Gap year Programs

Discover Year is a year-long gap year program that helps young adults build essential skills for their career and life. The program emphasizes the development of self-confidence, self-awareness, adaptability and interpersonal skills such as communication, emotional intelligence and collaboration. In their one year career and leadership development certificate students will experience: Work, Travel, Community Service, Essential Skills Workshops, Career and Life Coaching, and Mentorship.

The Landing School of Boat Building and Design, located in Arundel Maine, is the oldest operating school of its type in the United States and the first to be accredited by The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). In addition, The Landing School is the only school in the world offering accredited programs in Yacht Design, Wooden Boat Building, Composite Boat Building and Marine Systems under one roof.

Africa & Asia Venture (AV) has been operating gap year programs in developing communities in Africa and Asia since 1993. More than 6,000 young people aged 17-25 from 30+ countries have benefited from these group-based, full-immersion programs, living in small groups and working in the community. Participants are given more independence than on most gap year programs - and responsibility.

The VACorps Gap Year Program provides a transformative experience aimed at preparing participants for life after high school. Participants acquire valuable real-world work experience, cultivate global friendships, and immerse themselves in Cape Town, celebrated as one of the world's most beautiful cities. By the end of the program, participants emerge with enhanced confidence, gained through the successful completion of a professional internship in a foreign country, fully prepared to embark on the next chapter of their lives.

The Greene’s Gap Year program gives students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to delve deeply into academic subjects that interest them through tailored courses, growing their intellectual curiosity and allowing them to become a part of the rich academic heritage of Oxford. Our programs are structured entirely around the individual student's interests, whether that is the history of Renaissance art, microeconomics, theoretical physics, Japanese, or all of the above. Gap Year courses use the ancient 'tutorial method' of teaching for which Oxford and Cambridge universities are famed: this teaching method allows students to discuss, debate, and dissect ideas in small-group settings with true experts in their fields, fostering students’ independent thought and academic engagement. Our programs are also designed to equip Gap Year students with advanced research and writing skills that they will need as they enter university-level education.

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.

Aerie Medicine provides high quality, experiential medical education courses. The Semester in Wilderness Medicine programs offer a unique opportunity for gap year students to earn professional certifications and up to 15 credit hours through a partnership with the University of Montana. Students spend two to three months in Montana and Costa Rica (spring term), or India (fall term), immersing themselves in the world of remote medical care and technical rescue skills.

Iracambi provides an opportunity to participate in a broad variety of conservation activities related to the restoration of the beautiful and highly biodiverse Atlantic Rainforest. Iracambi's primary need is for volunteers to help with the re-planting, however all volunteer skills will be put to use! A spirit of adventure, a pair of willing hands and a sense of humor are the only prerequisites.

An experiential, place-based semester located in New Hampshire and focused on teaching skills to craft a hand-made life. Gap at Glen Brook takes place in local forests, fields, and farms, all in view of Mt. Monadnock a fine classroom for learning the breadth and depth of your consequence, and for apprenticing in the art of responsibility. Students engage their bodies, hands, and minds while stewarding cultivated and wild land, building naturalist and expedition skills, and practicing the alchemy of cooking. Radical and courageous personal development underscores the core questions of a gap year: What is worth striving for? What is necessary for an authentic life? What does it mean to be an adult? Programs in the spring and fall.

Dance Gap Year offers dancers, choreographers and educators ages 18-36 the opportunity to experience the breadth of the global dance community in New York City, Los Angeles + Abroad while enhancing intellectual growth, promoting community engagement, developing an entrepreneurial spirit, and experiencing cross-cultural exchange.

Based in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, The Immersion at Wilderness Awareness School is a nine-month transformative journey of deep nature connection, wilderness skills, and self-discovery within a supportive community. The Immersion is a unique experience for those seeking to find their place in the natural world. During this enchanting program, students experience their surroundings from the complementary approaches of scientific study, survival skills, nature connection, and self-discovery.

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.

Established in 1998, Sea|mester offers unique educational voyages where gap year and university students spend an entire semester at sea, sailing between countries and continents. Coupling accredited academics with real-world application, Sea|mester's goal is to provide an immersive learning experience, engaging students in ways that are impossible to replicate in the traditional classroom. Voyages include up to 12 college credits in Marine, Ocean, and Nautical Sciences from the University of South Florida in addition to multiple sailing and scuba diving certifications through International Yacht Training and the Professional Association of Diving Instructors.

