Leadership Safari
Although this is a common staple on CMU’s campus, students often forget that this is one of the biggest–and most rewarding–opportunities that CMU has to offer. Students have the opportunity to gain leadership skills and a chance to welcome a group of participants to CMU in a high-energy conference that focuses on inclusivity, diversity, positivity, and leadership. Many students say that this experience is the highlight of their time at CMU and you would be crazy to not want to be a part of this experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaeOrlu76Ko
Applications for staff positions are open until mid-November and can be found at this link: https://www.cmich.edu/ess/leadership/Pages/Safari.aspx
Lunch Buddies
This is one of the lesser-known, but just as rewarding, opportunities to volunteer on campus. Through the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center, students in this program are given a mentor role and paired with an elementary-aged student in a local school that is classified as “high-risk”. Each week, mentors have lunch with their mentees, discuss healthy eating habits, and spend recess together. Through this, mentors have claimed that they formed strong, unique bonds with their mentees and gained invaluable interpersonal skills.
Students interested in volunteering must be able to commit to a full academic year. At this time, applications are still being accepted for this program and can be found here: https://www.cmich.edu/ess/volunteer/Programs/Pages/lunchbuddies.aspx
Adopt-a-Grandparent
Similar to Lunch Buddies, Adopt-a-Grandparent is a co-mentoring program in which volunteers are paired with an assisted living resident and spend an hour a week chatting, playing games, and learning from each other.
Students interested in volunteering must be able to commit to a full academic year. More information can be found at: https://www.cmich.edu/ess/volunteer/Programs/Pages/Adopt-A-Grandparent.aspx
Mock Interviews
Mock Interviews is a program in which students are given the opportunity to go through structured professional interviews and are given feedback based on their performance. Little to many know, however, is that there are opportunities available to be the one behind the table “interviewing” others. Through this volunteer experience, students learn about what employers look for in a potential candidate and how formal interview processes are conducted.
Information for Mock Interviews can be found here: https://www.cmich.edu/ess/careers/Pages/MockInterview.aspx
Isabella County Restoration House
The Isabella County Restoration House aims to battle homelessness in Isabella County and helps ensure that every family has a safe roof to sleep under. The need for shelter and food is huge, silent problem in our area that many do not see or realize. The best part about this organization is that the ways to volunteer are limitless–students are able to help by donating meals, supervising the house and various times, and donating items that are in high need.
Ways to connect with the Isabella County Restoration House can be found here: https://www.icrhouse.org/wordpress/volunteer/
Alternative Breaks
Another staple at CMU, Alternative Breaks (ABs) allow students to replace their academic breaks with trips around the country to perform community service having to do with a variety of social issues. ABs can occur in the summer, over semester break, or as a weekend event. The cool thing about this program is that programs are limited to 12 students per site, meaning that volunteers are able to form new friendships with students that are passionate about similar issues. The flip side to this, however, is that there are frequently waitlists for programs in high-demand, which make it difficult for some to enroll.
More information on Alternative Breaks, as well as the sign-up procedure, can be found here: https://www.cmich.edu/ess/volunteer/Programs/Pages/Alternative%20Breaks.aspx