GAP YEAR PROJECT

This project will guide you through every aspect of planning a trip abroad or outside of the United States. We will also discover how a Gap Year can enhance post high school plans and strengthen a resume for future employment.

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PART A: RESEARCH - GAP YEAR PLANNING ARTICLES

PART A: RESEARCH - GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

• RESEARCH - LINKS

GAP MATCH - USA Gap Year Fairs - Find the program that is right for you

INFORMATION & RESOURCES

• American Gap Association
• Teen Life
• Thinking Beyond Borders

LOW COST PROGRAMS

• Article - How to Volunteer Abroad for Free (TONS OF LINKS) - GoOverseas
• Help Stay
• Moving Worlds - "Experteering"
• The True Travellers Society - Resources & Programs
• Volunteer Forever
• WWOOF - Organic Farming

GAP COMPANIES & PROGRAMS - Just to name a few

• Animal Experience International - Empowers students, professionals, animal lovers and adventure seekers to travel by providing exceptional volunteer adventures.
• Cross-Cultural Solutions - Excellent information on cultures & countries with a wide variety of volunteer opportunities
• Earthwatch Insititute - "Expeditions" - Archaeology/Culture, Climate Change, Ocean Health, & Wildlife/Ecosystems
• Gap 360 - Volunteering changes lives, yours included. Travel the world (while saving it) with wildlife conservation and community building projects in some of the world's most beautiful, off-the-beaten-path locations. The experience is one you'll never forget
• Global Citizen Year - Agriculture, education, Environmental Conservation, Social Enterprise, and more.
• Journeys are Made - GapYear.com - DATABASE to Gap Year Companies: Animals, Care Work & Childcare, Career Development, Community Projects, Conservation Projects, Humanitarian Projects, Medical Electives, Sports Projects, & Teaching
• GeoVisions - "Volunteers" - GeoVisions' sustainable volunteer abroad projects meet critical global needs in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. Choose from tutoring children in English; or humanitarian, medical, land and wildlife conservation projects
• Global Vision - Conservation Volunteers - Sports Projects, Volunteer with Children, Teaching Projects, Wildlife and Terrestrial Conservation, Construction Projects' Marine Conservation, Animal Care, & Healthcare Projects
• GoEco - Volunteering overseas is a great way to travel and contribute to our planet's environment. As a volunteer, you will be able to experience first-hand indigenous wildlife, work alongside local communities and discover fascinating cultures worldwide
• GoOverseas (hosting site) - When searching for programs make sure you click on, "View Site" to go to specific Gap Year companies. SPORTS, conservation, childcare, construction, art, healthcare woman's rights, teaching
• Go Voluntouring - There are countless options to navigate through, from Wildlife and Archaeological, Conservation, to Women's Empowerment and Community Development.
• GVI (Global Vision International) - Construction, marine life, wildlife, volunteer with children, teaching, sports, animal care, health care, etc.
• Habitat for Humanity International - As a long-term volunteer, you might work in administration, finance, volunteer coordination or fill specialized construction assignments.
• i-to-i ~ Love TEFL - Teaching English Abroad (TEFL = Teaching English as a Foreign Language)
• The Leap - The projects were a mix of conservation + community + ecotourism. Think teaching kids, wildlife conservation and helping tribes become self-sufficient.
• Transitions Abroad - Volunteer programs by country
• One World 365 - Meaningful Travel - Animals, conservation, community development, building, medical, care work, coaching, orphanage work, teaching & humanitarian & aid relief
• Projects Abroad- Care, teaching, conservation & environment, sports, building, agriculture & farming, creative & performing arts, archaeology,
• Year Out Group - Search by region, country or program types

PART A: RESEARCH - COUNTRIES & MAPS

• CultureGrams - kromrey / cougars
• CIA World Factbook
• Ezilon: Country and regional maps
• World Atlas: Country maps

PART B: TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

US DEPARTMENT OF STATE - US PASSPORTS & INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

• Travel.State.gov - Homepage

PASSPORT

• Passport: "Form Filler" - 1st-time applicants - Fill out the form online and save it as a pdf.

VISA

• FIRST, go to your country's Embassy or Consulate & SEARCH!
• International Passport & Visa Service - visa help for some countries
• International Visa Service - visa help for some countries

PART C: PREPARATION

• COUNTRY INFORMATION: In the blank "Learn about your destination" type the name of a country to research travel information
• STEP: "Smart Traveler Enrollment Program"
• CHECKLIST: US Department of State Travel Checklist

CURRENCY

• Currencies of the World - Names for all currency from around the world
• Currency Converter - Converter with the option to create a pocket-sized converter to take on your trip
• The Best Way to Carry Money Overseas - Independent Traveler.com

PART D: HEALTH CARE

• CDC - Centers for Disease Control: Scroll down to the country list
• Ranking Web of Hospitals - Many hospitals of the world are listed
• WHO - World Health Organization (United Nations)

PART E: VACATION PLANNING

ACTIVITIES - WHAT TO DO AND SEE

• Dangerous Travel Map
• Expert Vagabond: CUBA
• Fodor's Travel: Trip planning site
• Frommer's: Trip planning site
• Peek - The Perfect Day: 24-hours a day trip planning
• Rough Guides: Trip planning site
• The Lonely Planet: Use this site for research on countries or as a travel guide.
• Travel Notes: Use Travel Notes to guide you around the world.
• TripAdvisor
• World Bank Tourism Data
• World Travel Guide - City & country travel guides

AIRFARE

• Expedia: Flight options
• OneTravel: International flights
• StaTravel: Flights to Latin America
• Travelocity: Search flights & hotels

CALCULATING DISTANCE & COST FROM HOTEL TO ACTIVITY

• Google Maps
• Rome2Rio

FOOD

• Eat Your World: For countries without many restaurants
• Street Foods: Rough Guides
• The World's Best Street Food: The Guardian

LODGING: APARTMENTS, HOTELS, HOSTELS, ETC.

Definition - HOSTEL: an establishment that provides inexpensive food and lodging for a specific group of people, such as students, workers, or travelers.

• AirBnB: Find rooms, apartments, and homes while traveling the world
• Hostel.com: affordable lodging for travel abroad
• Hostel Bookers: affordable hostels and hotels
• Hostel World: affordable lodging for travel abroad; includes prices
• Hostelz: The world's largest hostels database - 45,194 listings in 7,265 cities

TRAVELING IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY

• The Art of Traveling in Developing Countries
• Traveling in a Developing Country: 11 Dos and Don'ts: IndependentTraveler.com
• Staying Healthy While Traveling In The Developing World: Walking on Travels
• A Little Discovery… 20 Neat Things I Learned By Traveling in Developing Countries