central michigan leadership safari

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CMU Leadership Safari kicks-off the school year for over 1,000 incoming freshmen

This week kicks-off the school year for many students across the state, including Central Michigan University. But many students, including incoming freshmen and transfer students, moved to campus a week early to take part in a conference called Leadership Safari , one of CMU’s greatest traditions.

Leadership Safari is a three-day conference where incoming CMU students attend different speakers, take part in teambuilding activities, and meet their peers before diving into their first day. It’s an opportunity to jump into campus early and meet thousands of other students who are in the same boat!

While the conference is designed for incoming students, 300 returning CMU students volunteer time out of their summer to be “safari guides” where they step up to help make a positive impact on these student’s first college experience.

Our Lifestyle Storyteller, Rachel Rademacher went to Leadership Safari, to give you a look into the full experience.

Learn more about Leadership Safari and how to get involved next year here

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Your campus, Your story

Students Reflect on Their Time as Leadership Safari Guides

Story by Paige Sheffield Photo Courtesy of Central Michigan University

Leadership Safari is a program for incoming students to learn how to be successful at Central Michigan University, get involved on campus, meet other new students and develop leadership abilities. Groups of new students are led by returning students who volunteer their time to facilitate activities and aid in the transition to life at CMU.

With Safari 2016 in the books, individuals who give life to the impactful week reflect on what the program and its mission means to them.

Becoming a Guide

Senior Katie Neu was never a Leadership Safari participant, but said the program changed her life.

After struggling during her first two years at CMU, Neu applied to be a guide when she wanted to remind herself of who she was and why she was so passionate about leadership. She applied to be a guide and has continued her involvement with Safari for several years.

“I was in an incredible depression and had completely lost myself due to some things I was going through in my life when I applied to be a guide,” Neu said. “Being around people who pushed me to see the good, incredible things about myself and my life reminded me of the reason I was at CMU – I wanted to make a change. I wanted to be a positive influence for incoming students and fellow guides.”

Senior Tanner Hecht said participating in Leadership Safari changed his outlook on CMU and life in general, and he wanted to help impact other students, so he decided to become a guide.

“My favorite aspect of being a Safari guide is the ability to finish out the week knowing that I helped multiple students with their transition into the most important part of their lives so far,” Hecht said. “Receiving feedback about the impact I’ve had on them inspires me to always push to be a role model and leader wherever I go.”

Alumna Michaela Wright was a guide for four years. She said seeing the social change through people’s actions and the development of friendships kept her coming back.

“The change I made from being a participant to a leader was my ability to apply what I had learned in Safari to my everyday life and continue to educate my peers, as well as lead and motivate them,” Wright said. “This was a clear sign that I need to take those skills back to Safari and repay the program for all the amazing things it brought out in me.”

Rewards, Challenges, and a Lasting Impact

Neu said the most rewarding part about being a guide is seeing how the participants change from the beginning of the week to the end of the week. She thinks many students go into the week expecting an orientation program, but get a valuable leadership experience in return.

Though the week reaps many rewards, sometimes there are challenges along the way.

Hecht said the most challenging aspect of being a guide is accepting that everyone in your group might not connect. It is the guide’s job to create a positive environment and help the group bond and work together, but at the same time, guides also have to know they can’t force bonds between people.

Though some people might not connect, Neu said she loves seeing the connections that form between all those involved in Leadership Safari, whether they’re participants, guides, core guides, runners, C-Team or office staff.

Safari is a program that pushes people out of their comfort zones and allows leaders to shine, she said.

Though Safari inevitably comes to an end, the lasting effect the program has on its participants and guides are visible for years to come.

“It’s those messages from a participant two years back at 3 a.m. thanking you for being an influence on their life,” Wright said. “[And], knowing that you changed someone’s life before they embark on one of the biggest self-motivated tasks of life – completing college.”

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CMU preparing new students with Leadership Safari

by Charlie Lapastora

With the start of college classes right around the corner, Central Michigan University is preparing its incoming freshman and transfer students to be ready for what's ahead.

In its 19th year, CMU's Leadership Safari program started with less than 70 students and now there are more than 2,000 students participating.

Dani Hiar, CMU Leadership Safari director, has been leading the program for 15 of those years.

"Everybody comes to college not knowing what to expect," Hiar said. "So, it's that one moment when they make that one connection that makes them feel like they've arrived at home."

Making students feel at home is just one of many aspects that go into such a thorough program; it's also aimed at developing leaders both inside and outside the classroom.

"You get to know a ton of people," Katie Cook, CMU freshman, said. "It's really fun interacting with new faces and meeting new people."

There were many leadership-building exercises in CMU's athletic complexes Monday, including a trust fall and problem-solving different obstacles together as a team.

"You're paired with ten to eleven strangers," Katie Neu, Leadership Safari volunteer, said. "You're placed with them for a week to do activities like this. Here, it's a free space, where we transition into college where you get to be exactly who you want to be. It's a perfect atmosphere to figure out who that is. So, people find themselves this week and it's really awesome to see."

Neu and more than 270 of her fellow CMU students are volunteering. They started training for the program as early as last week, preparing them to lead small groups of new CMU students.

"I think it's the heart and soul of the students that go here," Hiar said. "First and foremost it's the student volunteers that volunteer here. One of my favorite things is watching my staff get excited to give back to the university."

"It's a great way to build character in yourself and also leadership skills that are very valuable, not only in college, but also life, in general," Andrew Binder, Leadership Safari volunteer, said.

"I've been waiting since December for this to meet all of you," Lauren Gunterman, Leadership Safari volunteer, said. "My favorite part is to be able to connect with you guys and share with you my experiences here and how much I love Central."

There are motivational speakers, along with slam poets and comedians performing throughout the week for the students.

The safari runs through this Wednesday. Classes start up next week.