The Dr. Robert Caruso Freshman Leadership Institute (FLI)

CATCamp

LeaderShape

Catalyst  

Western Carolina University's Freshman Leadership Institute inThe Office of Leadership & Student Involvement is an amazing opportunity for first-year students to Live, Learn, and Lead together! This fall 2011, we will be accepting approximately 60 new students to this great program!

Application Information

We are FULL for the 2011-2012 year and will not be accepting any more applications.

So what exactly is the Freshman Leadership Institute?

The Freshman Leadership Institute (FLI) is a prestigious living/learning community that prepares incoming first year students for campus life and the various campus leadership opportunities, all while serving as a home away-from-home during your transition into college. During FLI, students will interact with upper class leaders who are part of the Leadership Institute and also make lifelong friendships that they will carry with them throughout their college experience.
As a member of FLI, students will have the opportunity to take part in community service, social events, fundraising, and leadership events as well as, philanthropies, retreats, and other opportunities to help them develop their leadership skills.

FLI is a 3-tiered program focused on Living, Learning, and Leading:
• Live- FLI participants, as part of a living-learning community will be housed in Walker Hall during the 2011 school year. This aspect of the program will provide opportunities to take leadership skills developed in and out of the classroom into their everyday experiences among their peers.
• Learn- As part of the Leadership Minor, the FLI students will see a direct connection between their transition into college and their development as a leader. The LEAD 140 class serves as an introduction to this leadership development, and by declaring leadership as their minor, FLI students will be able to continue developing their leadership abilities throughout their college career.
• Lead- FLI will provide tangible opportunities for students to put leadership into action. FLI is a student organization of Western Carolinas campus, which focuses on program planning for retreats and conferences, community service, philanthropy, fundraising, etc. FLI will form a stronger partnership with the Leadership Institute, among others, to allow for a smooth transition beyond their first year.

Whether students have ideas on improving student life, a vision for developing a community, or show an interest in a club, organization, or event, students will find the right networking opportunity in the Freshman Leadership Institute at Western Carolina University!

CATcamp

What is CATcamp?
As part of the ongoing educational leadership experience at Western Carolina University and the Center for Leadership, incoming freshmen students will participate in a 4 day/3 night retreat geared towards assisting in the transition from high school to college life. Our purpose is to expose incoming students to the Western Carolina University community before move-in day. At CatCamp, 120 students will learn about themselves and what it means to be a Catamount, learn about and create WCU traditions, meet upperclassmen, meet new friends, build leadership skills, participate in exciting and challenging activities, and most importantly, HAVE FUN! Cat Campers will create new relationships guaranteed to last a lifetime before their classes even begin!

CatCamp will be August 7 – 10, 2011 at the Bonclarken Conference Center in Flat Rock, North Carolina. CatCampers will be housed in this facility and will be provided with meals and entertainment throughout every day and night!

CatCamp will be led by undergraduate students of Western Carolina University who bleed PURPLE & GOLD and are great examples of what it means to successfully transition and excel as a college student. CatCamp counselors will serve as a support system and a resource for each and every CatCamper at CatCamp and beyond!

What happens during CATcamp?
Every CatCamper will be placed into a Litter, led by a CatCamp Counselor, just like a true cat and their family. Each Litter will be the small group cluster each CatCamper will stay in for the duration of camp. The Litters will immediately begin bonding and creating their own unique identity, developing Litter names, performing skits, learning about their fellow CatCampers and counselors, and quickly becoming a Western Carolina family.

As a large group, CatCampers will have an opportunity to meet EVEN MORE new friends and CatCamp counselors, engage in get-to-know you activities, team-builders, energizers, icebreakers, and ropes courses. Cat Camp will feature some of Western Carolina University’s best and brightest as Cat Campers learn about opportunities on campus from their peers and administrators. CatCamp’s biggest adventure will be when the CatCampers gets down and dirty in the LARGEST SHAVING CREAM PARTY EVER at Western Carolina University.

How much does CATcamp cost?
Cat Camp 2011 will cost $150 and cover lodging, meals, and activities.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR 2011!
*Please note that Cat Camp 2011 is currently full; however, if you would like to be placed on the waiting list, please click on the registration link and submit your information.

Questions?
Contact Mike Corelli at mailto:sldutton@wcu.edu or at 828-227-3618.

The LeaderShape Institute is an interactive, energizing, and unique experience that builds leadership skills no other program can match. And since 1986, over 31,000 participants from all over the world have graduated from our program. But be prepared! It is six days of non-stop self-discovery and learning from practical experiences that build your leadership concepts and abilities. It's go, go, go 12 hours a day... And you'll love it! For more information: http://www.leadershape.org/  

Catalyst is a one-day program sponsored by LeaderShape. Catalyst will encourage participants to go deeper, wider, and farther out in their definition of who they are and where they can have an impact. Western Carolina University will bring Catalyst to campus for the first time November 5, 2010. For more information: http://www.leadershape.org/shared/pdfs/CATALYSTDescription.pdf.

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