Kroka Expeditions is a non-profit wilderness expedition school based on a year-round, organic farm in Marlow, New Hampshire. Guiding principles for Kroka are that consciousness and altruistic will can be brought forward through a living relationship with the natural world, and by taking our places within the circle of community. Kroka Semesters are based on what the Norwegians call friluftsliv, roughly translated as free life in nature, moving with sureness and ease over the land. Students work with their hands to make many of the things needed on program, tapping into ancient knowledge caring for ourselves in relationship to the land. Students learn about personal contribution and interconnection through their community experiences: if firewood isn’t gathered, the dinner goes uncooked; if the navigator is sloppy with their map, the destination will not be reached. Kroka is a non-profit committed to accessibility and offering tuition on a sliding-scale basis.

Omprakash Education through Global Engagement (EdGE): Gap Year opportunities to volunteer with 180+ vetted grassroots social impact organizations in 40+ countries around the globe. Omprakash does not sell volunteer or internship placements instead, volunteers will be able to connect directly with host organizations and will not pay a fee to volunteer. Omprakash Partners offer individual programs with customizable departure dates, and lengths of stay ranging from 3-12 months. Omprakash EdGE (Education for Global Engagement) is a purposeful online training and mentorship program designed to increase students' learning, engagement, and overall impact before, during and after their time abroad. Grants and scholarships are available to offset the cost of EdGE tuition and subsidize the costs of travel and living abroad.

GVI is an award-winning organization that tackles critical local and global issues through our travel-based volunteer, internship, fellowship and apprenticeship programs as well as online courses, and virtual programs. At GVI, we believe that long-lasting impact is locally-led, which is why our programs are run in partnership with local organizations like the National Parks of South Africa, Madagascar, Costa Rica, Seychelles, Mexico and Thailand. We’ve been connecting thousands of change-makers through an extensive range of nature conservation and social development programs in some of the most vulnerable habitats and communities around the world for over twenty years. Our projects tackle a number of critical global issues from turtle and elephant conservation to citizen science and gender equality. Joining a GVI program gives students the chance to contribute to something bigger than themselves, and be part of a community of global citizens.

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.

Founded in 2006, Educating Adventures (EA) runs immersive and responsible ski and snowboard travel programs in New Zealand, Japan, Canada, Europe and the USA for students aged 17 – 35. Their programs provide students a pathway to become a professional, qualified instructor in skiing or snowboarding with the opportunity to work as an instructor in the same winter season and obtain valuable employment experience in a top Snowsports School. Programs run between 4 weeks to a full winter season and provide all the key elements required. Programs are open to anyone with a passion for skiing or snowboarding and requires an intermediate ability as a starting point.

Madelife is a Boulder creative hub that focuses on mentorship, collaboration, and community. Our mission is to support and promote artists and creative entrepreneurs out of our 7000-square-foot work + gallery space, design and sound studio in Boulder, Colorado. Madelife cultivates a creative ecosystem with our unique mentorship-based Creative Accelerator program as the backbone. We also host art exhibitions of local work, partner and collaborate with local creative non profits, produce live events and workshops, and record and produce video and music projects, and host a variety of community meetings.

Students live on and tend a 120-acre ecological homestead in the western mountains of Maine. Working as an interdependent community, students experience the wholeness of a life in which all their needs are met through direct relationship with the earth. Days are filled with carving bowls, cooking with fire, weaving baskets, swinging axes, planting seeds, climbing mountains, reading great essays and discussing what matters most in this wild moment in earth’s history. Students are challenged to practice relentless curiosity, look beyond dominant worldviews, and live in ways that honor each other and the future. Students depart with skills, energy and agency to make real change in the communities and ecologies they call home.

Point School Puerto Rico is a hybrid gap year program for young adult males, ages 18-22. PSPR blends cultural immersion, experiential learning, and service-learning with an intentional positive self-discovery experience. Young men who attend Point School Puerto Rico have the opportunity to explore their personal and professional interests, character strengths, and capabilities as they develop confidence, self-efficacy, and intrinsic motivation. PSPR promotes healthy and successful emergence into adulthood so that our young men can be their best selves and thrive

SEA's gap program offers any student interested in the oceans the opportunity to study the marine environment through the disciplines of science, maritime history & culture, policy, and leadership. The program combines insights from oceanography, the humanities, and the social sciences with practical skills in seamanship, allowing students to deepen their awareness of and appreciation for the ocean through hands-on research and personal experience. During an initial 6-week shore component in Woods Hole, academic coursework will prepare students for their research voyage. As full, working members of the scientific team and sailing crew aboard the SSV Corwith Cramer, students will then spend the next six weeks at sea managing shipboard operations, navigating by the stars, analyzing oceanographic samples, while completing an epic ocean passage from the temperate shores of New England to the tropical islands of the Caribbean. Choose between an academic, credit-bearing program or an experiential not-for-credit program - either way, no sailing experience is required!

