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Bonner Program Worksheet

First Year Trip & 2nd Year Exchange

Cornerstone Activities — First Year Trip & Second Year Exchange

During this session, we are covering the basics about two of the Bonner Program’s Cornerstone Activities. From the Bonner Sample Program Calendar, you’ll want to remember the following overarching goals related to these activities:

  • Design and implement the Cornerstone Activities (First Year Trip, 2nd Year Exchange, Junior Leadership and Senior Capstones)
  • Build in opportunities for reflection throughout Bonner Program

Activities for the Session:

  • This session is designed to give you a primer about the First Year Trip and Second Year Exchange. You can find much more detailed information on both of these activities in several key resources, including:
  • Implementation Guide on First Year Trip: which covers content and process, and provides examples
  • Implementation Guide on Second Year Exchange: which covers content and process, and provides examples
  • Relevant sections in the Student Handbook LIVE and Bonner Scholar Program Rules/Guidelines (for financial details) on the Bonner Network Wiki
  • As campuses have recently completed Annual Reports for 2007-2008, they have also shared information about this year’s First Year Trip and Second Year Exchange. Check out the Campus Profiles on the Bonner Network Wiki.

Summary of key points:

  • Build a First Year Trip that book ends the Orientation. This trip can be a memorable and developmental experience for the first year class. Together, they travel to and immerse in a trip with service, are exposed to a new area (which may purposefully draw out comparisons and connections to the school’s area), learn from other non-profits, engage in cultural and historical learning, and in many ways bond and build their class.
  • Build a Second Year Exchange that augments the sophomore year, again engaging the whole class in a stimulating group experience, this time in partnership with at least one other Bonner Program (or campus). This immersion—which may involve service, leadership development, diversity, and other topics—should build the sense of the national movement (and students’ roles in it), providing the class with a chance to learn about and from another Bonner Program’s students.

Exercise (Part 1): Thinking about the main purposes above, note your ideas below. How can you make these experiences powerful, developmental, and filled with memorable learning opportunities and meaningful action?

First Year

Trip / Second Year
Exchange
Ideas for destinations: / Ideas for destinations and partner campuses:
Making it developmental (deeper issues, what kinds of learning & reflection): / Making it developmental (deeper issues, what kinds of learning & reflection):
Engaging students in planning, leading, and reflection: / Engaging students in planning, leading, and reflection:

Exercise (Part 2): Given the ideas above, generate a list of to do’s or planning steps you want to take. Reflect on your broader TO DO LISTS to plug them in.

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