There really isn't a "typical" day at FFI! Programs are intentionally experiential and may include leadership workshops, team-building challenges, community service, meetings with local leaders and organizations, physical activities, cooking, cultural experiences, and time for individual goals and projects. Participants also practice mindfulness each day, write in their memory books, and come together each evening to reflect on the day as a team.

FFI programs are technology-free so participants can be fully present, connect more meaningfully with one another, and step away from the distractions of phones, social media, and other devices. Removing technology encourages participants to engage with the people and experiences around them, build stronger relationships, and spend more time on self-discovery and reflection.

Healthy living is an important part of every FFI program, and that includes what we eat. All meals during our programs are healthy and plant-based. One of the primary reasons is cultural inclusivity: sharing plant-based meals helps create a table where participants from a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds can eat together. It also introduces participants to the connections between food, personal health, and planetary health. Additionally, FFI encourages challenge by choice. Eating plant-based is a new challenge that participants agree to and often feel proud of after the program ends.

Movement and physical activity are part of every day. Activities vary by program and are selected to challenge participants, introduce them to new experiences, and support their individual development. Participants should come prepared to be active and willing to try new things.

Community Action Projects, or CAPs, give participants the opportunity to put what they have learned into action in their own communities. Participants identify a need they care about and develop a project to address it. FFI provides workshops and guidance on areas such as goal setting, budgeting, project planning, proposal writing, fundraising, and presenting their ideas. CAPs are a core component of FFI's Immersion Programs and reflect our mission of helping young people become the best versions of themselves so they can help their communities do the same.

Virtual sessions are an important part of the program and help participants prepare, build relationships with their team, and progress through the different program phases. Participants are expected to attend all required sessions. If an unavoidable conflict arises, the participant should communicate with FFI staff as early as possible so the team can determine how they can make up the missed work or session. If they are unable to attend any of the virtual sessions, they will not be permitted to participate in the in-person portion of the program.

FFI programs require a meaningful time commitment outside of the residential experience. Depending on the program, participants may complete assignments, reflections, individual goals, Community Action Project planning, or other work between sessions. For example, the Immersion Programs currently includes approximately 10–15 hours of virtual sessions in addition to the residential experience. Specific expectations are explained to participants as they move through the program.

Successfully completing an FFI program isn't the end of a participant's relationship with FFI. Participants become part of FFI's global alumni community, which includes more than 2,000 alumni worldwide. Alumni can access additional opportunities such as global alumni trips, alumni workshops, facilitation training, fellowships, and opportunities to return to FFI programs in leadership and mentoring roles.