YMCA of the Rockies offers two Gap Programs that focus around outdoor adventure, employment in the hospitality industry, and community building. The Elevate Gap Program is offered at Estes Park Center located in Estes Park, Colorado and the Discover Gap Program is offered at Snow Mountain Ranch in Winter Park, Colorado. Participants who successfully complete the program will be eligible to stay on as YMCA employees for up to 2 to 4 additional months or apply for available full-time positions.

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.

Dynamy is a domestic gap program for students ages 17-22 who are interested in exploring and discovering their future career paths. Students will work with an advisor to select from 100 different internship opportunities throughout Worcester, MA. In conjunction with their internship, students benefit from city apartment living, life skills workshops, personal and college advising and optional college seminars through Clark University.

Pure Exploration focuses on meaningful experiential travel, immersing people in unique cultural environments, education, and encouraging personal development. They offer outdoor adventure courses focused around outdoor guiding and rock climbing techniques around the world. These programs are designed for travelers 18-35 seeking a constructive and developmental stepping-stone into independent travel, the adventure tourism industry, or their next chapter in their life.

Bushwise Field Guides is a leading training provider in South Africa that offers field guiding and wildlife conservation courses. We welcome future conservationists, gap year students, mid-career sabbaticals, and career changers from around the world. Our programs are endorsed by the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) and we have a proven track record of producing successful graduates. We’ve designed our courses specifically to equip students with the knowledge and practical experience necessary to excel in the eco-tourism industry. Our courses are between two and 12 months in length and training is done in Big Five reserves near Kruger National Park. With an emphasis on hands-on experience, passion and ethical guiding standards, we ensure our students are well-prepared for a career in conservation, ecotourism, guiding and wildlife.

Cow House Studios is a progressive artist-run school and residency set in the farmland of county Wexford, Ireland. An active farm to this day, the 180 acres of land provide an authentic and inspirational backdrop while facilitating multidisciplinary practices for artists in residence and students, focusing on cross-cultural learning and creative exchange. FieldWorks is a semester-long gap year studio art program. This hybrid residency and enrichment program is designed to give students ages 18 to 22 an opportunity to make new artwork in a remarkable location while being challenged to approach their creative practice from new perspectives. FieldWorks provides young artists with the crucial time and space necessary to make art. Additionally, workshops, talks, and engaged informal discussions led by prominent practitioners from diverse backgrounds provoke new avenues for thought and production.

AdventureEXP hosts destination work programs for young American job seekers to travel to desirable locations around the US for paid jobs and internships. Their structured and guided programs range from 2-12 months as a gap year or seasonal placement. Students gain interpersonal skills, professional competency and learn to travel with purpose throughout their country. Open to ages 18-25.

Live on beachfront property, study on the crystal clear Caribbean waters, and earn your PADI Open and Advanced SCUBA, Wilderness First Aid (WFA), Kayaking, and Leave No Trace certifications. This 6-week marine science program is offered through the nonprofit, International Field Studies (IFS). Forfar Field Station, located on Andros, Bahamas, has been home to unique field study experiences for students since 1970 and IFS is thrilled to utilize the past 50 years of experience to support our very own program designed to give young adults a professional and academic experience of a lifetime. Students will partake in lecture based activities and land/sea excursions throughout the island as they explore the wonders of Andros as it is home to the highest concentration of blue holes in the world and bordering the 3rd largest fringing barrier reef. Students will earn internationally recognized certifications, a certificate of completion, and career guidance.

Since 1968 InterExchange has facilitated meaningful and affordable intercultural experiences. Students can embark on Au Pair and Language Homestay programs in Australia, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Spain where they live with a host family as a childcare provider or tutor. Students can otherwise join a Work & Travel program with more self-structured opportunities to explore the host country while earning income through seasonal jobs in Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand. The American Summer Exchange program helps students explore and work in a new part of the USA alongside participants from diverse countries. Sustainable Action Costa Rica is a chance to learn about the country's renowned commitment to conservation through site visits and fun outdoor activities. InterExchange is largely focused on helping students and recent graduates develop the skills employers demand in the 21st century through transformative work, volunteer, and experiential education.

Alzar School + Gap brings students to Patagonia, Chile and the American West to focus on leadership training, cultural exchange and outdoor adventure. Alzar has permanent campuses in both the mountains of Idaho and the heart of Patagonia. All gap programs include a focused exploration of whitewater rafting and kayaking, and some include backpacking and skiing activities.

