The College of Idaho celebrates Homecoming 2011 with a full schedule of events this week for students, alumni and friends. This year’s Homecoming features a special focus on science, as the College celebrates its outstanding tradition in the sciences and alumni who studied in Boone Science Hall. Festivities begin with the C of I Athletic Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony at 7 p.m. Thursday and wrap up with C of I alumni night at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, set for 6 p.m. Sunday in Boise. Here are some of the week’s highlights:

Thursday, Sept. 22

The Whittenberger Planetarium at The College of Idaho will recognize the autumnal equinox with a program that explains the reasons for the seasons in addition to a tour of September’s constellations.  The program is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21 at the planetarium, located inside Boone Science Hall on the C of I campus.

The College of Idaho campus is set to celebrate Idaho farmers and food with an on-campus event Saturday, Oct. 1. “Farm to Table: Celebrating Idaho’s Food” will feature a variety of activities including a bus tour from Boise to the College’s campus in Caldwell with samples of local wine and beer, a dinner highlighting local food prepared by C of I food service provider Bon Appétit, presentations on local and sustainable food habits and a free public symposium that includes a lecture by visiting Idaho State University professor Dr. Susan Swetnam and a performance by the Fool Squad.

Caldwell Fine Arts will launch its 51st season in Jewett Auditorium with The College of Idaho Faculty Showcase of Music and Art, set for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10. The opening performance will kick off a season featuring the music of Ireland and Scotland, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker ballet, the family-favorite play King Arthur’s Quest, the acclaimed Boston Brass Quintet, flamenco dance and more.

The bugs will be out in Boise on Saturday, Aug. 20, as the Idaho Botanical Garden and The College of Idaho’s Orma J. Smith Museum of Natural History put on their annual celebration of insect life, Bug Day, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Garden in Boise’s north end.  Bug Day includes fun and educational activities for the entire family. Tickets cost $8 for adults or $4 for children 4-12 and adult IBG members.

For several years, the Coyote has been missing from The College of Idaho’s athletics logo. That will change on Sept. 2 as C of I unveils a brand-new Coyote logo and mascot. The new Coyote will be introduced to the campus community and the public during “The C of I Coyote Celebration,” set for 4:30 p.m. on the J.A. Albertson Activities Center lawn. The tailgate-style event will include BBQ food, apparel featuring the new logo, activities for children, visits from other Treasure Valley mascots and more. It precedes the C of I volleyball home opener at 7 p.m.

The Caldwell community is in for a delicious night of education when the Orma J. Smith Museum of Natural History hosts “All about Chocolate” at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, in room 103 of Boone Science Hall on The College of Idaho Campus. Participants will learn about and sample more than a dozen varieties of chocolate with Dr. Patrick Fields, a visiting botanist and chocolate expert. Admission is $15 per person, with all proceeds going to the museum.

In 2009, The College of Idaho and the City of Caldwell opened Wolfe Field, giving Idaho its first baseball facility with an artificial turf infield. On Monday, Aug. 8, the College and the city announced plans to complete Wolfe Field Baseball Stadium, a state-of-the-art baseball complex that will rival any in the Intermountain West. 

Latino schoolchildren in the Caldwell area will have the opportunity to meet a NASA astronaut and learn about the benefits of continued education on Aug. 7 as The College of Idaho hosts “Reach for the Stars,” a space-themed celebration featuring guest speaker Jose Hernandez. The free public event, set for 1 p.m. in Morrison Quadrangle at the heart of the College’s Caldwell campus, includes a free BBQ lunch for the first 200 guests, guided tours of campus— including the Orma J.