Holiday gift ideas abound across campus

Holiday shopping. It always catches you off guard. What to buy, who gets what and when will you do all of it? Look no further than UW–Madison. Homemade cookies, Union gift cards, books and music are just a few of the items that UW–Madison has to offer. Buy a gift and help support university academic, social and outreach programs.

Watch it, wear it: “Wisconsin World War II Stories,” “Spring Fever: 30 Years with the UW Varsity Band” and the UW Varsity Band Shows (1994-2005) are just a few of the videos offered by Wisconsin Public Television. A list of titles includes videos on quilting and gardening as well as Wisconsin history, places and people. Prices vary but many are just $19.95 plus shipping. Call Evey Fleming, (608) 263-4575, or use WPT’s secure Web site, www.wpt.org, and click on “buy videos.” Wisconsin Gardener T-shirts ($12, plus shipping) also are available at www.wpt.org/garden.
Suitable for framing: UW–Madison alumni and friends can purchase stirring athletic and campus photography for themselves – or send them directly to friends and family as gifts – all with the click of a mouse at www.uwbadgerphotos.com. The Web site, developed and operated by the University’s contract partner, Replay Photos, LLC, displays more than 100 photographs, ranging from the Badger football team’s spirited entrance to Camp Randall Stadium to artistic shots of Bascom Hall. Photos are available as images only or with framing and matting options. And a portion of every sale comes back in royalties that benefit UW–Madison programs.
Badgers forever: Purchase a brick along UW’s Hall of Fame to support student-athlete scholarships and commemorate events or honor family members. The Hall of Fame on the southeast wall of the Camp Randall Memorial Sports Center shadows the brick walk, where more than 4,600 bricks tell special and unique stories. Visit www.uwbadgers.com/athdept/special_events/brickwalk.aspx or call the Badger Fund at (608) 262-1000.
Varsity, Varsity: The Wisconsin Alumni Association is selling its fan pack for 30 percent off the regular price. Purchase a fan pack and receive a microfiber fleece jacket and cap for $59.95. Shop for any kind of Badger item, from T-shirts to “Motion W” outdoor lights. WAA members save 10 percent. Visit www.uwalumni.com/store/index.html.
Nurture nature: Find a gift and help heal the land at the UW Arboretum Bookstore; its profits support Arboretum projects. This season, pick up an Arboretum baseball cap or T-shirt. The cap has the UW–Madison Arboretum embroidered on the front and comes in a variety of colors. T-shirts featuring the Arboretum logo cost $16.95 for short sleeves, $26.95 for long sleeves. The bookstore also offers books and publications. The Arboretum Bookstore is open weekdays, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., and weekends, 12:30-4 p.m. Call (608) 263-7888 or visit www.uwarboretum.org/bookstore.
Give hope: Instead of buying a DVD player or yet another tie this year, consider making a gift to the UW Comprehensive Cancer Center in someone’s name for cancer research. Upon receipt of your gift an acknowledgment card will be sent to the person being honored. For more information, visit www.cancer.wisc.edu/donations/framedonations.html and click on Holiday Gift Program, or call Ann Johnson at (608) 263-1677.
Give hope, part II: Help build the new American Family Children’s Hospital. Purchase a Bucky Badger plush toy from the local Wisconsin American Family agent’s office for $5 each; all proceeds from the toy’s sale go to the hospital building fund. For more information, visit www.uwhealth.org/nofinergift/news_welcome.html.
More from the UW Children’s Hospital: Although a uniquely specific gift offered only to family members of inpatients in UW Children’s Hospital, it is also new, having been unveiled on Oct. 28. Members of UW Health integrative medicine staff have offered their massage therapy and bodywork services to families. Gift certificates for the $40, 30-minute sessions are available. Family members may call (608) 262-WELL to schedule an appointment. For more information, contact Michael Johnson at (608) 265-8349 or e-mail ml.johnson2@hosp.wisc.edu.
Ready to rock? Items including field guides, fossil handbooks and wall maps are available from the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. A detailed early 20th century map of their favorite part of Wisconsin ($15) could be the perfect gift for that hard-to-buy-for friend. Or give a four-CD set of GPS-ready topographic maps of Wisconsin ($99.95) to the hiker, hunter, fisher or map lover on your list. Receive a free poster calendar (a $5 value) with a $25 purchase. Call (608) 263-7389 for more information.
Homemade holiday cookies: Boxes of homemade holiday cookies baked from scratch by University Housing now are on sale. Each gift box contains three dozen cookies in 10 varieties for $6.24. Specialties include almond macaroon, double peanut butter cup and raspberry chocolate chunk. Gift boxes can be purchased at Ed’s Express, Carson’s Carryout, Chadbourne Dining Room and Liz Waters Dining Room on the UW–Madison campus, or order larger quantities through University Housing catering. Visit www.housing.wisc.edu/foodservice/cookies for more information. Quantities are limited.
