If you’d like to start a new Sport or Society please get in touch with the DCSA Sports & Societies Officers
Sports & Societies
Badminton Club
Basketball Club (Men)
Contact: Xander (xprp2)
Basketball Club (Women)
Contact:
Elsa (el556)
Website
Beekeeping Association
Contact:
Sofia (skpd2)
Look for WhatsApp group in Darwin Community
Boat Club
In August 2024, Darwin was invited to compete at an international Regatta in South Korea alongside world leading rowing teams. The main events in our calendar include Lent (in March) and May (in June - don’t ask) Bumps. May Bumps is one of the highest-profile events in the Cambridge calendar, with thousands of people lining the banks over 4 afternoons to watch boats speed down the Cam, attempting to physically crash into one another (a Bump), while avoiding being hit by the crew behind (getting bumped). If you’re not in a boat, you can get the second most enjoyment out of the days by sitting on the banks with your refreshments of choice, and cheering Darwin to victory!
We are fortunate enough to enter multiple boats into each Bumps race, so join up to experience the carnage first-hand! We welcome all levels of rowing - from those who don’t know what a boat looks like or have never used a rowing machine (erg), to future Olympic hopefuls, and anything in between. We hold taster sessions for both rowers and coxes (person in the front of the boat making the rowing calls and steering the boat). Whichever you feel suits you, you’ll get full coaching and training by our senior club members and experienced coaches.
Try a few water sessions (outings) at the beginning of Michaelmas, and with the other novice rowers, you’ll slowly become unstoppable forces of nature, ready to slay the competition out on the river. There are plenty of opportunities for novices to take part in racing in Michaelmas term where you will have the chance to dress-up and race against other colleges. Novice races are fun and light-hearted, culminating the term with the not-to-be-missed Boat Club Dinner, a chance to regale the Club with your war stories from the term, and just blow off some steam. Rowing is teamwork at its peak. From our strong tan lines in the summer, our matching kit (free speed), the laughs, the sweat, and the shared exquisite pain, you will come away with some of the closest Darwin friendships and bonds that will be everlasting.
Come and chat to us to find out more at the Fresher’s Sports and Societies Fair, and even get started and have a go on the erg!
Contact:
Both Captains: darwin.captain@cucbc.org
Samantha: darwin.women@cucbc.org
Ben: darwin.men@cucbc.org
Instagram: @darwincollegeboatclub
Facebook: DarwinCollegeBoatClub
College Choir
In 2021, the College has relaunched the college choir, meeting regularly each Tuesday at 1800 in the Bradfield Room. Our new director, Francis Knights, has put together a wonderful programme of very accesible English Church Music spanning 900 years and including pieces by Tallis, Purcell and Charles Wood, and we would love more singers to join us! The choir is run by the college and not through the DCSA.The choir is open to individuals of all abilities and from throughout the Cambridge community and the music is VERY accessible. You don't have to be a Darwin member, so spouses, significant others, partners, and friends are all welcome. Our rehearsals are fun, rewarding, and take place in a very friendly, welcoming environment. Do come along to de-stress from the pressures of work and help support our emerging musical community.Contact:
Siggi (sm2237)
Climate Club
Darwin Climate Society exists to promote awareness of the climate breakdown amongst the members of Darwin, and the wider population, and to promote urgent action to combat the climate breakdown, its causes, and impacts. The society meets regularly for meals in the dining hall and other socials, hosts and attends formal swaps with other college climate societies, as well as organising a variety of events in pursuit of its cause and objectives including but not limited to: lectures and presentations, workshops, direct activism, collaboration with other climate societies, and clubs and societies with aligning objectives.The society also provides support to the E&E Officer, the College Sustainability Project Manager, and others in pursing environmental sustainability objectives. The society also provides a forum for the dissemination of climate-related information and constructive discussion about all climate-related matters. Contact: Sarah (sm2651)
Climate SynBio Society
Interested in synthetic bio and biotech research to address climate change? We're creating a space for people who are interested in applying biosciences (and other sciences) to the climate challenge. This could be all the way from designing enzymatic carbon capture, to engineering cops with better drought resistance, to hydrogen-producing bacteria and beyond. Anything that can either reduce climate impacts of help us live with the consequences. We organise seminars with guest speakers to share their research with us, and of course have fun socials too.Contact: Gabrielle (ga457)
Climbing
Contact:
Kevin (kchl2)
Coffee Club
Our mission is to caffeinate college. If you enjoy coffee, want to meet fellow coffeeholics or just learn more about the world's most popular beverage, Darwin Coffee Society is the place to be.We are an open and inviting community - you don't even need to know anything about coffee to join in - that seeks to put great coffee in the mouths of our members - simple as that. Throughout the year, we …
- host trainings/workshops
- explore Cambridge's vibrant coffee scene
- organize cycling trips to coffee destinations
- bring in coffee experts for talks
- host coffee crawls
- visit roasteries
- …your idea?
