Grandparents University® (GPU) is a one-of-a-kind experience where curiosity spans generations. It brings together the young and the young-at-heart to explore, learn, and grow side by side. With hands-on activities and engaging majors led by top UW faculty and staff, GPU is all about creating lasting memories and strengthening family bonds through the joy of learning.

Take a look at some of the unforgettable moments from this year’s majors and field trips, where discovery and connection came to life.

The three sessions focused on different art styles, with participants making expressive tote bag designs, clay vessels, and sun print narratives. We popped into the major when they were working on their clay creations!

Testing, testing! In this major, participants got tuned in to the world of radio and the basics of interviewing and recording. Grandparents and grandchildren took turns interviewing each other on a topic of their choosing — a special moment recorded in audio history!

Five, six, seven, eight! GPU dance majors explored creative movement inspired by nature and community, culminating in a performance to share with classmates.

Show time! Grandparents and grandkids wowed the audience during their final routines.

Our limnologists took to the waters of Lake Mendota aboard Limnos, a 28-foot research vessel, to conduct hands-on tests using a range of tools — some cutting-edge, others unchanged since the days of Edward Birge, a pioneering figure in limnology from UW–Madison’s early days. This immersive experience connected students not only to the lake’s ecosystem but also to the rich legacy of freshwater science at the university.

Woosh! We’re seeing lots of exciting activities on the forecast for this weather-packed major! Students tracked storms on a 3-D globe, spotted campus landmarks from 16 stories up, and got a peek into Antarctic meteorology.

The roof of the 16-story Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences building is the perfect place to snap some pics of campus from a new angle.

Participants put their newfound knowledge to the test as they got ready to launch a weather balloon into the sky.

Good times never felt so good! Music majors marched to the beat of the UW Marching Band, explored the rhythm and structure of the blues, and even created their own jump rope chants with a Badger twist.

Did someone say "Jump Around"? Don't mind if we do!

Gloves on, stethoscopes ready! Students stepped into the School of Nursing’s simulation labs to practice real-world skills — administering “meds,” spotting sneaky germs, and listening to heartbeats on high-tech mannequins. They got a hands-on look at the many ways nurses keep patients safe, from wound care to PPE.

The School of Nursing’s museum includes artifacts from the history of nursing, including medical instruments and nurses’ caps, and it features important figures like Signe Skott Cooper, whom the building is named after.

In one a replica hospital room, student “nurses” checked the pulse and heart rate of a mannequin that breathes, blinks, and even speaks!

This year’s pharmacy major featured hands-on stations where participants learned to identify medications, craft custom prescriptions, and communicate effectively with patients. From safely preparing and distributing medicines to donning their own lab coats, kids and grandparents got a taste of the pharmacy world, topped off with a sweet twist: making edible gummy W’s in the lab!

Sunscreen, bug spray, repeat! Participants got their hands dirty helping native habitats thrive — removing invasive species in a game of tug-a-suckle and exploring prairies, wetlands, and gardens at the UW Arboretum. Along the way, they observed pollinators, practiced citizen science, and learned how restoration keeps ecosystems buzzing.

GPU participants held a restoration work party to pull invasive species like dogwood and honeysuckle from the Arboretum's Curtis Prairie.

They also took part in a scavenger hunt to find species featured in the environmental art exhibit, Preserve, modeled after famed UW environmentalist Aldo Leopold’s shack.

In this hands-on major at Allen Centennial Garden, participants explored how gardening can combat urban stress and climate change, while journaling, harvesting blooms, and even turning plants into art.

Beep boop! In the social robotics major, participants got to explore how robots can fit into their everyday lives. They learned about the field of robotics, designed human-robot interactions, and got to program their own robot to mimic human characteristics.

Participants got to code their own routines for a robot to follow. Actions include walking, reading, and even dancing.

Misty the robot was ready for action as she took off on her newly programmed routine.

Break a leg! Participants got a behind-the-scenes look at the world of theater, learning how to craft compelling scenes and apply stage makeup like the pros. From script to spotlight, they explored the many elements that bring a production to life.

The doctor will see you now! Participants stepped into the world of veterinary care by examining live animals, prepping model patients for surgery, and exploring the anatomy of creatures big and small. From ruminant stomachs to surgical scrubs, every aspect of animal care was part of their hands-on learning experience.

Horsing around is totally encouraged! Kids brushed, fed carrots to, and listened to the heart, lungs, and belly gurgles of 26-year-old horse, Valentine.

Goggles at the ready! Participants explored the wonders of physics through hands-on experiments — silently breaking glass, crafting glowing paper circuits, and whipping up ice cream with liquid nitrogen.

The best kinds of experiments are the ones you can eat! Students got to roast marshmallows over the flame from a Rubens tube, which they previously observed sound waves move through.

Participants make music using ”whack sticks” to see how the length of each tube affects frequency, pitch, and sound.

Remember how field trips were the absolute best days back in grade school? In college, nothing beats stepping out of the classroom to experience your learning in the real world. That same spirit comes alive during GPU! We take participants beyond the classroom walls to explore the university in ways you might not otherwise see. A behind-the-scenes tour of Camp Randall, for example? Yes, please — count me in!

Participants stepped into professor Jake Brunkard’s lab to observe plant growth at every stage. These special chambers allow plants to be genetically modified and grow without being affected by external factors such as light, wind, or humidity.

In professor Ahna Skop's human genetics lab, participants looked at a human cell incubator, observed HeLa cells, and saw cell division and midbody shedding from under a microscope.

Dean of the UW Law School Dan Tokaji prepares lawyers for the plaintiff and defense teams so they know what to expect during their mock trial. The jury must decide whether a student wearing a “Badgers Stink” T-shirt had his first amendment rights violated when his school gave him a dress code violation.

The jury foreperson delivers the verdict: they find in favor of the plaintiff. He is free to root against the Badgers all he likes (even if he shouldn‘t).

A joyful farewell wrapped up two unforgettable days on the UW–Madison campus. Grandparents University participants celebrated their mini graduation at the Hamel Music Center, complete with the beloved traditions of “Jump Around” and singing “Varsity.” It was the perfect ending to a journey filled with learning, laughter, and memories made across generations.