Gap Year Programs
The Arizona Conservation Corps is always looking for members during the summer!
Would you like to join the Arizona Conservation Corps service family in the future? This is a great opportunity for youth who have recently graduated.
If you would like more information you can reach out to Emma Nehan the Recruiter at 928-814-9668 or review their website or Facebook page.
Verto is an opportunity to travel the world, while completing your university degree in four years. It’s a “gap year” without the gap. Across the globe it’s common for students to take a year between high school and college to travel the world, meeting new people, learning about different cultures, and coming back with a new sense of independence, ready to tackle their university courses.
Choose your choice of New Zealand, Guatemala and Costa Rica, and Ireland.
For an idea of cost, the Fall 2018 program in Guatemala and Costa Rica is $15,000 for one semester. Keep in mind the program costs includes the following:
The Gap Term/Year Program Experience
Enrichment activities and student support services
Emergency Medical Evacuation Insurance (this does not replace normal health insurance)
Visa and entry fees
Food, Accommodation, and Local Transportation
Program Leaders and Mentoring
The Gap Year Association (GYA) has a mission of "making transformative gap years an accessible and safe option for all high school graduates."
Most notable of GYA's services is their guide on how to acquire scholarships and other means of financial aid before pursuing post-secondary goals.
Additionally, they offer an extensive list of accredited GYA members that offer programs to engage with during your gap year:
3 month immersive Gap semester programs in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Gap programs are based on Global Routes' Teaching Internship Program model. Since 1986, Global Routes programs have offered participants an opportunity to immerse themselves into a small rural community, develop long-lasting cross-cultural relationships, and make positive contributions that will last a lifetime. Fall and Spring options. Financial aid and scholarships available.
3 month service-learning Gap Year programs in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Students can visit multiple countries as part of their Gap Year through the Global Gap, Spanish Immersion, and Diversity of Africa Gap Year experiences. Customized start dates and durations also available year-round. Cross-Cultural Solutions is a non-profit organization that partners with sustainable community initiatives, bringing people together to work side-by-side while sharing perspectives and fostering cultural understanding.
Traveling through Patagonia and the American West, students embark on a journey that emphasizes developing outdoor skills, leadership, and environmental awareness. With options to choose a rock climbing or wilderness travel focus, students explore these rugged landscapes, investigate critical environmental issues, and gain experience as environmental stewards. Through living and traveling with a small group of peers and instructors, students focus on practicing leadership and the ability to work effectively in a team.
Warriors Academy offers 4 quests of 7 weeks each, starting in February and ending in October. With a focus on experiential education and personal development short-courses, throughout South Africa, Mozambique, and Swaziland. Each Quest is a stand-alone program and participants can choose the combination that suits their individual agenda. Quests are a blend of flagship activities, and a wide range of supportive tasks, ensuring a dynamic and adventurous experience delivered by highly qualified facilitators.
Overland service and adventure programs departing every semester with shorter summer options. These programs include a mix of different project and adventure phases to keep students challenged and motivated travelling around a country as part of a Leap team of volunteers who join together from all over the world. The Leap hires local leaders to avoid the tourist trail while contributing to communities who are trying to improve the quality of their lives. As well, The Leap also offers career-focused internships in medical, law or business. All volunteers/families are appointed their own Leap gap advisor who will make sure they are fully briefed and prepared pre-departure and the families are kept up to date with their progress while they are away. Programs are available across Africa, Asia and South America.
Pacific Discovery offers semester and Gap Year programs abroad since 2001. Programs are overland journeys combining authentic immersion, meaningful service, and wilderness adventure - fostering empathy for other cultures, ethical and sustainable travel practices, and awareness of international issues. Students leave with a deepened sense of their identity, passion, and purpose. Programs are a 10 week journey with an optional 3-week independent extension to apply newly developed travel skills. Programs in New Zealand, Australia, Southeast Asia, South America, Central America, Cuba, Galapagos Islands, India, Nepal, Tibet, China. Fall, Spring, and Summer departures can be taken consecutively for an in-depth and transformative Gap Year experience. Scholarships and academic credit options available.
ARCC Gap semester programs that focus on living locally, working, learning and exploring in some of the greatest classrooms on earth. Designed with an academic fabric that complements each and every location, ARCC Gap programs highlight regional issues that are directly linked to global challenges.
Service learning Gap programs in South America, South East Asia and East Africa. Programs run throughout the year and students can choose an experience from 2 to 3-months. Camps International are a Social Enterprise working to empower communities and deliver sustainable community, conversation and environment solutions through their network of permanent volunteer camps in Peru, Ecuador, Borneo, Cambodia, Tanzania and Kenya.
Omprakash Education through Global Engagement (EdGE): 2 - 12 month individual Gap Year programs connecting volunteers with opportunities in 40 countries around the globe. Ongoing departures. Includes comprehensive online training and mentorships.
RIDGE Mountain Academy has semester and yearlong programs designed for male and female student athletes ages 16 to 20 who have a passion for the mountains. Located in Whitefish, Montana, RIDGE is a campus-based academy that focuses on mountain sports, education, and life skills. RIDGE prepares student athletes of all abilities — beginner to elite — to strengthen their training, forge new skills, and discover their true potential.
American University Gap Year Program
American University’s Gap Program provides students with an experiential education experience in Washington, D.C., focusing on college credit, internships, and service learning. Semester or year-long programs available.
A variety of Gap Year programs, including the 2-semester Global Gap Year, South America Gap Semester, and Asia Gap Semester combining deep cultural immersion, fieldwork with experts, and engaging readings and discussions. Fall and Spring semester options.
10 month facilitated Gap Year program focused on International Development, apprenticeships, and language-learning. Applications close in May of each year to start in August.
Summer and 3 month Gap Year programs in China, Tibetan Himalayas, Southeast Asia, South America, West Africa, Indonesia, Central America, and the Middle East. Fall and Spring departures.
Winterline Global Skills Program
Winterline Global Education offers skills-based gap year programs, as well as shorter programs that are offered throughout the year. Students learn a wide variety of skills as they travel to multiple countries around the world with mentors and a cohort of fellow students. Skills learned include wilderness survival, robotics, starting a business, SCUBA diving, horseback riding, digital-storytelling, mixology, and permaculture design.
3 & 8 month Gap Year programs in Central America, South America, India, Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, East Africa, and the Native American Southwest focusing on community, cultural exchange, service-learning, and adventure. Fall and Spring departures.
Semester and Yearlong Gap Year internships in Nicaragua. Focus on service-learning with local NGOs and independent projects. In-country training, workshops, excursions and final debriefing included. Rolling admissions with Fall, Spring, and Summer departures.
Featuring 3 month and shorter Gap Year courses. For over 50 years Outward Bound has been a premier provider of experiential and outdoor education programs for youth and adults. Outward Bound offers courses in some of the most spectacular and inspiring settings in the United States and in Central and South America, successfully preparing students to confront the challenges they face today with self-confidence, tenacity and compassion.
NOLS - National Outdoor Leadership School
The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) is the leader in wilderness education. Whether through field-based courses or classroom-based courses, NOLS offers a focus on leadership and outdoors skills in some of the most awe-inspiring locations in the world. Emerge an active leader with lifelong skills.
Additional Gap Year Opportunities
World Nomads's experts keep you safe and informed, before, during and after you travel. They can help you navigate the risks, and are there to support you when things go wrong. It's an insurance agency for people traveling abroad, however their website offers many guides on what to expect when exploring the world around you.
For more opportunities available during your gap year, please refer to our Career Resources page.
Rustic Pathways Transformative Student Travel: 100+ culturally-immersive adventure and community service programs.