Jumpstart Program

Community Plunge

 

Team Community Service 

ECHO

Hiking and Camping

Lead-In

Leadership Development

S.C.C.

Sustainability

Ithaca College presents Jumpstart, an opportunity for new students to ease into college and get acquainted with peers before the semester begins. New students may apply to take part in one of four specially designed programs that will help them transition into the Ithaca College experience.

Each program has a different focus, and selected participants will take part in activities and exercises centered on themes.  Choose from:

Community Plunge:  A great opportunity for new students to get a head-start on volunteering and connecting with the Ithaca community. Teams of participants will spend Friday and Saturday working with various local service organizations. Past service opportunities have included making a nature trail wheelchair accessible, painting at a local agency, assisting with summer camps, and preparing lunch for residents of an elderly community.

E.C.H.O. (Experiencing Connections by Heading Outdoors):  E.C.H.O. stands for Experience Connections by Heading Outdoors. Participants in this program head off campus and into the great outdoors! Participants camp out overnight on the beautiful grounds along the Finger Lakes Trail. Campers stay in tents and enjoy the night sky, connect with peers, and participate in activities led by students, faculty, and staff. No camping or hiking experience is required. Bringing one’s own tent is helpful, but we will ensure that all participants will have space in tents. Students must, however, provide their own sleeping bags. We encourage students to bring their own backpacks, as we have limited packs available. If a participant has never been hiking or has gone hiking and camping for days, weeks, or months at a time, ECHO is ready!    

Lead-In:  Lead-In is designed to help new students get a jumpstart on their college involvement experiences. In this program, participants will explore leadership topics, become acquainted with the IC campus, and map out ways they can successfully participate in the life of the College. As a part of Lead-In, participants will take part in a challenge course and learn about their own leadership style as well as meet with fellow students. Previous leadership experience is not required.

Sustainable Community Challenge:  SCC stands for Sustainable Community Challenge. SCC participants will travel by bus throughout the Cayuga Lake area and explore the natural features, history, and social structures that have shaped this unique and beautiful bioregion. Stops will be made at the Cornell Lake Source Cooling Facility, a Native American farm, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Taughannock Falls State Park and EcoVillage Ithaca (EVI). Sustainability guides will lead discussions and exercises about participants’ observations and sites they have explored. SCC will help new students learn about being a part of a connected community and understand the impact they have on a local level, regional, and global level.  

• Current Ithaca College students will help participants make the transition to college.

Current students serve as team leaders and will be volunteering with Jumpstart students, camping and hiking with them, or leading and participating in other activities.

They are also a valuable source of information and advice as students begin their college experience! 

•  Participants will have the opportunity to connect before they arrive at Ithaca College.

When students are notified about their acceptance into the Jumpstart Program, they will receive information about what they should expect when they arrive.

Additionally, participants will receive information about joining an online Facebook (www.facebook.com) group so they can connect with other participants before Jumpstart even begins!

JUMPSTART PROGRAM FAQ'S

1.  How do I apply for a Jumpstart Program?

APPLICATIONS FOR JUMPSTART ARE NOW CLOSED.

In order to be considered for a Jumpstart Program, students must apply before the deadline! This is an application process: interested students are not simply signing up for the program. As space is limited in each program, we cannot guarantee placement in any of the programs. All four of the Jumpstart Programs use the same application; therefore, students only need to apply once.

The application includes questions about the new students’ past involvement, experiences, and interest in participating in one of the Jumpstart Programs.  
 

2.  How are students selected for Jumpstart Programs?

Students are selected based on their applications. A limited number of spaces is available in each program, and we cannot guarantee placement for all that apply. 

Students may indicate their program preference on their application, but program assignments will be based on the availability of space.  Additionally, the selection committee will consider how the programs might enhance each student’s experience. Participants are not guaranteed their first choice of programs.

3.  What application or participation fees are there?

There are no application or participation fees. 

4.  How can I apply to be a Jumpstart Leader?

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE JUMPSTART LEADER ROLE
*Applications are  currently closed but we hope you will consider applying next year. 

 

5.  Where can I find additional information?

Jumpstart Programs are a collaborative endeavor of the Office of Student Engagement and the Resource and Environmental Management Program. Please email csli@ithaca.edu or call (607) 274-3222.