By accepting the challenge of a summer event you will gain unparalleled leadership, teamwork, and
service experiences that set you apart from your peers and make lifelong friendships. But don’t just take our word for it, read what a number of successful Pi Alphas say about their experience…

“I have my jersey hanging on the wall of my office. Anyone who comes in asks about it. No one asks about your internship history after age 22. The story of serving others and the impact it had on me personally is life long.”
Mike Davis | Psi (Cornell)

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Participant Info

When & How To Apply

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Team positions are on a first come first serve basis.

Selection Process

The Ability Experience is committed to using shared experiences to support people with disabilities and developing the men of Pi Kappa Phi into servant leaders. We seek applicants who are committed to this mission and the integrity of the organization. The selection process will start with the application below. Once submitted, one of our staff members will get right back to you to schedule a call. This staff member will be your Staff Lead throughout the application process. Afterwards, you’ll fill out a member profile and have an interview with your staff lead. Your Staff Lead will work with you in this meeting to review your profile and worksheet to help you ensure that you are informed and confident to start preparing for your summer event. We can’t wait to get to know you better, and are excited to share why next summer will without a doubt, be the best summer of your life!   Additional requirements may be requested at the discretion of our staff, which could include: the submission of a letter of recommendation, a background check provided through Pi Kappa Phi leadership, or a secondary call. Applicants must be an associate, active, or alumni member of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. Undergraduates must be in good standing with their chapter and have a cumulative or previous semester GPA of 2.7 or higher. Consideration will be given to those who are committed to developing themselves as servant leaders, contributing to their community, and are able to invest in the Journey of Hope/Gear Up Florida experience and continued support of The Ability Experience. The Ability Experience does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its programs.

Routes & Teams

Journey of Hope consists of 3 separate routes/teams. Individuals are given an opportunity to provide a preference and will be assigned to a route in the Spring. Our primary goal is to provide an equally great experience for every team member by considering many factors. There is a limit of 3 cyclists per route from the same chapter. Each route will have approximately 25-30 cyclists and 6 crew members.

Crew Members

Crew members must be 21 years of age or older by the start of the event, have a valid driver’s license, and be cleared by our insurance provider to drive team vehicles. Limited spots are available for under-20 year or “non-driver” crew positions. Check out more on our crew page

What To Expect

Fundraising Requirement: Fundraising must be completed prior to arriving at Orientation (Cyclists = $6,500 | Crew = $3,000). You will have the resources, and staff will working closely with you, to be successful!
Monthly Phone Calls: You will have the opportunity to speak with staff on a monthly basis to check in on your progress and talk through anything that is holding you back from reaching your commitments. You will also be a part of a peer-group where you can talk through ideas with your teammates and Pi Alphas.
Online Training: You will have some content to review as part of your training each month.
Orientation: Each event begins with an orientation to prepare teams for success on the road.

Cyclists

Professional Cycling Coaches: We team up with exceptional coaches around the country to provide every new cyclist with advice and instruction from our experienced coaches. Most of our participants are completely new to cycling and come away from the trip with a new life-long passion.
Training Program: Designed and led by our two dedicated coaches at Braveheart Coaching Colorado, a leader in fitness and wellness. You will be required to meet monthly training targets to ensure you are prepared for the trip.
Equipment: Cyclists must provide their own road-style bike and accessories. Safety equipment such as lights are provided, and team uniforms are provided and to be worn throughout the event.

Crew Members

Paid $2,000! Stipend provided after completing an event.
Pi Alphas are eligible to receive a stipend bonus.
Positions: Crew Chief, Operations Coordinator, Finance Coordinator, Historian (Team photographer), Social Media Coordinator, Volunteer Relations Coordinator, and Public Relations Coordinator
Job-specific training: We prepare our crew members to be successful by providing training prior to the event, specific to each individual crew role.
Internship and class credit opportunities: We do our best to mold roles around your plan of study. Team members in the past have received credit in photography, videography, public relations, social media, health services, finance, outdoor recreation, education, operations, management, and journalism. Regardless of your major, demonstrating leadership in an exciting experience like this will help boost your resume!

Fees & Administrative Requirements

Registration Fee: $100; paid at time of registration (counts towards your fundraising commitment) 
Security Deposit: $100, paid prior to event to cover liability of equipment and vehicles. Any remaining balance will be refunded at the end of the event.
Medical History Form: Cyclists must also receive a physical examination and be cleared by a physician to participate. All participants must provide their medical history for safety purposes.
Health Insurance Card: All participants must provide proof of health insurance.
First Aid/CPR Certification: Crew members are required to be adult first aid/CPR certified at their own expense. Certification is also recommended for cyclists, but not required.
Drug screening: Required for all team members prior to the event and random testing completed during the event at no cost to participants.
Health and Safety: All participants must have received a COVID-19 vaccination prior to orientation.

How do I prepare?

“Raising money is all about sales. Whether you want to go into business or nonprofit, the experience of raising money is invaluable. An interviewer is much more interested in talking about Journey of Hope than an internship. Everyone has internships but very few people have an experience like Journey of Hope. It will make you stand out amidst all the resumes.”
Howard Goldsmith | Psi (Cornell)

Here you’ll find a few resources that may answer questions like: “How do I get a bike?”, “How can I plan out my fundraising”, or “Is it possible to study, work, and train at once?”

Doing a summer event is no small feat, so it may seem like a daunting task. Fear not, most Pi Alphas that have completed these events came in with little to no past fundraising or cycling experience, and 90% end up surpassing their goals! Everyone should have their own Ability Experience, and we give you all of the tools and support to make it possible.

For all of our team members, you’ll receive access to a library of resources that will tell you everything you’ll need to know about fundraising, preparation, training, and safety on the road. You’ll also have monthly coaching calls to walk you through whatever you need. Cyclists have professional cycling coaches hand-tailoring them just the right workouts they need to get in shape, and crew members receive position-specific training from our staff to set them up for success.