Welcome Weekend 2026 has already happened, but you can still see the schedule below as an example of what you might see at a future Welcome Weekend!
Every event at Welcome Weekend is optional; come and stay for however long you wish!
Note: CGP is in the Eastern Time Zone, all times will be local to Cooperstown.
Wednesday 3/25/2026:
| Event | When | Where |
| Class observation: Introduction to Museum Education and Interpretation | 8:30 am – 11:15 am | Virtual |
| Class observation: Collections, Acquisitions, Care and Management | 11:30 am – 2:15 pm | Virtual |
| Class observation: African American Art | 5:30 pm – 8:15 pm | Virtual |
Thursday 3/26/2026:
| Event | When | Where |
| Class observation: Foodways and Sustainability | 8:30 am – 11:15 am | Virtual or in person at CGP |
| Class observation: Museum Finance | 11:30 am – 2:15 pm | Virtual |
| Class observation: Science Museum Methods | 11:30 am – 2:15 pm | Virtual or in person at CGP |
| Informal Tour of CGP for Visiting Students present for class observations | 2:15 pm – 2:45 pm | CGP |
| Tour of SUNY Oneonta Campus | 3:45 pm – 4:30 pm | SUNY Oneonta, meeting point TBD |
| Planetarium Show | 4:30 pm- 5:30 pm | SUNY Oneonta |
| Mac and Cheese Bar and Science Discovery Center | 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm | SUNY Oneonta |
Friday 3/27/2026:
| Event | When | Where |
| Breakfast with Students | 8:30 am – 9:30 am | CGP |
| Professional Seminar on Museum Security | 9:30 am – 12:30 pm* | CGP |
| Tour of the Fenimore Art Museum | 11:15 am – 12:15 pm | Fenimore Art Museum |
| Lunch on your own | 12:45 pm -1:45 pm | Your Choice |
| White Ash Suites Lunch and tours hosted by White House Inn | 12:45 pm -2:15 pm | The White House Inn is providing lunch and a reception at the White Ash Suites, and will lead a tour of some available apartments in Cooperstown. |
| Tour of the National Baseball Hall of Fame | 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm | National Baseball Hall of Fame, 1 guest per attendee welcome for free, any additional guests must pay admission |
| Visiting student check-in & tour of CGP building | 4:45 pm – 5:30 pm | CGP, Guests welcome |
| Welcome Speech with Dr. Gretchen Sorin | 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm | CGP |
| Catered Dinner | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm | CGP |
| Icebreakers | 7:00 – 7:30 pm | CGP |
| Ice Cream Social and Trivia Night | 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm | CGP |
*Visiting students can leave the Professional Seminar at the midway break (at around 11:00 am) and head to the Fenimore Art Museum next door or enjoy time on their own. You can also choose to stay for the whole seminar if you wish to.
Saturday 3/28/2026:
| Event | When | Where |
| Breakfast with Alumni | 9:00 am – 10:00 am | CGP |
| Cooperstown Sightseeing Tour | 10:15 am – 11:15 am | Meeting point is at Double Day Parking Lot, Guests welcome |
| Faculty Meet and Greet | 11:30 am – 1:00 pm | CGP |
| Catered Lunch with Faculty | 1:15 pm – 2:00 pm | CGP |
| Crafts and Faculty One-on-One Conversations | 2:15 pm – 3:15 pm | CGP |
| Student Panel and Q&A | 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm | CGP (Virtual option available) |
| Faculty Q&A | 5:00 pm -5:45 pm | CGP |
| Catered Dinner | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm | CGP |
| Closing Remarks | 7:00 pm – 7:30 pm | CGP |
Full Schedule for Welcome Weekend is written out below:
Wednesday 3/25/2026:
Virtual Class Observation. No events at CGP
- Class observation: Introduction to Museum Education and Interpretation: 8:30 am – 11:15 am (virtual)
- Class observation: Collections, Acquisitions, Care and Management: 11:30 am – 2:15 pm (virtual)
- Class observation: Controversies in Science Museums: 11:30 am – 2:15 pm (virtual)
- Class observation: African American Art: 5:30 pm – 8:15 pm (virtual)
Thursday 3/26/2026:
Breakfast and Lunch on your own
- Class observation: Foodways and Sustainability: 8:30 am – 11:15 am (virtual or in-person)
- Class observation: Museum Finance: 11:30 am – 2:15 pm (in-person)
- Class observation: Science Museum Methods: 11:30 am – 2:15 pm (virtual or in-person)
- Informal Tour of CGP for Visiting Students present for class observations: 2:15 pm – 2:45 pm
- Tour of the SUNY Oneonta Campus 3:45 pm-4:30 pm (at SUNY Oneonta, outside Hunt Union)
- Planetarium Show: 4:30 pm- 5:30 pm (at SUNY Oneonta)
- Mac and Cheese Bar and Science Discovery Center: 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm (at SUNY Oneonta)
Friday 3/27/2026:
Lunch on your own
- Breakfast with Students: 8:30 am – 9:30 am
- Professional Seminar on Museum Security: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm*
- Tour at the Fenimore Art Museum: 11:15 am – 12:15 pm (Fenimore Art Museum)
- Lunch on your own: 12:45 pm -1:45 pm (Your Choice)
- White Ash Suites Reception: 12:45 pm-2:15 pm (White Ash Suites in Cooperstown)
- Tour at the Baseball Hall of Fame: 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm (Baseball Hall of Fame)
- Visiting student check in & tour of CGP building: 4:45 pm – 5:30 pm (Guests welcome)
- Welcome Speech with Dr. Gretchen Sorin: 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm
- Catered Dinner: 6:00 pm- 7:00 pm
- Icebreakers: 7:00 pm – 7:30 pm
- Ice Cream Social and Trivia Night: 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
*Visiting students can leave the Professional Seminar at the midway break (at around 11:00 am) and head to the Fenimore Art Museum next door or enjoy time on their own. They can also choose to stay for the whole seminar if they wish to.
Saturday 3/28/2026:
- Breakfast with Alumni: 9:00 am – 10:00 am
- Cooperstown Sightseeing Tour: 10:15 am – 11:15 am (Meeting point in Cooperstown, Double Day Parking Lot, Guests welcome)
- Faculty meet and greet: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
- Catered Lunch with Faculty: 1:15 pm – 2:00 pm
- Crafts and Faculty One-on-One Conversations: 2:15 pm – 3:15 pm
- Student Panel and Q&A: 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm (Virtual available)
- Faculty Q&A: 5:00 pm – 5:45 pm
- Catered Dinner: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Closing Remarks: 7:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Welcome Weekend 