Gap Year Association

We’ve reached our goal! 🎉

What a great way to wrap up the week! We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve hit our goal of $10,000, which will go directly toward gap year scholarships and outreach.

Thank you to our Board Members, who committed their summers to intentional personal growth while helping amplify GYA’s fundraising efforts. It’s been amazing to see their collective dedication to personal challenges, many of which mirrored the very skills and challenges students experience during their own gap years. Great work, board members!

And thank you to everyone who donated and supported our board members’ personal challenges, and who contributed to GYA’s scholarship and outreach funds. Your generosity means so much to all of us here at the Gap Year Association and those

Here’s to gap year education, stepping outside our comfort zones, and intentional personal growth. Happy Friday, and have a great weekend!

We’re excited to welcome another great program provider to the Gap Year Association (GYA) family! 🎉

Please join us in welcoming Common Earth! Common Earth offers fully virtual, cohort-based programming that welcomes participants from over 57 countries and all walks of life. Each session is interactive, fostering a strong sense of community among participants.

Their courses center on climate change agency and advocacy, zooming in on the systems driving the climate crisis, including the intersections between climate, economics, politics, psychology, culture, and more. Best of all, CommonEarth’s programming is fully accessible: every course is free and fully sponsored.

If you or someone you know is passionate about understanding the climate crisis during their gap time, and the agency we all have to advocate for change, check out Common Earth!

🌍 CommonEarth: www.commonearth.com

Do you offer gap year programming? Interested in becoming a GYA member? Head to our website to learn more, link in bio!

We’re so excited to announce that we’ve reached 90% of our fundraising goal, and there’s still time to donate! 🎉

Here’s a little recap: the Gap Year Association, along with our incredible Board Members, has been dedicating time to intentional personal growth, something that naturally happens on gap years for students! At GYA, our staff, members, and board members don’t just work in gap year education, we practice what we preach, in our work and in our daily lives. Today we’re spotlighting our last three board members, who’ve committed their time to personal growth while helping raise money for gap year scholarships and outreach!

🎨Alia Pialtos is drawing on her own 2024 gap year experience exploring Portugal and Italy, where she even took up watercoloring as a new hobby. Alia’s challenge is all about sharing and reflecting on her gap experience with everyone who donates and supports the fundraiser. Swipe to see a sneak peek of her incredible work!

🎹Kate Warren is stepping out of her comfort zone by combining her piano talent with her fear of performing, putting on piano recitals to share her love of piano with family and friends! Kate, thank you for the inspiration to pair stepping outside your comfort zone with something you love.

💚Dave Dennis is dedicating his personal growth to giving back to his local community, all while embodying some of the most powerful lessons of gap year education: humility, reflection, courage, resilience, and meaningful engagement with the world around us. Dave is choosing three organizations focused on an area he’d like to learn more about and give back to. Great work, Dave!

Want to support a challenge? 💫Find the link to donate in our bio!

GYA’s Experiential Challenge is still going strong! 🌱 Our incredible board members have each committed to a personal challenge in support of student-centered outreach and scholarships for gap year education.
We’re thrilled to share that we’ve reached 95 supporters and 78% of our fundraising goal. Thank you to our board members for their commitment, and to everyone who has donated to support gap years!

Today, we’re highlighting two new board members and their challenges:

Danny Horowitz has committed his summer to staying active outdoors 🏞️, whether that’s hitting a trail, exploring a new state park, or finding another unexpected way to move and explore. Danny knows firsthand how busy life can get, but he also knows the importance of stepping into nature to reconnect with himself. That intentional time to pause and be present is a powerful way to grow, much like the growth so many gap year students experience during their own time away.

Suzanne Rosk is taking on a challenge to have 30 intentional conversations with 30 strangers, people from backgrounds, beliefs, and life experiences far outside her own. Through this challenge, Suzanne is leaning into genuine curiosity, aiming to challenge her assumptions, build new relationships, and deeply listen in order to form real connections.

Want to support a challenge? 💚 Find the link to donate in our bio!

We have two more incredible board members to spotlight this summer! 🌟 Both are committing to a season of intentional personal growth and challenge, all while supporting scholarships and student-centered outreach for gap year students.

Erica Vaughn is practicing what she preaches to her students! Through giving back to local communities, Erica is committed to a summer of volunteering, she even found time at the ASCA conference, while representing GYA, to volunteer. Way to go, Erica, we love to see it! 👏

Sophia Weeks is making personal growth a family affair, instilling kindness as a skill in her two children. Together, she and her family will carry out daily acts of kindness, and reflect on their impact along the way. Thank you for reminding us that kindness is a skill everyone can practice, every day, with intention! 💛

Erica and Sophia are proof that growth and giving back go hand in hand, we can’t wait to see what the rest of the summer holds for them!

