Chris Kemp

Senior Laura Thompson, like many other students, invited her younger brother to UW-Eau Claire for the annual Little Sibs’ Weekend, which is sponsored by Housing and Residence Life and organized by National Residence Hall Honorary

Laura Thompson’s eight-year-old brother Michael Thompson, arrived at the Eau Claire campus around 8:15 p.m. Friday, after a four-hour bus ride from Milwaukee. While on the bus, he let another eight-year-old named Maddison try his Game Boy and watched a Duck Tales movie, he said.

“I just wanted to get away from the house, and do some fun stuff, and go bowling and go be with (my sister Laura),” Michael said..

“Students miss their little sibs and little friends from home,” said Jennifer Lee, the interim assistant director of housing and the advisor of National Residence Hall Honorary. “I think it’s really fun for them to show off where they go to school to the little kids who look up to them.”

Siblings, nieces, nephews and any other younger friends ages five to 15 can come for the weekend, where bus transportation is provided and various activities are planned.

“We hope that we reached all ages with the different activities,” said senior Leslie Klatt, president of NRHH.

Saturday’s carnival behind Governor’s Hall appealed more to smaller siblings, she said. But there were also batting cages and a bonfire in the evening. Higherground also works with NRHH and sponsors dance parties during the event each year.

This year, the weekend had a pirate theme and was called “Shiver Me Siblings.”

Friday night, freshman Michelle Slobodnik brought her brother, Eric Slobodnik, 11, and cousins Lauren, 9, and Tyler Schell, 10, to watch the dive-in showing of “Pirates of the Caribbean” at McPhee.

Slobodnik said she is very close to her family, and the weekend was a good time for everyone to come to visit her. The most challenging part was trying to figure out sleeping arrangements and cram everyone into her dorm room, but she said she had a lot of fun showing them around.

“They don’t grasp all the freedom you have,” she said. “It’s been a fun time watching them experience it.”

Friday night, Slobodnik said the window was open in her dorm and the kids heard someone singing around 1 a.m. She said she thought she might take the kids on a midnight walk Saturday to show them how many students are up and walking around.

“It’s a nice opportunity for UWEC students and their sibs to have a great time, and introduce them to the campus,” Lee said.

This year, 298 sibs registered for the weekend, Klatt said. Lee said she knows a lot of siblings visit during the weekend as well.

Freshman Alex Thompson saw a poster for Little Sibs’ Weekend Friday night and called his family to bring his 13-year-old sister, Stephanie, from Red Wing, Minn. to Eau Claire Saturday morning, which was completely spontaneous, he said.

“It gives people a chance to hang out with siblings on ‘new turf,’ ” he said. “Not like at home where you’re arguing.”

Stephanie was looking forward to hanging out with her brother because she doesn’t get to see him much anymore, she said.

They didn’t know specifically what they would be doing, but thought the magician would be fun, they said.

Laura Thompson said she had a couple activities in mind for the weekend – including the Fifth Element concert on Friday night.

On Saturday Laura Thompson and her brother looked over the itinerary together to see what he would be interested in doing. He said he wanted to see UAC’s filming of “Willy Wonka” and go to the Pancake Breakfast Sunday morning at Bridgman Hall.

“I think (Little Sibs’ Weekend is) important because college students don’t get a chance to see younger siblings often,” Laura Thompson said. “Especially one-on-one.”