Nearly 50 incoming freshmen learned about leadership and made new friends this summer by taking part in Adventures in Leadership, a unique program co-sponsored by the Center for Leadership and Campus Recreation. Details...
Forty-six incoming freshmen participated in the Adventures in Leadership program earlier in July, which consisted of two, week-long treks into the West Virginia wilderness.
Freshmen from the Class of 2009 were led by eight upper-class student facilitators who have been training for these adventures since spring. Students participated in one of two Adventures in Leadership treks the weeks of July 11-16 and July 18- 23. In addition, three professional staff members and one faculty member joined the students, allowing them to meet not only other Elon students but faculty and staff as well. Students had a chance to learn more about their leadership styles through challenges which included rock climbing, a personality inventory, rappelling and small group initiatives. Two days of whitewater rafting on the New River rounded out their adventure.
The experience is not a full-service trip. Participants had to work as a team to make decisions that affected the entire group. Students were encouraged to reach beyond their comfort zone and experience new challenges.
Angela Passarelli, director of the Center for Leadership, believes in empowering students to make their own choices. “Adventures is a time for incoming freshmen to preview college life in a unique setting,” says Passarelli. “They are responsible for their own experience, yet guided and prompted by experienced student leaders.”
Incoming freshman Brian Hahn was glad he decided to participate. “Adventures in Leadership was really a great experience, because it offered incoming freshmen the opportunity to meet one another before even arriving on campus and gave them a chance to interact with facilitators who had already experienced what Elon has to offer. Not to mention, it was a blast!”
Adventures in Leadership started in 1993, allowing incoming freshmen to get a jump-start on their college careers, make new friends and develop their leadership skills. Its sister program, Discovery, was added in 2001.