The Blackbird Academy students have 700+ hours of hands-on training. The curriculum features Blackbird Studio's gear/facilities for the Studio Program, and access to Clair Global's massive warehouses of equipment and professional staff for the Live Sound Program.

Community Music Centers of Atlanta (CMC Atlanta) is a network of community-focused music schools that provides comprehensive music education for students of all ages. The Gap Year Program at Community Music Centers of Atlanta offers a unique experiential learning journey that immerses students in the dynamic world of music immersion and performance. The program is structured into three key components, providing a comprehensive and hands-on musical experience. Firstly, students participate in studio lessons focused on an instrument or voice of their choosing, allowing for personalized instruction and skill development. Secondly, they engage in music theory and ear training classes, which build a strong foundation in understanding musical concepts and enhancing auditory skills. Lastly, students have the option to join ensemble or music production classes, offering collaborative opportunities to apply their skills in group settings or explore the technical aspects of music creation. Throughout the program, students collaborate with peers and mentors in various musical projects and performances, gaining real-world experience in ensemble settings.

Outward Bound Costa Rica offers Gap Year & Semester Programs that immerses students in the rainforests, rivers and reefs of Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua. Students can choose between one or both of our courses that run every Fall and Spring: Outdoor Leader Semester or Coast to Coast Expedition. On each course students develop their leadership and outdoor skills, while earning 10-12 academic credits and internationally-recognized certifications. Students additionally interact with local communities, become knowledgeable in Central American cultures, and may participate in community service projects. Top graduates may be offered a Field Instructor Internship.

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.

Irish Gap Year provides semester length, community based, gap year programs in the Northwest of Ireland, internship programs in both Dublin and the Northwest and expeditionary programs across Europe. Students focus on personal development using core values of community, outdoor adventure, service and immersion in Irish culture.

Since 1973, Wilderness Adventures has provided young adults with the opportunity to explore the most pristine wilderness settings on the planet. The Wilderness Adventures Leadership Institute' Gap Semester Programs challenge students by enabling them to improve their outdoor skills, expand their leadership capabilities, and gain life-long professional certifications. Wilderness Adventures is about discovering a part of ourselves, building character, and bringing new perspectives.

Focusing on experiential education, community, and intercultural exchange, students can choose either a three-month or year-long gap year adventure with Carpe Diem Education. From South America, Southeast Asia, Central America, the South Pacific, Italy & Greece, India & Nepal, and more, students travel in small groups with experienced Overseas Educators. They learn by doing, gain independence and confidence, and become global citizens through meaningful, immersive engagement. Ready for more? Latitudes Year students extend their learning journey with a custom volunteer placement around the world during their second semester. College credit and financial aid available!

BroadFutures is a workforce development program dedicated to working with young people who have learning disabilities (LD) and/or attentional issues. Operating out of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, the mission is to enhance the inherent potential of young adults with LD in the workforce through partnerships that foster independence, self-advocacy and successful employment. Students combine training with mentoring and paid internships focusing on professionalism, communication, and stress tolerance. Students are exposed to the arts, yoga, and mindfulness to deliver and reinforce the curriculum. Peer mentors and coaches are engaged to support interns in goal setting and strategy development and to serve as liaisons between interns, employers, and BroadFutures.

Siena Italian Studies (SIS) is a private learning center for language and culture based in Siena, Italy, which employs high-impact practices for language learning and engaged international education. The center in Siena offers full-immersion semesters, academic years and shorter summer programs with a service-learning focus to interested and motivated students, regardless of their Italian language level.

EcoTraining's goal is to inspire people to protect the natural world and create a generation of environmentally conscious citizens. Their year-long Professional Field Guide Course allows students to live and learn from the African wilderness while becoming qualified field guides prepared to excel in safari and/or environmental careers. During their training, students explore up to four wilderness areas in southern Africa while staying in unfenced camps in big game areas. Immersed in nature, they learn to drive 4X4 vehicles, track wildlife, approach dangerous big game animals on foot, enhance their birding knowledge, and much more. In the process, they develop lifelong friendships while connecting with like-minded people from all over the world.

Students gain lifelong skills during an immersive semester in South Africa, where they’ll learn from experienced human rights advocates working to advance social justice. Together with a diverse cohort of like-minded peers from around the world, students will collaborate and contribute to local solutions for global challenges. Students will learn to question their assumptions – about themselves and the world around them – that will help fuel a purpose-driven future.

College for Social Innovation's flagship program, Semester in the City, offers 18-26 year-old youth the opportunity to spend a semester building professional and life skills while making social change within a diverse and well-supported cohort community.

