Community Welcome Picnic for RPI Students | Lawn outside the Chapel + Cultural

Kick off the fall semester with food, fellowship, and fun! Right after the 5:00 PM Mass at the Chapel + Cultural Center, we’re hosting a Catholic Community Welcome Picnic for all RPI students. Whether you're returning to campus or new to the community, come hang out, meet new friends, enjoy delicious food, and take part in games and activities. It’s a great way to unwind before classes are in full swing, reconnect with friends, and get to know the vibrant Catholic community at RPI.