1. Experience a more natural transition from high school to college or college to the world of work.
2. Determine your college focus and avoid changing majors and incurring additional costs.
3. Improve your chances for college acceptance.
4. Increase your level of self-confidence and maturity from independent travel and real-world travel.
5. Gain practical skills and work experience (resume building before college or seeking a job).
6. Follow up on interests and enhance prospective studies.
7. Choose and create your life for a year.
8. Find your passion or determine what is not of interest to you.
9. K-12 years of schooling = potential burnout; take a break.
10. It is harder to take this kind of time when you are older!
Helpful resource sites: https://gapyearassociation.org/ or https://www.realgap.co.uk/
AmeriCorps – https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps
Intensive national service programs to meet critical needs in education, public service, health, and the environment. Programs include tutoring and mentoring youth, building affordable housing, teaching computer skills, cleaning parks and streams, running after-school programs and helping communities respond to a disaster.
Castle Rock Institute – http://www.castle-rock.org/
Is an educational organization devoted to balancing academic study of the Humanities and outdoor adventure? It sponsors off-campus study programs for college students that combine coursework in religion, philosophy, literature, and art with backpacking, climbing, biking, and paddling. With locations in North Carolina, Australia, and New Zealand, it offers college students a unique Environmental Studies study abroad program, a special Leadership program, and a domestic Humanities program.
Center for Interim Programs - http://www.interimprograms.com/
At Interim, we work one-on-one with individuals of all ages to tailor a combination of program options that match interests, needs, and goals. We guide people through the process of identifying reputable placements, securing those placements, and adjusting to the changes that inevitably take place as individuals take on new experiences.
City Year – www.cityyear.org
A national youth organization that provides service to US cities as Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbia, Detroit, New Hampshire cities, New York, Philadelphia, Providence, San Antonio, San Jose, Seattle and Washington, DC.
Dynamy - http://www.dynamy.org/
Dynamy's Internship Year accepts young people, ages 17 to 22, from across the country for a nine-month-long residential program which includes full-time student internships, a wilderness expedition (Outward Bound), individual advising and mentoring, community service, group meetings, and optional college credit seminars through Clark University. Students are typically high school graduates, although the program is also attractive to students who have completed a year or two of college. Over 80% of Internship Year graduates proceed from this program onto—or back to—higher education. A high percentage is pursuing advanced degrees. Once your life’s focus is discovered, it stays with you.
Earthwatch - http://www.earthwatch.org/
Earthwatch Institute's mission is to promote sustainable conservation of our natural resources and cultural heritage by creating partnerships between scientists, educators, and the general public. To realize this mission, Earthwatch Institute has three recognized areas of focus: Research, Education, and Conservation.
Global Crossroad - http://www.globalcrossroad.com/
A leading volunteer abroad vacation organization. For the last 7 years, we have offered successful travel and
Global Service Corps - http://www.globalservicecorps.org/
A leader in the field of international volunteerism designing and implementing effective community development volunteer service-learning programs in Africa and Asia since 1993.
Habitat for Humanity - http://www.habitat.org/
A volunteer organization that builds decent, affordable housing for needy families.
I-to- I Volunteer Abroad - http://i-to-i.com
Arranges unique volunteer, work and teach abroad programs for students. Projects in 23 countries needing help with conservation, care work, teaching, media, building and health work.
LeapYear - https://www.naropa.edu/academics/bachelors/leap-year/overview.php
LeapYear is a gap year and a full year of college through Naropa University—a year of experience, adventure, and personal reflection. It is a transformative bridge into college and independent adulthood. LeapYear programs run Fall-Spring and Spring-Summer, allowing two yearly opportunities to complete a full gap year, first or second year of college, or final year of high school.
National Outdoor Leadership School - www.nols.edu
Courses ranging from 10 days to a full academic year, we attract highly motivated students who want to learn how to lead. Our hands-on, learn-by-doing approach means that our graduates get the skills they need to be competent, responsible wilderness travelers long after their course is over.
National Society for Experiential Education - http://www.nsee.org/
(NSEE) is a nonprofit membership association of educators, businesses, and community leaders. Founded in 1971, NSEE also serves as a national resource center for the development and improvement of experiential education programs nationwide.
Outward Bound - http://www.outwardbound.org/
Is a non-profit educational organization that serves people of all ages and backgrounds through active learning expeditions that inspire character development, self-discovery, and service both in and out of the classroom. Outward Bound delivers programs using unfamiliar settings as a way for participants across the country to experience adventure and challenge in a way that helps students realize they can do more than they thought possible. Customized courses provide curricula developed for struggling teens, groups with specific health, social or educational needs and business and professional organizations.
Sea Education Association - http://www.sea.edu/
An educational adventure in a study-abroad program, you won’t find anything like us anywhere in the world. We take college students to the deep ocean on a traditional sailing vessel to learn about the sea.
Semester at Sea - http://www.semesteratsea.org/
Educate individuals for leadership, service, and success in shaping our interdependent world. We are committed to providing profoundly transformative study-abroad experiences that emphasize global exchange and awareness. We will continue to make a positive world impact by developing leaders who have the knowledge and perspective necessary to promote a greater understanding of all peoples and all cultures.
Serve Your World - http://www.serveyourworld.com/
An online database of volunteer organizations that provide opportunities for students to participate in around the world.
Student Conservation Association - http://www.thesca.org/
Offers conservation service opportunities, outdoor skills, and leadership training. Students care for national parks and forests, historical and cultural resources and urban green spaces.
United Nations Volunteers - http://www.unv.org/
UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing an increasing number and diversity of volunteers, including experienced UNV volunteers, throughout the world. UNV embraces volunteerism as universal and inclusive and recognizes volunteerism in its diversity as well as the values that sustain it: free will, commitment, engagement, and solidarity.
Up with People - http://www.upwithpeople.org/
Addresses the genuine need for young adults and leaders who have global perspectives, intercultural understanding, knowledge of worldwide social issues, leadership skills and a dedication to community service.
Where There Be Dragons - http://www.wheretherebedragons.com/
Programs vary in their focus - with some trekking and wilderness intensive, others strong on service and development studies, and still others language-oriented - all Dragons journeys are designed above all else to be fun, safe and honest educational experiences.
WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) - https://wwoofinternational.org/
Connect people who want to live and learn on organic farms and smallholdings with people who want to share their lifestyles, teach new skills and welcome volunteer help. There are places in Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Middle East and Oceania.
World Learning - http://www.worldlearning.org/
Is a global non-profit organization with operations in more than 75 countries. Through its international education programs – The Experiment in International Living, SIT Study Abroad, and SIT Graduate Institute – World Learning fosters global citizenship by connecting over 3,000 young ambassadors annually across cultural differences and social barriers.
Volunteer abroad experiences to nearly 8000 volunteers/travelers. Whether you're looking for a volunteer abroad experience, career break, or just a meaningful travel experience, Global Crossroad offers a variety of volunteer abroad programs to match your varying interests.