Volunteer Experience (VE)

Volunteer Experience is a great way to begin your journey at Lehigh! Participants will immerse themselves in three days of service within the Lehigh Valley through which they will discover area agencies, take action to help alleviate issues facing their new community, and build lasting friendships.  VE introduces incoming students to Lehigh’s Community Service Office offering students a pathway to continue engaging in meaningful service throughout their four years at Lehigh if they so choose.  This year Volunteer Experience is offering three service opportunities: a trip to Volunteers of America and Cityspace working with children, a trip to Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center helping address local environmental issues, and a trip to several local /human service agencies in Bethlehem to provide various forms of service.

 Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center:  Get your hands dirty while you help maintain the natural environment of this environmental education center. Various activities may include: deepening park waterways to promote healthy aquatic life, restoring trails, removing invasive plants, and creating habitats for indigenous amphibians.

 Volunteers of America/ Cityspace:  It’s more than just fun and games at VOA and Cityspace - local youth centers for children ages 6-13. You can make an impact by being a role model for this group of youngsters while having fun and enjoying students last few days of summer before school resumes!

 SouthSide Serve: Get to know more about the Southside of Bethlehem while helping organizations in your new backyard. You will volunteer at various local neighborhood agencies including a senior center, a historical center, a food bank, and the South Bethlehem Library.

All trips are led by upper class students who are interested in community service and committed to providing you with the best first three days on campus you can have.  Every evening after putting in a day of work at your project site, you will take part in activities with your fellow volunteers that help you become acquainted to your new home and new friends. Highlights include a BBQ with beach volleyball on campus one evening as well as dinners at off campus restaurants.

All meals will be included over the three days with the opportunity to check out the dining halls for breakfast, sample one of the most popular off-campus delis for lunch and socialize and relax for dinner time.

Check out our Facebook page by searching for “Lehigh University Volunteer Experience” on Facebook, or by visiting the following URL:

 www.facebook.com/pages/Lehigh_-University-Volunteer-Experience/105314616215411

Also, visit our website with leader biographies, photos, and more program information at:

http://www.lehigh.edu/service/vexperience/index.html