Projects Abroad has spent the last 30 years helping our young participants fulfill their potential and make the world a better place. Projects Abroad runs a number of worthwhile projects to tackle the world’s social and environmental challenges. These are long-term, thoughtfully planned projects, led by local people and aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Students can choose from volunteer, internship, gap year, or high school projects in over 30 global communities. Projects Abroad team are dedicated to the delivery of safe and meaningful experiences for our participants so that they can develop a better understanding of global issues while making a meaningful contribution to the community.

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.

Spain by Train is a 12 week structured gap year program around the different regions of Spain. Gappers are immersed in Spanish culture while learning Spanish interactively through 12 project-based learning modules: Spanish food, art, music, dance, film, theatre, history, geography, adventure sports, nature, science and sustainability. Sustainability is a core focus of the program thus students travel by train as part of their zero waste policy.

Earth Studies believes a reciprocal relationship between people and the environment is paramount. Their private nature preserve is the ideal environment to facilitate and reinforce this connection. This experiential course focuses on developing knowledge and skills in: Environmental Literacy, Animal Connection, Outdoor Preparedness and Self-Defense.

IYRS is a non-profit school where students learn hands-on skills to design, create, and build everything from surfboards and drones to electrical panels on yachts. A gap year at IYRS helps students strengthen their resumes with an educational (and fun!) experience while still allowing students to apply to their future college as a freshman. IYRS offers 6-9 month STEM-based certificate programs in Marine Systems, Composites Technology, Digital Modeling & Fabrication, and a two-year Boatbuilding & Restoration program — all located on our campus at the edge of Newport Harbor. IYRS was recently named one of the Best Maker Schools in the world by Newsweek and is nationally accredited by ACCSC and the Rhode Island Board of Governors.

Rooted in the ridges and valleys of the Driftless Region of the upper Midwest, Thoreau College models a transformative liberal arts curriculum that immerses students in authentic community, shared labor and governance, and rigorous engagement with great works and natural phenomena. Thoreau College creates a context where students can nurture their sacred curiosity, connect with their deepest selves, and cultivate the capacities they will need to manifest their highest aspirations for the world.

Amphibian Foundation's Conservation Research Bridge Program is a mentored career development experience that is customized together with students. The program curriculum is flexible and ranges in duration from 5 weeks to a full year and includes part-time and full-time options. Students gain first-hand experience doing all the things a conservation organization specializes in from animal husbandry, outreach and communications, formal education, field surveys, captive rearing and headstarting amphibians, to community service and long-term monitoring of imperiled species and focused research projects. Training includes contextualized instruction, career development and transition services to help students explore the fields of conservation and biology and achieve their career goals.

Polygence is a virtual research and mentorship program that enables students to work with an expert mentor on a meaningful project based on their own interests and passions. At Polygence, we believe that students have big, worthy ideas and passions. We provide a world-class learning platform and an expert mentor to explore them. Polygence mentors are experts pursuing advanced degrees who will help you dive deeply into your passion and leverage the research process to create something real. Our program is a self-paced, ten session program where students and mentors meet 1:1 on the platform to advance the project. This program is ideal for Gap Year students wishing to do research, an independent project, and make something real over their Gap Year.

CET Academic Programs is a study abroad organization that has been developing and delivering educational programs abroad since 1982. Originally "China Educational Tours," CET began operations in Beijing, later expanding to other locations around the world. Today, CET offers semester, summer, and short-term customized programs around the world for college, high school, pre-college, and gap year students. Known for strong academics, professional program management, and supportive student services, CET strives to integrate students into their host communities, adopt environmentally conscientious practices, and promote diversity and inclusion across all programs.

The Pure Life's two to three month program integrates adventure activities (surfing, rafting, and backpacking) with cognitive behavioral therapy which help our students overcome challenges and build a "tool box" for difficult times. In addition, Pure Life provides students with opportunities for cultural immersion, community service, and nationally recognized adventure certifications. Through this nature based approach, the program prepares young adults for the challenges they will face as they conquer college, career, and independence.

Spain Abroad is a family-owned business, with years of experience working with high school students and young adults in the fields of education, career exploration, mental health, life-coaching, and mentoring. They utilize their education, work experience, and passion for providing global awareness to deliver a program that will not just build your resume but will also give you a life-changing experience while making memorable friendships.

Animal Experience International (AEI) is a woman owned award winning B Corp from Canada. AEI helps gap year students volunteer on safe, ethical and authentically beneficial animal welfare programs. Specializing in travel for animal lovers, rather than animal professionals (perfect for students and gappers) AEI helps create opportunities for everyone who loves the natural world. Gappers volunteer with local groups who are taking part in meaningful conservation and welfare programs- after they have been personally vetted by a representative of AEI. From Mongolia to Australia, Guatemala to Croatia, dolphins to horses, toucans to gibbons- ethical experiences are out there and they help all animal lovers participate in them.

