Leadership Safari 2024 fosters community and belonging

CMU’s 2024 Leadership Safari welcomed over 1,100 incoming students to campus, offering them a transformative experience designed to help them transition into college life. The annual program, which continues to be a hallmark of the CMU first-year experience, is a multi-day leadership camp that introduces leadership principles, team-building activities, and community engagement. This year’s Safari not only created excitement but also provided a foundation of belonging and connection to new students.

Leadership Safari also provides opportunities to the campus community, with 179 student volunteers dedicating their time to serve as staff members. These volunteers, known as C Team members and Safari Guides, played an essential role in helping new students navigate their first few days on campus and fostering an environment of inclusion and support.

Reflecting on the program’s impact, one participant shared their experience stating, “Safari was a positive look into the upcoming years of college from a rural background of my own and many others. It was inspiring and created a sense of purpose for its willing participants.” This sentiment echoes the feedback of many other attendees who found Leadership Safari to be a pivotal moment in the state of their journey at CMU.

 According to post-event surveys, 88% of participants felt they belonged at Central Michigan University as a result of attending Leadership Safari. This sense of belonging is one of the key goals of the program.

Mai-Ling Francis, Assistant Director of the Leadership Institute, expressed her pride in the continued success of Leadership Safari. “Safari is proud to continue welcoming students home to campus, right alongside the IMPACT program,” she said. “Our goal is to create an inclusive, supportive environment where every student feels like they are a part of the CMU community from day one.”

Students looking to get more involved in Leadership Safari have the opportunity to apply to serve as a member of C Team or as a Safari Guide for next year’s program. Applications are currently open, with a deadline of Friday, November 15. Interested students can visit Engage Central to apply online. For any questions, students are encouraged to contact SAFARI@cmich.edu.