Contact:
Jonas Spengler (js2576), Magda Nowinska (mn561)
Join our mailing list
Cricket Club
Contact:
David (ds993), George (gc681)
Cuban Salsa
Hello Darwinians! We are the Cuban Salsa Society and we meet once per week to practice, socialise, meet new people and have fun! Our class is adapted to suit all levels – from complete beginners to advanced dancers, so don’t hesitate to join us, even if you have never tried dancing before! We promise to make you fall in love with Cuban Salsa!Fee: Darwinians £1,
Non- Darwinians: £3. Contact: Yasmeen (ycsb2)
Instagram: @darwin_cuban_salsa
Drink and Draw
Drink and Draw is a casual arts and crafts society. We meet in DarBar at 9pm on Wednesdays to doodle and gossip together, but we also organise occasional daytime workshops. Everyone is welcome irrespective of artistic talent! The point is to enjoy the process and do something with our hands after stressful days at labs/libraries/behind monitors. Each week we pick a new theme or style to try, such as still life, pot painting, clay sculpting, marbling and many more. The club is free to attend, requires no ongoing commitment, and you can join at any point in the evening. Guests are also welcome.Contact: Beccy (rm994)
Football (Men's)
Jon (jiw29) and Kalid (ku230)
Football (Women's and NB's)
Women’s and NB's football at Darwin is a vibrant and inclusive community of enthusiastic people. We have a recent history of being a strong team and are eager to involve more players, whether you are just developing an interest in football or have played extensively in the past. Reach out to us if you would like to drop in for a training/match and see if you like it!Our team is a multi-college team that combines players from Darwin, St. Edmunds, and Wolfson (hence the commonly used abbreviation DEW FC). We regularly visit the grounds of all three colleges for trainings or socials, which is a great way to get to know these colleges and their members. We also have close ties to the Darwin men’s team and the two teams enjoy showing up to support each other at matches throughout the season.
We play in the inter-college women’s football league throughout Michaelmas, Lent, and Easter term in addition to the annual Cuppers tournament. We also have the occasional friendly match on weeks where a league game is not scheduled. Finally, throughout the summer, spontaneous kick-abouts keep us connected to each other and the sport!
Contact:
Bianca (bp551), Daniela (ds936)
Social Media:
Find us in the Darwin Whatsapp Community
Gardening Society
contact: Jana (js711)
Instagram: darwin.gardening.society
LGBTQ+
Contact: Alex
dcsa_lgbtq@darwin.cam.ac.uk
Music Society
The purpose of Darwin College Music Society (DCMS) is to foster music practice, performance and appreciation at Darwin. We organise music-related events at Darwin, maintain the music practice room, and are generally a social place for anyone interested in music. We host low-pressure weekly jam sessions where musicians of all backgrounds can meet and play together. We also put on events like open mics, karaoke nights, band showcases as well as set up music equipment for BOPs and Balls. Several bands have formed out of the DCMS have gone on to gig at May Balls, venues around town, and beyond. Whether you're looking to start a band, practice by yourself or just receive updates about music events at Darwin, we invite you to sign up and keep in touch!Keep up to date by joining our mailing list and Facebook group. Don't hesitate to contact the committee with any queries at dcms_committee@darwin.cam.ac.uk.
Contact:
David (do374)
Punt Club
Punting has a long tradition in Cambridge and is one of the highlights of what Darwin has to offer. As a member of the Punt Club, you have unlimited access to all of the club‘s punts, kayaks, paddle boards and the canoe at less than the price of a single trip with one of the commercial punting companies.In addition to being able to take your friends and family out when they visit, membership also gives you the opportunity to sign up to special events such as the the Halloween punting, outings to the Trinity and St John’s May Ball fireworks at night, and to see the King's and Trinity choirs singing on the river. We will also chauffeur you to some fancy formals, teach you about bats that live in the area around Grantchester or just have an enjoyable time in summer on a trip to the Grantchester orchard. If you are interested,please have a look at www.dcsa.darwin.cam.ac.uk/punts.
Booking information and other details can be found on the facilities page in the Punting section.
If you have any other questions, please contact the Admiral of the Punts, Callum.