Furry friends: For a suggested $10 donation per card, the School of Veterinary Medicine will send recipients holiday greeting cards from which proceeds go to projects that improve animal health. Recipients receive a full-color animal artwork card with a message stating that a donation was made in their name to the School of Veterinary Medicine. This year’s pastel painting, “Consorting with Friends,” was donated by Donna Ragona-Krueger, of Sun Prairie, a 1998 graduate of the school who also is a freelance artist. Download a holiday gift card donation form at www.vetmed.wisc.edu/data/holiday_card/, or call (608) 265-9692.
Live better and stay organized: The UW-Extension Good Ideas 2006 engagement calendar lists experts in energy conservation, health care and aging, nutrition, parenting, gardening and home maintenance, agriculture and more. It includes titles of Cooperative Extension publications, more than 50 photos that celebrate the diversity of Wisconsin and ample space in which to write and keep track of events and deadlines. Cost of the 7×9-inch spiral-bound calendar is $13, which includes shipping and handling. To order, call (608) 262-2655 or e-mail jim.smith@uwex.edu. To order by mail, send a check payable to UW-Extension for $13 per copy to: Calendar, 103 Extension Building, Dept. E03, 432 N. Lake St., Madison, WI 53706.
The sound of Wisconsin music: Tune to the music of UW professor Vartan Manoogian and the UW concert choir. “In the Bleak Midwinter” ($15) and Manoogian’s “J.S. Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for Unaccompanied Violin” (two-disc set, $25) are available under “new arrivals” via the School of Music online CD store. Click on “Jazz” and find “Collage,” a two-disc compilation of music by School of Music students, as well as “Swing Classics and Beyond,” a CD by the UW Jazz Big Band. Visit wiscweb5.wisc.edu/ccmerchant/music.
Did someone say Wisconsin music? The UW Marching Band offers “The Chicken Dance,” “You’ve Said It All” and “On Wisconsin!” Visit www.badgerband.com/store/store.html and find everything from concert CDs to T-shirts to pins, decals and key chains. To place an order, call (608) 890-0342, or print an order form from the Web site and fax it to (608) 265-3024. Or send the form to UW Band Store, 455 N. Park St., Madison, WI 53706.
Meet me at the Union: Ice cream, bowling, mini Terrace chairs – just when you thought the Wisconsin Union had it all, now you can purchase the new gift card. Gift cards are for any amount between $10 and $500 and are accepted at Essentials Store, Corner Store, Memorial Union and Union South games rooms, travel center, craft shop, outdoor rentals, Wisconsin Union Theater and all Union restaurants and delis. Call (608) 263-1964 or visit www.union.wisc.edu/terracestore. Does the Badger fan on your list already own every item? A membership to the Wisconsin Union could be the gift for them. Membership includes reduced admission and fees for many Union activities. For more information, call (608) 262-2263 or visit www.union.wisc.edu/membership/.
Encore, encore: Enjoy an evening of live entertainment at the Wisconsin Union Theater. The theater offers gift certificates that you can purchase at the box office or by phone at (608) 262-2201. Visit www.uniontheater.wisc.edu for performance listings.
Have fun learning: Union Mini-Courses offer 150 noncredit learning opportunities five times a year, ranging from art to yoga. Order gift certificates in $25 increments online at www.wisc.edu/minicourses/. Call (608) 262-3156 or (608) 262-5771 for details.
A healthy heart: Give the gift of health this holiday season with a heart screening gift certificate. UW Health’s Women’s Heart Health Program computerized risk assessments include a personal heart health report based on age, family history and other heart risk factors. The cost of the risk assessment is $25. Purchase a heart screening gift certificate by calling (608) 262-2221.
Read a good book lately? The UW Press has more than 1,400 titles in print, including Elizabeth Czarapata’s “Invasive Plants of the Upper Midwest” and Marc Galanter’s “Lowering the Bar.” New in paperback is Capital Times columnist Doug Moe’s “Lords of the Ring,” which tells the story of UW boxing. To order, visit www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress.
Reuse, recycle: Looking for low-priced computer equipment, office or lab supplies or even home furnishings? The UW SWAP Shop collects and redistributes surplus property. The SWAP store is open to the general public on Fridays and every second Saturday of the month. Visit www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html to search inventory.
New name, same great art: The Chazen Museum of Art has numerous possibilities for gifts in its museum shop. Purchases also help support the museum’s programs. Catalogues and books, holiday cards, posters and gift certificates are available at the museum shop and online at chazen.wisc.edu/shop.