The UF Young Entrepreneurs for Leadership & Sustainability Summer Program Summer Program

The YELS Experience: Play

An active student life is a key component of the Summer Program. We have exciting activities planned for students each week night, as well as on Saturdays. Monday evenings feature the Speaker Series, spotlighting successful Entrepreneurs and community Leaders. Tuesday evenings are for Mentor Meetings where students meet with their Gator Alumni mentors. Wednesday evenings include field trips, for example, a visit to an Entrepreneurial Technology Incubator. On Thursday evenings students have college-prep sessions such as "how to write a college application essay," "how to prepare for the SAT," and a workshop with the UF Director of Freshmen Admission, offering tips and strategies as to how to gain admission to UF. Fridays are for fun–evening activities may include a visit with the Gator football & volleyball teams, a trip downtown to see a film and have coffee & deserts at a local café, movies on the Reitz Union lawn, a game of capture the flag, a scavenger hunt, and a talent show.

Saturdays are set aside for hands-on community service projects–where doing good is good fun! We may take a trip down the Ichetucknee River while removing invasive plant species, plan a senior prom at a retirement center, go blueberry picking then use the fruits of our labor to prepare dinner at a local shelter for homeless families, or help plant trees at a conservation park then stay for the evening to see the stars and roast marshmallows around a bonfire.

Sundays are for free-time and studying. Students can hangout on campus and catch up on their studies before the next busy week of classes, community service, and activities begins.

Campus Life

For most undergraduate students, residential life is a key component of the college experience. Therefore, university residence is expected of students participating in the Young Entrepreneurs for Leadership & Sustainability: Summer Program for High School Students at UF. Students will work, eat, play, and sleep on campus for the full duration of the program. They will be housed in Beaty Towers, near other high school students attending summer science & engineering programs.

As a Young Entrepreneurs for Leadership & Sustainability student you will have access to the university's facilities including a newly renovated library, student union and arts center, and many state of the art recreation and sports facilities (including three fitness facilities, nine fields, two pools, six outdoor court facilities, and a gym).

For more information about the UF campus, take a Virtual Tour.