GAP YEAR
GAP YEAR
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What can you do on a Gap Year?
What can you do on a Gap Year?
Teach English to kids in Thailand, Write for a newspaper in London, Mentor inner-city youth in NYC, Plant trees in the Amazon Rainforest, Obtain a visa to work in Australia, Study Spanish in Guatemala, Volunteer at local schools in Tanzania, AuPair for a family in France, Travel New Zealand by volunteering on organic farms, Assist with upkeep of wildlife center in South Africa, Shadow doctors at a hospital in Costa Rica, Join a program like the High Desert Center in Colorado, Use graphic design skills to work with a marketing company in Ireland
How do you begin your search?
How do you begin your search?
Begin your Gap Year search with the GapMatcher Quiz! Discover your perfect match with the official USA Gap Year Fairs search tool designed to generate a list of personalized program suggestions based on your individual interests and goals. Take time to look through material like the Gap Year Guide, CET Academic Programs, or contact a Gap Year planner like Taylor the Gap or J2 Guides. See some of our favorite programs below!
Not sure if a Gap Year is right for you? See J2Guide's blog post from May 2024 that may help you decide -- it's a great piece on the benefits of taking a year off before college!
What are some recommended Gap Year programs?
What are some recommended Gap Year programs?
Two Options: 1) Take a semester to challenge yourself and grow in ways you never thought possible. Explore the Colorado wilderness and local rural community living. The program finishes with an immersive group road trip to Mexico. You will emerge from the program with skills and self-knowledge that are strong assets to a college education or whatever life-path you choose to take. OR 2) For 14 weeks you will explore themes of community and freedom in three unique locations--Thailand, the desert SW, and Colorado. You will dig into the skills that make life meaningful and exciting as you discover new cultures and build self-knowledge. You will emerge from the program with a greater understanding of the world and the and skills to build community wherever you go.
Dragons students are travelers, not tourists. Course itineraries are built around nine Program Components which engage students in a wide range of hands-on activities such as homestays, trekking, apprenticeships, and language learning. A typical group consists of 12 students and 3 instructors to ensure each student receives individual support and mentorship. On average our instructors are 30+ years of age, have 4+ years living abroad, and are fluent in the local language. Dragons programs are environmentally conscious and committed to building meaningful connections. We run longer programs that maximize time abroad and empower students to learn service responsibly.
Programs are deliberate overland journeys, blending authentic immersion in diverse cultures, meaningful service-learning projects, rewarding adventures, wilderness exploration, and personal development. Students challenge themselves in a supportive small group environment, developing empathy for other cultures; furthering understanding of international issues; heightening appreciation for the earth’s wild places; deepening global perspectives; and discovering their own passion and purpose.
City Year was founded in 1988 as a national service program to unite young adults from diverse backgrounds for a demanding year of full-time community service. City Year has grown from 50 corps members in Boston to more than 3,000 members serving in 29 US cities, as well as in South Africa and the UK. National service helps young people develop into leaders, problem solvers and more active citizens. AmeriCorps and the Corporation for National and Community Service deploys more than three million Americans in service through its nationwide core programs and partnerships with nonprofits like City Year.
Adventure EXP offers destination work experiences which are customized to your life and career goals with no cost to you to participate. We help young people secure internships and seasonal jobs which provide legitimate career pathways and unparalleled real-life experiences.
Workaway is a platform that allows members to arrange homestays and cultural exchange. Volunteers or "Workawayers", are expected to contribute a pre-agreed amount of time per day in exchange for lodging and food, which is provided by their host.
AmeriCorps is an independent agency of the United States government that engages more than five million Americans in service through a variety of stipend volunteer work programs in many sectors. Education benefits, stipends, and job training are just some of the perks to volunteering with AmeriCorps.
WALI is an outdoor adventure gap semester. Students will spend 70 days trekking through mountains, paddling through rapids, climbing crags and exploring the Rocky Mountain region of Utah, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. This hands-on course includes community service and a Wilderness First Responder course. It offers 6 optional college credits through University of Wyoming: 3 credits for Wilderness Medicine and 3 for Outdoor Leadership. This program is great for students interested in pursuing a career in the outdoors, students who are interested in expanding their outdoor skills, or students who are interested in the outdoors and don't know where to start!
Global Citizen Year equips young people to create a meaningful impact on global issues. They select talented, broadly diverse students, and equip them with empathy, agency and a global network of mentors and peers that will help them drive impact today, and throughout their lives.
Dynamy Internship Year (DIY) is a complete 360° experience—from internships, to outdoor challenges, to one-on-one mentoring, to community involvement and apartment life – a holistic approach designed to help each student pursue their interests and passions, discover their full potential, and find their direction.
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