By ALYSSA FOLAND, staff reporter

Wildcats might be a little less wild this weekend due to some parental guidance.

Campus Activities will host a variety of events over the weekend for their annual event Family Weekend, May 10 through May 12.

Andrea Kuhn, senior recreation and tourism major, oversaw the planning that went into the weekend.

“I just hope that [student’s families] experience Central and see what a great school it is,” Kuhn said.

Kuhn said this weekend is not only meant to have families see what their student does, but also to experience student life themselves. Check-in is between 3-7 p.m. in the Student Union Recreation Center (SURC) Info Booth.

Much like previous years, they are holding the Mother’s Day brunch on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. in Holmes Dining with this year’s entertainment being Nellys Echo, who was featured on NBC’s “The Voice.” Students and parents can also participate in the Yakima River float, which has always been a popular attraction.

“I just wish that everybody would get a chance to experience the Yakima,” Eric Scott, intramural and special events coordinator, said.

Scott helps to coordinate the recreational portion of the weekend’s events. He said they will be hosting the Yakima River float and outdoor Zumba. The Zumba class is offered to anyone who wants to try it, no need to sign up beforehand. He said bringing the activities outside will attract the community’s attention.

“Spring in Ellensburg is such a great time to get outside, so anytime we can do our indoor activities outside we like to do it,” Scott said.

Scott said their activities have had a very successful turn out in previous years, and that University Recreation tries to add fun and excitement to the time the families are here.

Scott Drummond, associate director of Campus Life and director of Campus Activities, makes sure all the activities blend together to make a full weekend.

“They drop their student off at the beginning of the year, at the beginning of the academic year, and they don’t always realize that they’re always welcome here,” Drummond said.

Drummond said the university is not only a student experience, but also a family experience. He wants this weekend to show them what the school does and provide entertainment to give families the full scope of what kinds of things go on at Central.

Part of his job was finding a student coordinator, Kuhn, to make sure everything runs smoothly. Drummond and Kuhn want to make sure the facilities have a good relationship with the school along with the students.

“I’m fortunate enough to get to know quite a few of our students while they’re here, but I don’t always get to meet the families,” Drummond said. “Like I said, maybe it sounds cliché, but it really is enjoyable.”

Drummond said he likes to see where the students came from, what family they came from, and said it’s fun to see how they react with their families and the school. He said Central is going to show them a great time no matter what.

“A lot of times, students — they’re a little more intimidated to take on a new adventure — but when their parents get involved, parents will help push them into a new activity,” Scott said. “And then it becomes a lifelong passion.”

Other events going on during the weekend are downtown tours, a theatre department performance of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and a comedy routine by Melissa Villasenor from America’s Got Talent.

“I hope that students get just a night of laughter before all the craziness of finals kicks in,” Ashley Stubbs, senior music major and comedy programmer for campus activities, said.

On Friday May 10 at 8 p.m. Villasenor will perform her impressions, which according to Stubbs, is what she is known best for.

She said this is one of the only events that they charge for. They have already sold half of their tickets to the show and in the past they have always had very high attendance at the comedy shows.

“Her Kathy Griffin impression and her Britney Spears impression get me every time, and if there’s any event you’re ever unsure of because it costs money, this is the one that’s worth $3 to pay,” Stubbs said.

Stubbs suggests for anyone who has not heard of Villasenor to look her up on YouTube. She chose Villasenor because she watched her audition in Seattle for America’s Got Talent, and is very excited to have gotten her this year.

“We make sure to book someone that’s well worth it,” Stubbs said.

Kuhn said her family has never come up for the weekend before, but said she knows they would have really enjoyed it. She said it can be fun to take your parents out and play tour guide because people don’t recognize how fun it can be.

“I feel like they missed out because it’s such a great experience,” Kuhn said. “I don’t think people realize it.”