Students live on a 60-acre homestead peninsula on the coast of Maine where they join a community of learners, read great books, paddle sturdy canoes, get their hands dirty in the garden, explore nature and gain perspective on what really matters in times like these. Students are encouraged to take powerful intellectual risks, to connect meaningfully to their environment, to grow from direct experiences in real time, to feed their bodies and souls, and to build the skills necessary to nourish the communities to which they belong. All programs can be taken for college credit.

Since 1965, EF Education First has sent millions of people around the world to have life-changing experiences. EF Gap Year is the culmination of 50 years of expertise in educational travel. We believe the people who will succeed in the world of tomorrow are confident, constantly learning, and able to thrive in the face of ambiguity and change. With a suite of programs that combine language learning, service work, and internship experience, students have the opportunity to get out of their comfort zones, discover more about themselves, and return home with the skills and confidence to handle whatever comes next.

GAP Year at SOAR is an adventure-based program designed for participants with ADHD and Learning Differences. Their mission is to build independence, maturity, and confidence in participants through life skills, college courses, and adventure expeditions. Participants will travel the Western United States backpacking, canoeing, rock climbing, hiking, and more. GAP Year is community living with other participants and dedicated mentors who coach and guide participants to find personal growth while learning new skills and gaining new experiences that will become lifelong memories.

Wanderlust Exchange encourages the exploration of self-awareness and personal development by providing participants with opportunities to experience the unknown, confront unforeseen challenges and familiarize themselves with new cultures, ways of life, and behaviors. Wanderlust Exchange specializes in creating authentic cultural experiences with the aim to bridge cultural divide and help participants develop cross-cultural understanding that will enable them to be global citizens of the world.

Located in the heart of Europe, Franklin University Switzerland is an international university located in the Italian-speaking Swiss canton of Ticino and city of Lugano. Lugano sprawls luxuriously amidst the alps along the shores of beautiful Lake Lugano. A Gap Year abroad will impart valuable life skills, open doors to future opportunities, hone resumes and build life-long global friendships. Franklin’s Gap Year will help you develop group skills such as collaboration, negotiation, communication and leadership. Find your voice and build confidence for what comes next, whether college or career.

Via Volunteers is passionate about ethical volunteering, and only supports sustainable long term projects that are developed through genuine community and conservation needs. Being an ethical volunteer is a mindset; it's about having a realistic understanding of what you can achieve during your placement, and it's about honestly appraising your own motivations for volunteering in the first place. With these considered, you will be able to make the most of your experience, and make an impact where it matters.

Give & Surf operates a three month Gap Year Semester in Panama designed to provide a hands-on educational experience that is service-oriented and immerses participants in the local culture of the island archipelago. Participants volunteer, learn Spanish, and engage in a wide range of activities & excursions including surfing and scuba diving in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Participants will volunteer in the local schools by helping to teach preschool & primary school as well as lead extracurricular activities.

APA is a boutique program provider in Paris, France that unites academic excellence with the beauty and richness of French and Francophone culture. For over 30 years, students from more than 80 US colleges and universities have received a personalized, immersive education abroad in Paris; Dakar, Senegal; Rabat, Morocco; and Fort-de-France, Martinique.

Founded in 1989, Gapforce is an established tour operator specializing in student and youth travel programs. Offering a range of programs including group adventure travel, volunteer opportunities, marine conservation, and educational tours, Gapforce provides a variety of experiences for personal development and growth. Those looking to start a career as an expedition leader can spend three months training in Jungle Survival, Expedition Management, and Wilderness Medicine by registering for the Expedition Leadership Training Course. All programs are age 18 and up.

A gap year is a fantastic way to undergo self-exploration in-between stages of life and especially during this time of global pandemic when regular life is not running as normal! Kaya participants are individually interviewed to help them identify the options that fit them best, and then get to choose from any number of gap year blocks, both virtually and in person. Students can volunteer, intern, or learn a skill abroad, as well as participate in other activities such as adventure travel and cultural exchange. With options in a number of locations around the world, including the US, the Kaya team are passionate about engaging students in ethical cultural immersion the promotes global citizenship.

Study art, architecture and European culture in Italy, France and London for a semester in the fall, or shorter in the spring and summer months. Art History Abroad programs are carefully structured and taught so that art and culture come to life. They believe in a few simple truths: that art is best taught in the presence of the real thing, and that tutor groups (of 9 students or fewer) should encourage discourse and expression. AHA tutors travel with the course, a recipe that is 30 years strong. Open to students of all disciplines, students need only an enquiring mind.