Contact:
Callum, dcsa_punts@darwin.cam.ac.uk
Quiz
Contact: Jon (jiw29)
Rugby
Whether you’ve never played rugby or have done since birth, whether you are here for 1 year, 3 years, or even more, whether you drink or don’t, we are an inclusive rugby team of mature undergraduates and postgraduates across 5 colleges. We have weekly intercollegiate matches, training sessions, and socials, including screenings of Six Nations and Champions Cup matches.Contact: Stefan (ssn34)
Running Club
The Darwin College Running Club (DCRC) is a great community of people looking to enjoy the sights in and around Cambridge while enjoying fresh air and good company! We like to get out a few times a week for casual runs and tailor our regular sessions depending on the desires of the group. We encourage participation by runners of all abilities and often offer lead route variations to accommodate a variety of distances/paces. Please get in contact with us if you would like to know more about our regular schedule and try out a run! Members of our club often decide to try out one of the many annual races in Cambridge such as the Town & Gown 10K, Cambridge Half Marathon, the Boundary Run Half/Full Marathon, or the Chariots of Fire Relay. In the past we have also represented at races in London and beyond. As a club, we set up sessions so that we can train together towards these ambitious goals. Contact:Chloe Patman, cep72
Social Media:
Find us in the Darwin Whatsapp Community
Squash Club
Contact: Rishi (mdh37)
Swimming Club
Darwin Swimming Club is a group of chill students of various levels who swim regularly in the pool at Parkside, Jesus Green Lido and Milton Country Park Lake. We swim both individually and as a group with the majority of the cost of sessions covered by the club. We also have fun post-swim socials; either to a café after a morning swim or a pub after an evening swim. This year we successfully competed in the inter-college Cuppers Competition and we hope to do the same again this year. Anyone of any level is welcome to join us regularly, or as a one off. See you in the water!Contact: Jacob (jgp34)
Penguins Ultimate Frisbee
Ultimate Frisbee is a team sport played with a flying disc. The best way to get a sense of what it’s all about is to come along and try it! We hold weekly training sessions involving throwing practice, some drills and lots of games – anyone from complete beginner to national-level player is welcome to join us. Matches for the friendly but competitive College league are usually at weekends, and there’s a tournament at the end of each term. Our team comprises players from a few different colleges, so playing with us is a great way to meet people from other colleges too – plus we organise plenty of socials and formals.
Contact: Mahmud (mh2169)
Volleyball
Our volleyball club is all about having fun and enjoying the game in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, everyone is welcome to join in and share our love for the sport. We organise weekly sessions and take part in the friendly local volleyball league as well in Cuppers (intercollegiate sports competitions).
Contact: Maciek (mw896)
Wine and Cheese Society
Contact: Sofia (skpd2), Patrick (pwh33)
Yoga
Darwin does Yoga! We offer Iyengar yoga classes twice a week with one of Cambridge's most sought-after teachers, Shaili Shafai. All levels are welcome! We run classes twice a week during the whole year: Online on Wednesdays 6-7:15pm and in-person Saturdays 2:00-3:15pm in the Bradfield room.
You can join our online classes by subscribing to our "Darwin College Yoga" mailing list to receive the class access details, and just turn up for the in person ones! We offer all the equipment needed, so if you would like to access some of it to join our online yoga classes, get in touch. We also offer more advanced workshops and social events once a term! Contact:
Alex (darwincollegeyogaclub@gmail.com)
Get involved
If there’s a club/society not listed here, not to worry - you can start it! To found a new club/society you need to have a President and a Treasurer, and 15 Darwin students need to sign up. Then, you can apply for funding from the DCSA Treasurer.
Some clubs we have previously offered are also looking for volunteers to help lead them this year, they are listed below. If you’re interested in getting involved with one of these clubs or starting a new one, come to the Sports & Societies Fair to pick up the necessary paperwork or email Masha (dcsa_treasurer@darwin.cam.ac.uk) or Gratsiela and Laura (dcsa_sports@darwin.cam.ac.uk)
Animal, Plant and Environment Society (APES)
The Animal, Plant and Environment Society (APES) is an informal, fun and inclusive group who enjoy spending time outside in the natural environment. The troop leaders will plan activities to interact with nature in the local area, including tours of local nature reserves, birdwatching, kayak outings, vounteering and day trips. Bananas will be provided.
Aerial Arts
Aerial Arts are a great way to improve strength, flexibility and overall fitness and the club is open to all students regardless of their age and experience-level. Whether you have previous experience or are just curious about it - please drop by at our sessions and give it a go! You can find out more by joining our Facebook group “Darwin College Aerial Arts” for regular updates.
