Fun Activities for a College Send-Off Trunk Party
When someone is leaving for college, friends and family often gather for a trunk party where they bring dorm essentials like sheets, microwave-safe dishes, or a planner. These events typically feature games that revolve around the farewell or the gifts brought.
By Avery Rivera
Two college students studying in a dorm room.
A trunk party is an event where attendees give practical presents to a person who is about to leave. Most often, the guest of honor is a college-bound student, and the gifts are items they can use in a dorm, such as a set of sheets, dinnerware safe for the microwave, or a planner for classes. Naturally, trunk parties feature games that center on the goodbye or the presents given.
Backpack Stuffing Challenge
In the "Stuff the Backpack" game, speed is key: each person takes a turn putting items provided by the host into a backpack. There are two variations. In one, every guest packs the same set of items, and whoever finishes fastest wins. In the other, the guest has a time limit to pack as many items as possible; when time is up, the bag is emptied and everyone sees what was chosen. For an added twist, the host can restrict items to those that would be useful to the person leaving, and guests can then explain their choices.
Fact or Fiction
"Did It or Not" has each guest take a turn sharing a story about the departing person that is either true or false. The other guests then collectively judge whether the incident really occurred. This game tests how well everyone knows the guest of honor.
College Knowledge Quiz
Colleges usually publish facts and figures about themselves, including enrollment numbers, team names, or national rankings. The host can turn this information into a trivia game that teaches guests about the school the student will attend.
Layer-by-Layer Gift Pass
"Pass the Parcel" is a classic shower icebreaker that also works for a trunk party. The host asks invitees to wrap their gifts in several layers of paper. Only the outermost layer needs to be wrapping paper; inner layers can be tissue or newspaper to save money. The gifts are passed around the group one by one, and each person removes a single layer. Whoever removes the final layer explains why the departing person is a good friend or will be missed. After speaking, that guest places the gift in the honoree's trunk. Recording each speech creates a memorable keepsake.
