Community Service

Our RAPTORS (Reaching Academic Potential Through Outreach in Recreation and Sport) Program is a unique one at Bard College. RAPTORS Program focuses on teaching our student-athletes life skills that they can use both at Bard and in the real world.

All varsity athletic teams at Bard are required to complete community service project each year. Teams work in the local community within areas that interest them and as a group decide what their project will be. This year, our teams have completed many projects around the Hudson Valley including: Campus-wide clean up, soccer clinics for local youth, volunteering at a blood drive, bake sales for charity, the Elks Hoop Shoot, and volunteering at the Albany Ronald McDonald House.

Another important part of the RAPTORS Program is monthly workshops put on for student-athletes. The workshops topics include: Leadership development, resume writing and career building, communication, self-defense, nutrition, academic support and campus resources, and what you need to know as a 1st year student-athlete at Bard. In Spring 2008, we were also excited to welcome the Positive Coaching Alliance to present a workshop to our athletes.

If you are an individual or team interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities, please contact Head Women's Basketball Coach, Jennifer Watson at 845-758-6822 x6811 or watson@bard.edu.