Interested in learning more about GYA’s Experiential Challenge and donating? Check out the link in our bio!

🎉 A huge congratulations to Where There Be Dragons on successfully completing re-accreditation with GYA!

For 30 years, Where There Be Dragons has delivered intentional, immersive experiences around the world. From Bhutan to Senegal, Spain to China (and many places in between), their programming gives gappers hands-on experiences in culture, arts, language immersion, community engagement, conservation, trekking and more. Their thoughtfully curated programs are guided by expert instructors and give back to local communities to build lasting relationships. A gappers time with Where There Be Dragon gives them the opportunity to to find their place in the world, time to be present in their experiences and curiosity to continue into their next journey.

As the official Standards Development Organization for gap year education, GYA maintains a rigorous accreditation process to ensure programs meet the highest standards in ethics, risk management, experiential learning, student outcomes, and more. Re-accreditation reflects an ongoing commitment to quality, growth, and integrity.

We’re proud to continue recognizing Where There Be Dragons as a GYA Accredited Program Provider!

Learn more at wheretherebedragons.com, and about GYA accreditation at the link in our bio.

This morning, we’re spotlighting two incredible GYA Board Members who have joined GYA’s Experiential Challenge, pursuing personal growth while helping raise funds for student-centered outreach and scholarships in gap year education.

Today, we’re sharing the intentional challenges of Chris Barlow and Austin Rogers!

Chris Barlow is combining his devotion to adventure stewardship with quality family time, documenting one adventure-stewardship activity with one or both of his kids each week. 🏞️

Austin Rogers has dedicated her summer to a full month living in rural Argentina, immersing herself in the local culture and language. 🇦🇷

Both challenges reflect not only a personal commitment to growth, but a willingness to step outside their comfort zones, something gappers do every day during their gap time!

Interested in learning more about GYA’s Experiential Challenge and donating? Check out the link in our bio! ✨

We’re not saying goodbye to summer just yet! But as we head into August, those fall gap year start dates are creeping closer. If you or someone you know is planning to take a gap year this fall, here are a few things to consider:
If you’ve already planned a gap year starting fall 2026, make sure you:

✅Have a clear understanding of start dates, requirements, and any other program specifics
✅Confirm your travel details, flights, accommodation, and travel documents, are all organized if you intend to travel
✅Take care of any medical needs, whether that’s prescriptions, appointments, or check-ups
✅Set a budget and understand the finances you’re working with
✅Revisit your goals for the gap year to make sure they still align with what you need

Looking for extra support? GYA’s got you covered, check out all of our incredible resources including a Gap Year Planning Guide, Scholarships & Financial Aid, Programs, Gap Year Consultants, and more on our website! Link in bio💫

This summer, the fabulous GYA Board of Directors has committed to looking inward in the spirit of gap year education and lifelong learning: each board member has identified an intentional challenge that will push them out of their comfort zone in pursuit of personal growth for the next month. We’re so proud to be steered by a group of people willing to walk the walk: challenge looks different for everyone, and we believe that intentional challenge, and the personal development that results, is a key component of meaningful gap year experiences and a dynamic, purposeful life.

Take a look at some of our board member highlights over the next month and follow their progress as their challenges unfold! Today, we’re featuring our GYA Board President, Ryan Allen of Irish Gap Year, who is well outside of his comfort zone this summer by undertaking a 48-hour silent retreat in the remote wilds of West Donegal. Ryan’s hope is to use this challenge to gain clarity and perspective that can be hard to find in the rush of our daily routines.

Stay tuned for more board member highlights throughout the month! 💫

Want to support Ryan or one of our other incredible board members? Link in bio!

Program Member Highlight: Welcome Scotia Personnel! 🎉

We’re thrilled to welcome one of GYA’s newest members to our community, Scotia Personnel!

Scotia Personnel is a Canadian-based company that has offered incredible programming around the world for over 30 years. From work placements and travel programs to au pairing, teaching English, and international employment in hospitality, there’s something for everyone. With options available both domestically and internationally, their programming spans a huge range of interests and goals.

If you or someone you know is considering a gap year but isn’t sure where to start, Scotia Personnel is a fantastic place to begin exploring your options!

For more on their programming and gap year opportunities, check out their website: www.scotia-personnel-ltd.com

Interested in becoming a GYA member? Check the link in our bio!