{"id":103177,"date":"2025-07-10T15:48:47","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T19:48:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=103177"},"modified":"2025-07-10T16:19:42","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T20:19:42","slug":"beginbrock-connects-incoming-students-with-campus-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2025\/07\/beginbrock-connects-incoming-students-with-campus-community\/","title":{"rendered":"BEGIN@Brock connects incoming students with campus community"},"content":{"rendered":"

Starting university is a big transition, but Brock\u2019s Student Life and Success is committed to helping incoming Badgers connect with new friends and gain the skills they need to start that journey with confidence.<\/p>\n

Previously known as LEAP, BEGIN@Brock<\/a> is a fun and immersive overnight experience designed to act as a social orientation to life at Brock. The updated program focuses on providing opportunities for students to connect with their future classmates, experience campus and residence life, and explore downtown St. Catharines.<\/p>\n

\u201cBEGIN@Brock is a wonderful opportunity for students to meet their peers within their faculty and learn about life at Brock,\u201d says New Student Experience Co-ordinator Nicole Finstad.<\/p>\n

Faculty-specific, overnight BEGIN@Brock sessions are taking place from Tuesday, July 15 to Friday, Aug. 22. Two sessions are being offered for the Faculties of Social Sciences and Applied Health Sciences.<\/p>\n

Participating students will join small groups and take part in interactive workshops and activities, join a campus resource tour where they will discover key supports for academic and personal success, and take a trip on the local transit system in St. Catharines.<\/p>\n

Participants will also connect with members of Brock’s Student Life team to learn how to get involved and make the most of their time at the University.<\/p>\n

Each session includes a Campfire Social at Alphie\u2019s Trough, social activities and games, and an overnight stay in residence to give participants a feel for on-campus living.<\/p>\n

Students unable to participate in the full overnight experience are still encouraged to register for the Campfire Social to grow their Brock network and connect with the campus community.<\/p>\n

BEGIN@Brock is designed to complement Smart Start<\/a>, Brock\u2019s academic-focused orientation. Incoming students<\/a> can opt to add the BEGIN@Brock session that aligns with their Smart Start session and Faculty to expand their orientation experience.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>We are really excited to offer this program to students as an extension of their Smart Start experience and to help students feel more confident when they step onto campus in September,\u201d says Finstad.<\/p>\n

Students may also register for BEGIN@Brock separately from Smart Start. Those who choose to only register for BEGIN@Brock can select from any of the available dates, regardless of their Faculty of study.<\/p>\n

Registration for each overnight BEGIN@Brock session closes a week in advance of the date, while registration for the Campfire Social closes 24 hours in advance.<\/p>\n

Registration is now closed for the Faculty of Education, Faculty of Mathematics and Science and the first of the two Faculty of Applied Health Sciences sessions.<\/p>\n

Incoming students can still register for the following sessions:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n