Bike Repair Club
Gears looking orange? Brakes failing? Flat tyre? Do you feel like you're taking your life into your own hands every time you hit the road on your bike? Sign up for the Bike Repair club, and get access to all the tools you'll need to keep a bike in working order around Cambridge! We run the occasional masterclass, so no previous experience is necessary. Find us at the Sports and Societies Fair!Chess Club
A society for all those interested in chess at Darwin College. We have weekly chess sessions, chess theory discussion groups and other events throughout the year.Cycling Club
We are the DCCC; an inclusive and Darwin (and Friends) cycling community!!! We run a bunch of different activities from group rides to cycle socials! As part of the DCCC, you’ll have the opportunity to:1. explore Cambridgeshire together in a social and safe environment (regular within-week rides and joint weekend trips)
2. compete within (fun competitions, leaderboards etc.) and outside of Darwin College (e.g., with other colleges)
3. learn how to ride safely and to make sure you bike is properly maintained (e.g., bike maintenance workshops, routes, general training advice etc.)
4. get together with fellow cyclists for a coffee or drink and enjoy being part of a community of like minded people!
Families Society
Being a postgraduate college, a significant portion of our students arrive with their families. Darwin's Families Society aims to bring together students and families to form a joint community where all are welcomed, as well as promote family issues within the College and the University. We run informal events throughout the year as well as bigger events about once per term, to celebrate special occasions. Our most popular events are a Christmas (and Hanukkah) mulled wine and sing-along event held together with the Darwin choir, and the Easter egg hunt held in the College garden. In addition, the Families Society provides activities for children alongside the College-wide DCSA events, to ensure that all our College community feel welcome at all events wherever possible. The Society owns a number of toys and games for a range of different ages which members can access to help their children have a good time while at College. We encourage students with families and all students that want to be a part of this special community to join our society.
See the families guide for lots of useful information.
If you have any questions or want to get involved with this society, please get intouch:
dcsa_families AT darwin DOT cam DOT ac DOT uk
Film Club
The Darwin College Film Club welcomes all cinema fans for a few hours of relaxation, entertainment and reflection. We are lucky to have a well-equipped and continuously upgraded TV-Room in the main building where any Darwinians can come and watch movies. All styles of films are showcased - from old time black and white classics, summer blockbusters, international art films, documentaries, and so forth. Feel free to share with us your personal preferences, as the club has a budget to order movies, which are not available in the DVD-library. We aim to organise several thematic events over the year including themed nights, film marathons, outdoor screenings and joint screenings with other Darwin College Societies (Mind Matters Darwin, Darwin PhotoSoc, Families Society). Join the Facebook group “Darwin College Film Club” and the mailing list to receive updates on our screenings. We welcome everyone to join, sit back and relax while watching awesome movies.The Film Club is looking for a President and a Treasurer. If you are interested, please contact Giulia,
Games Society
Hello Darwinians! Do you enjoy games of skill, deception, luck, or dexterity? Join the Darwin College Board Game Society! We at DCBGS have a range of games in college that are normally available 24/7, as well as hosting weekly board game nights, often supplemented with games from our own collections. Games are currently unavailable due to COVID, but do join up at the Sports and Societies Fair to keep up to date with new announcements! Hope to be back in action soon!Green Hub
Welcome to the DCSA Green Committee - let's make Darwin a greener College, with an ambitious agenda towards sustainable practices!Our group gets together regularly to organise events which promote environmental and ethical sustainability in College. We also support and push College authorities as they incorporate sustainability. Thanks to the Green Committee, food waste bins are now available in every kitchen, and we've installed several water refill stations around college. Join us and contribute to one of our current initiatives, or bring in fresh ideas. Everyone's welcome! Interested? Get in touch with the DCSA Environmental & Ethical Affairs officer.
Kizomba
Let's play Kizomba!You want to (socially-distanced) meet new people, dance, and make new friends? You wonder what 'musicality', 'weight-shifting' or 'lady-styling' mean? You are looking for some good fun and good music? Then come and join the Kizomba Society!
Kizomba is a dance and a musical genre originating from Angola and is often mentioned in the context of Salsa and Bachata.
We currently meet twice a week online for a two hours class, and have monthly special classes followed by music with our guest DJ.
