First-Year Summer Experiences
Want to start your Elon experience before you arrive on campus?
First-Year Summer Experience (FSE) programs are designed to help incoming students feel confident and prepared as they enroll at Elon. The FSE programs embrace the university’s commitment to experiential learning, and use this guiding philosophy to help students develop self-awareness, enhance relationships, and define community in preparation for their Elon experience.
You will be able to access the registration system after you have paid your enrollment deposit and activated your Elon email account, which is required for registration.
Engage: Community Engagement in Alamance County
Engage provides a unique opportunity to support incoming first-year students in their transition to Elon through a community service lens. While participating in Engage, you will get to meet other first-year students who share similar interests, and get to know current student leaders, staff, and faculty members. Through Engage, you will:
- Spend a week living in a residence hall and get time to explore campus
- Volunteer with multiple community organizations
- Explore parts of Alamance County that many students do not get a chance to see
- Get to know the local community outside of Elon
- Get advice on preparing for your first-year and beyond from current students, faculty, and staff
If you have any questions, contact Abigail Wiatrek via email at awiatrek@elon.edu or phone at (336) 278-7129 for more information.
Dates: July 9- 12, 2024
Program Cost: $300
Capacity: 20
Adventures in Leadership Session 1: Zipline, Hike, and Explore Western North Carolina
Participants on Session 1 will travel to western North Carolina and explore Nantahala National Forest. You’ll meet on campus and spend a day getting to know Elon before heading off to the mountains. We’ll spend a day ziplining through the canopy, getting a bird’s eye view of the trees. Then we’ll spend a few days hiking and exploring one-of-a-kind lakes and trails around Western North Carolina. Each night, we’ll camp in Nantahala. No ziplining or camping experience necessary–we’ll teach you everything! You can expect about 3-4 miles of hiking per day on this active session.
If you have any questions, contact Larry Mellinger via email at lmellinger@elon.edu or phone at (336) 278-7529 for more information.
Dates: June 23-28, 2024
Program Cost: $450
Capacity: 28
Learn more about AIL: Zipline, Hike, and Explore Western North Carolina
Adventures in Leadership Session 2: Paddling on the Outer Banks
Participants on Session 2 will travel to eastern North Carolina and explore NC’s beautiful beaches. You’ll meet on campus and spend time getting to know Elon before heading off to the coast. Once there, you’ll kayak, surf, sandboard, spend time on the beach, camp, and experience all the local town has to offer. No camping or paddling experience necessary–we’ll teach you everything! You can expect about 3-4 miles of hiking or paddling per day on this moderately active session.
If you have any questions, contact Larry Mellinger via email at lmellinger@elon.edu or phone at (336) 278-7529 for more information.
Dates: July 7-12, 2024
Program Cost: $450
Capacity: 28
Adventures in Leadership Session 3: Backpacking
Participants on Session 3 will meet at Elon before heading off to Pisgah National Forest in western North Carolina for a week of backpacking. We use our time on campus to introduce you to Elon and teach you the skills you’ll need while on the trail. We will spend 3 days and nights backpacking and camping on the Art Loeb trail before returning to campus. No backpacking experience necessary–we’ll teach you everything! You can expect about 5-7 miles of hiking per day on this very active session.
If you have any questions, contact Larry Mellinger via email at lmellinger@elon.edu or phone at (336) 278-7529 for more information.
Dates: July 14-19, 2024
Program Cost: $350
Capacity: 16
Adventures in Leadership Session 4: Whitewater Rafting and Rock Climbing
Participants on Session 4 will travel to western North Carolina and explore beautiful Pisgah National Forest. You’ll meet on campus and spend a day getting to know Elon before heading to Pisgah. We’ll spend a day on the river, learning how to whitewater raft and practicing skills. Then we’ll spend a day rock climbing and canyoneering in one of the best climbing spots in the Southeast before hiking and exploring waterfalls around western North Carolina. No rafting or climbing experience necessary–we’ll teach you everything! You can expect about 4-5 miles of hiking per day on this active session.
If you have any questions, contact Larry Mellinger via email at lmellinger@elon.edu or phone at (336) 278-7529 for more information.
Dates: July 21-25, 2024
Program Cost: $500
Capacity: 28
Phoenix Take Flight
Join the staff in the Center for Leadership for a week of leadership learning and fun! What does it mean to be a leader in college, at Elon University, and in your future community? Participants will build a strong foundational community with each other, discover who they are as individual leaders, and learn how to collaborate. Additionally, we will dive into how your identities shape your worldview and how to align your values with your actions.
During Phoenix Take Flight you will:
- Take a variety of self-assessments to learn about your leadership styles and strengths.
- Take a field trip to the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro, NC.
- Volunteer at a community organization and learn about your local community.
- Get connected with others and resources to prepare you for a life of leadership involvement at Elon.
If you have any questions, contact Olivia Brown via email at obrown10@elon.edu or lead@elon.edu or phone at (336) 278-5323 for more information.
Dates: July 14-19, 2024
Program Cost: $325
Capacity: 20
Beginning in March 2024, registration will be available until June 7 or when each experience is full, whichever comes first. A deposit is acceptable for registrations up to June 5, and the remaining cost is due by June 19. Registrations after June 5th must be paid in full.
To inquire about program status or to ask general questions, contact New Student Programs (nsp@elon.edu) or phone (336-278-7000). For questions pertaining to a specific program we encourage you to reach out directly to the program facilitators.
Upon program acceptance, participants will receive further information directly from their respective program. Some need-based scholarships are available; contact the program facilitators for more information.
For assistance with accessing your login information, please contact the Information Technology Service Desk at 336-278-5200.