Conference Gives New Students First College Experiences

When one signs up for a leadership conference they expect to hear from great speakers and possibly enjoy a couple of nice meals. With Central Michigan University’s Leadership Safari, one can expect those two things and a whole lot more of the unexpected.

Established in 1997, CMU’s Leadership Safari is a guided experience created by residence hall students to help incoming and transfer students learn more about leadership and other leadership opportunities at CMU, according to the Leadership Safari website.

Leadership Safari places students in groups ranging from 10-12 people and assigns them a safari guide. The safari guide is an experienced CMU student who has been trained on facilitation and how to lead small groups.

“The Safari guide is really crucial to the Leadership Safari program, said Dani Hiar, Leadership Safari Coordinator, The guide takes the group through various character building and group building exercises throughout the week of the conference.”

One of the more popular group building exercises is the “trust falls” activity. In this activity the students must stand approximately 5-7 in the air on wooden blocks and fall backwards into the waiting arms of their group. This activity is used to build trust and confidence in the group and usually brings the groups together.


“My teams seem to always become closer to one another after the all the trust activities each year, especially the trust falls”, said Andarius Taylor, Safari guide for the past two years.

Becoming a safari guide is a long and intricate process. One interested must apply by the middle of November. Once past the application process, one must go through a series of trainings and cuts before they are selected. Hiar states that although the process for choosing guides is a long one, it is vital in choosing the group of students who will welcome the new students on campus.

Not only do students take place in team building activities they also have the privilege of hearing different motivational speakers. IN the past students have heard from speakers such as Jud Laipply, Michael Miller and David Coleman. Students are also entertained each night with magicians, comedians and slam poets.

“Hearing David Coleman was amazing, it was really great to hear relationship advice from the original date doctor, said Kayla Carson 2007 Leadership Safari participant.”


Popularity in Leadership Safari was grown over the years. In 1997 the conference began with only 65 participants and in 2007 there were over 1,400 students who took place in the week long conference.

Not only do student have the chance to see great speakers, take part in character building exercises, and see some great entertainment, they also have the chance to move in earlier then all of the other freshmen who chose not to attend the conference according to Hiar

“Leadership Safari is a really fun way to get accustomed to campus, meet great new people and learn about getting involved”, said Miranda Crawford Leadership Safari Staff assistant.

For more information on the Leadership Safari conference you can visit them at cmuleadershipsafari.org.