Gap Year Programs

Gap year programs and opportunities exhibiting at the 2009 Gap Year Opportunities Fair in Denver on Feb. 4, 2009:

Dynamy Internship Year
Up with People
Leader's Challenge
The Center for Interim Programs
AmeriCorps NCCC
AustraLearn/Asia/Learn/EuroLearn
Bridgton Academy
Brown Ledge Gap Year

Carpe Diem
City Year
Global College - Long Island University
Meaningful Travel

LEAPNOW - Transforming Education
Planet Gap Year
Rustic Pathways
Sea|mester
Sojourns Abroad
SFYI International School
Thinking Beyond Borders
Where There Be Dragons
World Campus - Japan Program
Youth International (Experience the World)

Yes, working in Austin was rewarding… but it’s nothing compared to a week spent in Louisiana. My team, Water 5, is spending this next round working in Thibodaux, building houses with Habitat for Humanity. We live in a quaint little volunteer house – five bedrooms, two bathrooms, a refrigerator, oven, washer, dryer, and a new appreciation for one another’s personal space (or lack thereof) – that’s right on our worksite.

I began training with AmeriCorps NCCC in October and completed my first project during November and December. I’ve spent these past two weeks on a very enjoyable break from the program. I’ve seen some old friends, seen the family, revisited my high school haunts, had a general good time.

Holy cow! I can't believe I've been home in Nebraska for over a week now. It's hardly been enough time to even process the amazing experience that I had in the Philippines. We arrived in Manila after a very very long travel day out of my hometown, North Platte, Nebraska. It was really hard to leave my family again, but I knew that I was going to love Manila. Anyway, I ended up being hosted at Ateneo de Manila University… in the dorms. That was an experience! The girls whose room I shared had completely different hours than me so they were asleep when I woke up to leave and asleep when I came home after our busy days.

This video, discovered on You Tube was created by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Watch these interviews, and then imagine the difference you could make if you spent a gap year doing volunteer service right here in America!

Following is a sampling of gap year program exhibitors that were invited to Gap Year Opportunities Fairs 2008.

Gap Year Opportunities Fairs
2008
Program Profiles

Dynamy Internship Year -
Dynamy Internship Year is the oldest and only residential internship program in the country. Our mission is to offer young people, ages 17-22, a transformational gap year (or semester) opportunity. Located in Worcester, Massa¬chusetts, Dynamy Internship Year integrates full-time mentored internships in over 240 organizations with urban and backcountry leadership experiences, personal and college/career advising, city apartment living, and the com¬pany of a remarkable group of peers.

GlobalQuest -

Dynamy Internship Year in Worcester, MA is sponsoring a second year of gap year opportunities fairs around the US starting in January. Last year's fairs attracted hundreds of students and parents at several venues. In order to meet the public's growing interest in gap year options, the organizers are doubling the number of fairs for 2009! Click here to see profiles of last year's exhibitors. Entrance to the Gap Year Opportunities Fairs 2009 are free and open to the public. Exibitors can register by contacting the Fairs' sponsor, Dynamy Internship Year, Worcester, MA.

Click here to see video of students and parents being interviewed about gap year at the Denver Gap Year Fair last week.

Gap Year Fairs 2009 (updated 2.05.09) Bookmark this page, and return for updates!

Thinking Beyond Borders is a 35-week Gap Year program which takes students around the world to study the AIDS epidemic and public health in South Africa, public education in China, sustainable agriculture in India and clean water issues in Vietnam. Upon returning to the United States, students work with the United Nations, World Bank, IMF, Homeland Security, and the Grameen Foundation.

The following video was taken at the Pacific Northwest College Fair in Bothel, Washington in October. Increasingly, college fair organizers are inviting education experts like Ethan Knight, executive director of Carpe Diem International education, to speak to students and parents about the benefits of a gap year before college.

You can also view Mr. Knights power point presentation by visiting our You Tube channel at http://www.youtube.com/planetgapyear

I'm currently sitting in LAX airport in Los Angeles with a 12-hour layover waiting for my flight to Manila, Philippines.  Our American tour ended last night leaving three of our cast members behind as they move on to other adventures…and leaving many of the remaining in tears.  It was a very emotional few days as the American tour came to a close.  We all have grown so close to each other that it's hard to think there is only one month left.  So, I left off in Colorado Springs.  After the Springs we headed to Salt Lake City, Utah.  I spent the week living with Daniella from Mexico with a totally amazing Mormon family.  We toured the Temple Square and I was overloaded with so much information about the Mormon religion that I couldn't wait to have discussions with fellow castmates.  It's ama