Lawn Games Society
Welcome to the Darwin College Lawn Games Society, where we are dedicated to the games which enhance the enjoyment of a warm sun and cold drinks. We currently boast an inventory of croquet, cornhole, ladder golf, quoits, and bocce ball, all of which are available to Darwin students to borrow and play. We also organise teams for croquet Cuppers each spring, where we compete against the rest of the colleges in the University. We have consistently performed well, this year making it to the semifinals from a field of nearly 50 teams. Find us at the freshers’ fortnight societies fair for more information.Mind Matters Darwin
Mind Matters Darwin wants to raise awareness around mental health, end the stigma and promote wellbeing. We organize recreational activities fostering connections and wellbeing: movie screenings broadly related to mental health and get-togethers. We organise free-of-charge Meditation and Positive Psychology courses (in collaboration with Inner Space Cambridge), in order to improve resilience and alleviate psychological sufferance. We also organise a Mindfulness in Nature course with Claire Thompson, usually in the fall or in the spring, to connect with nature and enjoy the beauty of Darwin Garden and meditation practices. We run a Relationship Anarchy Support Circle once a month to provide a safe space to talk about alternative forms of relationships and ask for support.We want Darwinians to feel safe and part of a community: it's time to consider the students' mental health and wellbeing as a priority. We want to improve communication and provide information about the many available resources in Cambridge for mental health support: everyone who is in need should feel free to ask for help and receive the necessary support.
We all have a mental health to take care of!
Darwinians do care about mental health!
Minecraft Society
The Darwin College Minecraft Club (DCMC) is the college’s only fully online society. At present we have a super relaxed vanilla server online 24/7. Please come and join and build your own virtual home.To spur you on, for Freshers’ Week we are asking you to create something that fits in a 16x16 block space with the theme “COVID-19”. Virtual prizes will be given for the best entries!
We allow each Darwin member up to 3 non-Darwin guests. To get access, activate your account at:
https://darwinminecraftclub.pythonanywhere.com/activate
and enter your CRSID and access code:
“Golden Apples 4 Covid”
Then follow instructions in your email.
Open Club for Debate
We usually meet once a week, and try to schedule debates relevant to latest news. Join our Facebook group to keep up with our events, everybody is welcome to attend!
Photo Society
Darwin Photo Society exists to promote digital and film photography. We have an active programme of visiting speakers, internal and external competitions and members’ nights. Examples of activities include themed photographic outings, talks and workshops, LinkedIn photo sessions, dark room training, setting up photo booths for Darwin students and many more. For those of you nostalgic of film photography, we also have access to King’s dark rooms!The Photo Society is looking for a President and a Treasurer.
Pool Table
Darwin College Pool table Society DCPTS is one of the current societies of the College. The society has access to one pool table in the common room; it has 2 cues, one set of yellow and red balls (English balls), it also has equipment to change cue tips. The society also owns a box to keep the coins (50p) so the members do not have to pay for training. Training is mostly once a week but occasionally more. There is also a Facebook group which can be used by all members as well as other students who want to come and join the members, or those who get invited by members. The Facebook group has been an only way to get in touch with the members and let them know about the date and time of the training sessions as well as other activities. The society has ambitions to host a tournament for members and guests, though this may be Covid dependent. Furthermore, with enough members the society hopes to join the university league.Robotics and Raspberry Pi
Hi there! Do you like to make things? Do you like to code? Or are you just curious? Then the Darwin College Robotics and Raspberry Pi Society is the perfect place for you! Whether you are a pro or a beginner, join us to help, share and learn together! Although our physical meet-ups schedule will be uncertain this year, we will try to organise small socially-distant gatherings as much as we can. Come to the Freshers’ Fair to find out more about our projects and maybe even suggest your own ;)Contact:
Science Society
Interested in Science? The Darwin College Science Society (DCSS) aims to connect scientists at Darwin, both through general social events and research-related activities. Whether you live in the lab or just fancy yourself as a bit of a science fanatic, we hope you will find enjoyment in our events, from science pub quizzes, lively debates to movie nights and much more... Nonscience students also welcome!Tennis
Contact:
Water Polo
We play water polo jointly with Queens, training once a week and playing (winning) college league once a term. All ability and genders welcome. PS: there are no horses involved...Zumba
We run one Zumba class per week at Darwin, rotating every other week between traditional Zumba and STRONG. The former is a fitness program that combines Latin and international music with dance moves. Zumba routines incorporate interval training—alternating fast and slow rhythms—and resistance training.STRONG classes combine a killer bodyweight bootcamp workout with party vibes and pumped-up music. It is a High Intensity Interval Training class using more traditional fitness moves for a more athletic, conditioningstyle workout. You use your own body weight as resistance to achieve muscle definition. The songs match every move, driving the intensity in a challenging progression that provides a total body workout.