Madison area clubs provide students with off-campus opportunities to meet new people and share niche interests that don’t involve the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
UW-Madison has over one thousand student organizations, ranging from academic or professional groups like Pre-Law Society, to more fun, social options like Cheese Club. Outside of the campus community, small groups are providing students and community members with the chance to meet like-minded individuals in the greater Madison area.
Rachel Betters is a content creator and organizer of Madison’s first junk-journaling club. She shared her love for the craft on TikTok, where she posted a video inquiring about interest for a group in Madison.
“The algorithm did its job for once,” Betters told The Daily Cardinal. “I ended up taking the next steps because it seemed like we had enough interested people.”
Clubs like Betters’ allow individuals to meet together over shared interests in an accessible and affordable group setting. Once a month, the group meets at Madison Public Library, where they show up, bring supplies to share and spend their afternoon junk-journaling.
"We just introduce ourselves and work on our own projects,” said Betters.
Madison Public Libraries act as a free space for many clubs to meet and organize, including groups like the Bargain Bin Movie Club. This group is organized by Larissa Lede, and they meet together to watch “bad” movies.
Their club description says it all: “From terrible acting and bizarre plots to low-budget masterpieces, we watch them all.”
Lede said hosting events for people to get together brings a strong sense of community and a broadening of perspectives.
“Everyone's leaving happy and ecstatic, and they’re like ‘I can’t wait to see you at the next one!’” Lede told the Cardinal.
Clubs and organizations, inside and outside of the campus community, provide opportunities for students to find a space outside the busy bustle of school, work and home.
Lede said she hopes groups like hers can be cultivated into social environments outside of work and home.
“A third space is really valuable to some [people],” she said.
Joining clubs in the Madison area can be a great step for students planning to graduate soon and stay local. Betters is a UW-Madison alum and found finding community post-grad can be difficult.
“When you’re in college, you just sign up for a club; it’s so easy,” she said. “But I feel like that’s harder as an adult.”
Crafting is a popular theme for groups, like the Madison Crochet, Knitting and Yarn Crafts Group and ReCurated Craft Club, but sports and physical activity groups are popular as well.
Madison Outdoor Yoga offers donation-based yoga classes at local Madison parks for individuals at all experience levels.
Madison and Sun Prairie Fleet Feet provides free run club options for all paces led by Fleet Feet staff members.
