Gap Year Planning Workshops

March – May 2015

What is a Gap Year?

A Gap Year is a structured period of personal growth that can include

activities such as volunteering, interning, language study, outdoor adventure, travel and enrichment

programs.

A gap year is typically taken between high school graduation

and higher education.

Why Now?Critical Traits for Today’s Youth:

• Ability to work collaboratively• Effective communicators (oral and

written)• Problem solvers and change

makers• Fluency in global issues• Critical thinkers• Ability to follow-through on goals• Adaptability• Initiative and entrepreneurialism• Accessing and analyzing

information• Curiosity and imagination

Types of Gap Year Opportunities

• Volunteering

• Internships

• Working

• Courses

• Experiential Education

• Study Abroad

• Work Exchange

• Exploring/Traveling

Experiential Education

• Traveling in a group (5-20 students)• Exploring a region of the world• Engaging in short term service

projects• Language study• Reflective & Mentored• Skills building

Core Elements

• NOLS or Outward Bound• Carpe Diem• Youth International• Pacific Discovery• Thinking Beyond Borders• Where There Be Dragons

Program Examples Cost:$7,000-$18,000 per 12 weeks

Scholarships available

Interning/Apprenticeship

• Career-related experience• Domestic or International • Live in apartments or homestay• Not as group oriented – more

independent • Skills building

Core Elements

• Connect 123• Adelante Abroad (Spanish)• World Endeavors• The Intern Group• Dynamy (Boston)• The Apprenticeshop (boat building)

Program Examples Cost:$0-domestic

$1,500-$3,000 plus living expenses international

Apprenticeships vary

Working

• Make money to offset other parts of your gap year

• Exploring a region of the world• Skills building • Can take place in summer or during

gap year• Doesn’t have to be at home!

Core Elements

• BUNAC (work abroad)• National Parks Service• Summer Camps• Dude Ranches• Raft Guiding

Program Examples Cost:Visas/housing

Otherwise it’s a + income!

Volunteering

• Giving back to a community• Can be individual or with a group • Domestic or International • Language study (if desired)• Skills building • Popular types: Teaching, Conservation,

Animals, Community Development • Not usually free (and that’s ok)

Core Elements

• GVI• Omprakash• Africa/Asia Venture• City Year & Americorps• Volunteers for Peace• CIME Costa Rica

Program Examples Cost:$500-$5,000per 12 weeks

Scholarships sometimes available

Ethical VolunteeringOnline Resources:• Ethicalvolunteering.org

• Comhlamh.org

• USAGYF article: Ethical Gap Year Programs

Things to Think About:• Vulnerable children

• Where the money goes

• Local support

• Why they need volunteers

• Who is running the project?

• Beware of large companies running many programs

• Respect for locals

• Keeping expectations realistic

Courses

• Learn a skill that you’ve been wanting to develop

• Usually short term (couple weeks- a month)• Language study (if desired)• Skills building • Examples: Arts (painting/ceramics),

Photography, Film, Surfing, Outdoors Skills, Foreign Language

Core Elements

• Yestermorrow School• SACI Florence• Yanapuma Language School

(Ecuador)• Ticket to Ride (surfing)• Adventure Ireland (surfing and life

guarding)

Program ExamplesCost:$1,000-$3000 per month

Work Exchange

• Working in exchange for room/board• Exploring a region of the world• Engaging in short term projects• Language study (If desired)• Domestic or Abroad• Skills building • Popular activities: Farming, babysitting, working

at a B&B

Core Elements

• WWOOF• Help Exchange• Workaway

Website Examples

Cost:Free or nominal cost

Scholarships available

Study Abroad

• Gaining credits for classroom study• Learning in a group • Exploring a region of the world• Language study• Popular in Europe, South Africa and

South America• Credits transfer can be tricky

Core Elements

• Aspire by API• CIEE• SOL Education Abroad• Performing Arts Abroad• SEAmester

Program Examples Cost:$10,000-$25,000per 12 weeks

Scholarships available

Exploring/Traveling

Making It a Reality

College/Post Gap• Defer admission to your top choice

school• Financial Aid – check the next year’s

packages• If you haven’t applied, factor that into

your plans

Itinerary• Research is key• How many programs/opportunities?• When will you do what• Deadlines

Budget • Domestic vs. International• How much can be contributed?• Fundraising/working• Financial Aid• All the costs: airfare, program fees,

insurance, gear, meals etc

YOUR Gap Year!Questions to Ask Yourself

• What are your gap year goals?

• Have you had any travel, volunteer or study experiences? What places did you love?

• Do you know a foreign language? Is there a language you’ve always wanted to learn?

• What are your hobbies?

• What are your strengths? What do you have to give?

• If you could affect change for once issue of concern in the world, what would it be?

• If you could travel anywhere or do anything, what would you do?

Questions adapted from “The Complete Guide to the Gap Year” by Kristin White

Notes:

Resources

Websites • Americangap.org

• USAgapyearfairs.org

• Gooverseas.com

• TransitionsAbroad.com

Books• The Compete Guide to the Gap Year by Kristin White

• Lonely Planet’s Gap Year Book

• The World Awaits by Paul Otteson

Volunteering & Travel Websites• GVIusa.com• Omprakash.org• Aventure.co.uk• CityYear.org• Volunteers for Peace - vfp.org• CIME cimecr.org• Yanapumaspanish.org• HelpX.net• CarpeDiemEducation.org• PacificDiscovery.com• OysterWorldwide.com• SafePassage.org • BlueVentures.org• HaciendaTranquila.com • Americorps (google)

Questions & Answers

EnRoute Consulting, 2015, enroutegapyear.com