Shacks & Cabins

Shacks and cabins.

FYP has spent a lot of time in these places over the years. Last week, the organization participated in Shack-A-Thon, an annual Habitat for Humanity event.

The objective is to build a shack, decorate it, and have at least one member of the organization inside the shack at all times for three days and two nights. Various organizations on campus participated in the event, and FYP was glad to be a part of it again this year.

Our immensely talented art team designed and created an Addams Family-inspired shack, complete with a headstone. We all enjoyed spending time bonding inside the shack.

And the bonding soon continued. The Saturday after Shack-A-Thon ended, FYP went on our annual staff retreat to Camp Casowasco in Moravia, NY. All day Saturday and Sunday morning, we spent time as a collective organization, without cellphones or the distractions of our hectic lives back in Syracuse.

“It was amazing to see the staff come together the way it did through creative, competitive, and emotional vessels,” this year’s director Mike Liebenson says. “We got to break down barriers, and it was just a really impactful experience. It kind of reminded us that no matter where we came from or what our back story is, we’ve found our place.”

Creatively, the organization got to explore their individual gifts via a talent show, as well as in groups through activities. Other events during the weekend sparked friendly competition between members, balanced out by emotional conversations. The retreat provided a way to amplify the connections we’ve already made as a staff and allowed for fresh friendships to form.

As an organization, FYP emphasizes personal connections and interactions between members above anything else. Simply put: we’re a family. And the addition of new members each spring for the show is what keeps us all going.