CityGAP is an experiential gap year program in which college-age participants engage with the city as classroom, laboratory, studio and community. We explore the built and natural environment to wrestle with and address urgent challenges facing NYC at this critical moment. Our participants work on both group and individual projects, producing a portfolio of original work in a variety of media, designed to contribute to making NYC a more just, equitable and resilient city.

MPI is a nonprofit that believes in collaboration as a way to grow, focusing simultaneously on our international team members and our local community. We work in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest with Indigenous communities impacted by systemic injustices to create holistic opportunities for a better future. We offer hands-on professional development for gap year students and interns in a variety of fields related to international development, including Public Health, Water, Sanitation, and Health (WASH), Youth Development, Sustainability, and Ecotourism.

AMIGOS offers a semester or full-year Gap Program in the "heart of South America", Asunción, Paraguay! Our program is an opportunity for students ages 17–22 to live, study, and work in powerful international experiences that include authentic language and cultural immersion, homestays with local families, and meaningful internship opportunities. There is no Spanish requirement as volunteers will take Spanish classes tailored to their level upon arrival. Throughout the semester, volunteers will also attend various workshops and go on group excursions to explore the region. Students can receive college credit for this program through our partnership with Western Colorado University.

Gemba Boise provides a supportive community for 18 to 28 year old clients making the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Transition to adulthood can be abrupt and Gemba Boise works to slow down the process to better support the resident in successfully creating a path toward success. Gemba Boise clients have the option to take classes at Boise State University as a slow start to becoming a university student, take classes in workforce development at College of Western Idaho to explore technical education opportunities or focus on adult living skills and entrance into the workforce. Gemba Boise provides thinking partners for their residents to explore the vast opportunities and fine tune their goals and aspirations to match their aptitudes, interests, values and lifestyle. Gemba Boise clients volunteer in the Boise community, participate in internships, attend classes, engage in group social activities and find independence through a supportive environment and mentorship.

Creative Semester is a unique opportunity to live in a creative community led by professional artists. Based in an 18th-century chateau in Normandy, France, the program offers a blend of guided excursions, cultural experiences, artistic workshops and hands-on classes in all disciplines including Filmmaking, Writing, Studio Art, Photography, Theatre, Music and Design for Stage and Screen. The program includes a range of excursions including the D-Day Landing Sites, medieval Bayeux and Mont St Michel and a 5-Day arts focused trip to Paris. Creative Semester welcomes artists of all levels of experience and the program is taught entirely in English with optional French language learning. Connect with artists from around the world, cultivate new artistic perspectives and discover where your creativity can take you on your gap year.

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.

Aardvark combines volunteering/interning and learning while living in apartments in Israel and experiencing Israeli society from many different perspectives. Student activities include volunteering, interning, touring around Israel, deepening their connection to Israel and exploring their Jewish identity. Students have the opportunity to choose a sub-focus that might include: Marva (Army); Magen David Adom; Entrepreneurship, Sea Sports, Aardvark Extreme & Selah (Jewish learning). Participants can earn up to 30 college credits through a relationship with the American Jewish University located in Los Angeles, California. Program options are also available in European countries, as well as Ethiopia, Chin, and Nepal.

Absolute Internship is a pioneering firm working with world-class companies aiming to help students develop both their personal and professional skill sets. Since 2009, we have arranged onsite and remote internships for 6,000+ students in 30 industries. Diversity is a core value for Absolute Internship as our team speaks over 20 languages and each year we welcome students from over 63 nationalities. Students can be partnered with one of our 900+ reputable host companies based in China, Hong Kong, Japan, France, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Internships are project based and offered in English.

Founded in 1993, Dragons runs immersive & responsible travel programs in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and North America for students aged 13-22, with a vision to foster a more compassionate, just, and inclusive world. Dragons offers 2,4 & 6-week summer abroad programs and 3-month gap year semesters that give students the opportunity to travel with intention & create meaningful connections with people, places and cultures outside of their own. Dragons small group adventures are mentored by expert instructors and offer a wide variety of hands-on components such as homestay, language, and rugged travel.

Impact Gap year offers curated gap year experiences, designed to blend adventure, cultural immersion, and personal growth. Students will find safe and vetted programs abroad, where every step is guided by expert mentors and local insiders, ensuring not just a gap year, but a leap towards self-discovery and global understanding.

