Sign up for FOCUS 2009 now!
Deadline Extended!
The FOCUS Application deadline has been extended to
July 17th, 2009!
Hit up the Info Page for more information.
Download the Tufts FOCUS 2009 Application, or if you have been accepted, you may download the Acceptance Packet.
Welcome to FOCUS!
FOCUS, or Freshman Orientation CommUnity Service, is a pre-orientation program that offers community service trips in the greater Boston area. We understand that being an incoming freshman can be a bit overwhelming as you enter into a community with many new faces. FOCUS places you into a group with 6-8 other freshmen, along with 2 upperclassmen leaders who will take you on a five-day, four-night trip into the vast and rewarding field of community service.
FOCUS is completely organized and run by student volunteers, many of whom participated in FOCUS their freshman year. This year, FOCUS is run by 3 student coordinators and more than 50 amazing student leaders and support staff. We also have the help of our faculty advisor, Barbara Rubel.
FOCUS 2009 Themes
This year's FOCUS themes are:
- Hunger Hunger goes into soup kitchen, food banks, and community kitchens to feed and distribute food to those who need it. Past sites have included the Boston Rescue Mission, the Greater Boston Food Bank, and Community Servings.
- Homelessness Homelessness works in homeless shelters, helping the shelters in their day-to-day work. This may include sorting clothes, making beds, and preparing for meals. Past sites have included halfway houses, food pantries, the St. Francis house, and the Pine Street Inn.
- Environment Environment seeks to help keep Boston green and beautiful. Often, Environment has worked in parks such as the Boston Esplanade and on the Mystic Watershed. Weather permitting, the group will spend much of its time outdoors.
- Kids Kids groups work with children and organizations that benefit children throughout Boston. Past groups have worked with organizations like Cradles to Crayons, which helps Boston-area children get the school supplies they need.
- Special Needs/Giving Camp Our special needs group, Giving Camp, works with persons with special needs for five days, running special programming. This intensive experience includes training, and has been described as exceptionally rewarding for those who participate.
- Animals This group works with animals of all shapes and sizes, as well as organizations dedicated to animals. In the past, groups have traveled to the Heifer International Farm and a local cat shelter.
- Urban Beautification Urban Beautification works in a hands-on manner to spruce up the built environment throughout Boston. Work varies from light construction, to environmental maintenance, to restoration. Groups have previously worked with organizations like Youth Build Boston and the Stone Zoo.
- Elderly Elderly travels every year to the Somerville Home to assist in fun programming for the week, like talent shows.
- Health This brand-new group will journey to hospitals and elderly homes to interact with patients one-on-one.
About the Leonard Carmichael Society
The parent organization of FOCUS is the Leonard Carmichael Society (LCS). LCS is the largest student-run organization at Tufts and is comprised of over 900 volunteers who perform community service both at Tufts and in the surrounding Boston area.