LEX offers a unique overseas internship program to recent high school graduates looking to explore during a gap year; folks who would like to take a semester or year off during their college career; as well as adults of all ages who would benefit from a life-changing exchange experience in another country. WIP interns spend 1-12 months volunteering with LEX in Japan, Mexico, South Korea, or the U.S. while living with a host family and absorbing the rhythms of daily life. Interns will be immersed in the language of the host country as well as in many other languages through LEX / Hippo Family Club - community-based language clubs at the heart of our programs. Key characteristics of a LEX intern are flexibility and an openness toward all languages and all people.

Tivnu Gap Year participants work to connect Jewish life and social justice through individualized internships, intentional community, experiential education, and adventure trips around the Pacific Northwest. Participants work with grassroots and advocacy organizations while living in a house together in Portland, Oregon. Focus areas for internships are based on participants' social justice and professional interests. Past focus areas have included building tiny houses for houseless Portlanders, education, refugees rights, climate change advocacy.

Andégo interns immerse in French culture and language while sharing the English language and insights into English-speaking cultures. Our gap year Language Assistants intern in one of our 45+ partner schools across France helping the language departments in class, with projects, and conversation groups with students at the elementary, middle, or high school level. Interns receive a monthly stipend and stay in a local volunteer family. Solidifying language skills, working as a team in an educational setting, gaining independence and clarity. Andégo's interns explore their world, share their perspectives, and grow into internationally-minded citizens.

API Abroad's gap year options give students the chance to earn academic credit, explore passion projects, or test out different career opportunities. Students are given virtual and abroad study and internship opportunities that allow them to discover their strengths while tackling global challenges, contributing to community organizations, and gaining new global perspectives. Students can take virtual programs or travel abroad for an in-person experience. Students also have the option to build their own gap term that works for personal academic goals and interests.

Oyster Worldwide specializes in gap year adventures and responsible travel, boasting a dedicated team with a wealth of experience since 2006. Providing personalized service and building strong connections with participants before departure are their core values. What sets Oyster apart is the diverse range of challenging yet fulfilling programs across more than 25 destinations globally. From start to finish, dedicated travel experts manage every aspect of the booking, ensuring thorough pre-departure preparation. Whether participants seek a full gap year experience, a career break, or a unique two-week holiday, Oyster offers programs ranging from 1 week to 12 months. Their expertise extends to facilitating paid work opportunities in sought-after destinations such as Canada, Australia, and Thailand. Ideal for combining holiday time, Oyster offer shorter internships and volunteering in animal welfare, childcare and conservation, as well as adventure travel and tours. Oyster offers a gratifying program tailored to meet the needs of every individual.

Trek Epic offers transformational opportunities to emerging young adults seeking to expand their understanding of their unique gifts and how they might offer them to the world. Trek Epic has designed short international walking treks and a gap year option as vehicles for guided personal reflection and small group work. Throughout their time on trek emerging adults develop a personal statement of their "core gifts" and begin exploring how they can purposefully apply these passions, interests and talents to their future. A Trek Epic participant comes out of their trek experience with specific ideas for next steps in their lives and an increased sense of confidence and purpose.

Founded in 1947, CIEE offers gap year abroad programs in more than 15 global destinations. Programs can last from a single semester to a full academic year and focus on either language learning, service, or an internship. $100,000 in scholarships are available each year.

Pathfinder Costa Rica offers young adults the opportunity to learn how to reach and maintain their own wellbeing. Our unique approach combines co-creating a dynamic schedule based on the participant’s goals - offering cultural immersion, community service, language, adventure travel, accredited college classes, and 50+ internship opportunities - while engaging in a process of group and individual coaching to rediscover the best version of themselves. With almost two decades of experience guiding youth and young adults toward thriving, our “9 Dimensions of Healthy Living” framework provides a continuous experiential learning loop to practice where to recalibrate to reach optimal functioning. Participants leave with their own Healthy Lifestyle Plan to continue thriving as they build their bright futures!

Learn to plant a garden. Test a hypothesis. Paddle a kayak. Splint a broken bone. Run a meeting. Write a poem. Catch a fish. Build a chicken coop. Create community. Each year, the Glacier Bay Year brings together a small, diverse cohort of young leaders for six months immersed in the communities and wildlands of Southeast Alaska. The program integrates place-based academic work in the liberal arts and sciences; the physical labor of an Alaskan homestead; student-led democratic self-governance; and wilderness expeditions in the pristine fjords and mountains of our region. Participants can receive up to a semester's worth of college credit, and Tidelines Institute meets 100% of demonstrated financial need!

Surfpop is passionate to grow responsible and sustainable tourism in South Africa by offering high quality surf camps that include volunteering at Surfpop. Volunteers assist our team of professionals to help build a sustainable future for children from township communities in Cape Town.