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Gap Year Association

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Gap Year Association

GYA is the only national nonprofit working to coordinate the growing gap year movement.

The Gap Year Association is a nonprofit membership community who share a vision of a future where gap year experiences are widely accessible and recognized as vital to personal, professional, and educational development. Recognized by the US Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission as the Standards Development Organization for gap year education, the Gap Year Association oversees a r

obust accreditation process for gap year providers and consultants. The Gap Year Association is the official Standards Development Organization in the US for gap year education, as recognized by the US Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission. We continue to advance the field of gap year education by collaboratively pioneering research on its benefits, as well as serving as an information and advocacy hub for university admissions personnel and educational counselors. While our main goal is to focus on accreditation such that every student signing on with a GYA Member organization will have the best and safest experience available, we will not be accrediting individuals nor individual project sites.

06/10/2026

Not sure how or what to do with your gap year? Consider volunteering as a way to spend some intentional gap time. 🌍

When volunteers show up for communities facing adversity, real change happens, resources are shared, projects move forward, and communities are supported in ways that matter to them. And through that process, volunteers naturally grow too, gaining perspective, empathy, and a greater sense of purpose along the way.

At GYA, we partner with program providers that offer ethical and sustainable volunteering, always prioritizing the needs and goals of the communities involved. One of these is Volunteering Journeys, which brings volunteers and communities together through experiential travel and sustainable development, so that the impact is real and lasting on both sides.

If you’re considering volunteering for your gap year, see this as your sign to explore some of the programs on our website, like Volunteering Journeys and many others!

For a full list of programs, check out our website (link in bio!) 🔗

06/04/2026

One common misconception about gap years is that they’ll derail students from pursuing higher education, but we see gap years as exactly the opposite: a complement to college. Today, we’re debunking that myth with real data and spotlighting one of our incredible program providers who shares our belief that gap years can genuinely prepare students for college and career success!

According to our very own Gap Year Association alumni research, the top skills gap year students develop are:

✅ Cultural awareness

✅ Communication

✅ Self-direction

✅ Problem solving

✅ Lifelong learning

These skills are exactly what colleges and employers are looking for. In fact, the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Future of Jobs Report identified resilience, adaptability, self-awareness, and curiosity as among the most in-demand skills through 2030. Gap years help build these skills!

CIEE offers incredible gap year programming that helps students develop these very skills. Whether you’re diving into a language and culture immersion, interning internationally, or exploring Europe, CIEE programs are designed to build the competencies that set students up for success in college and beyond.

If you or someone you know is gap-curious, check out our full list of program providers, like CIEE, at the link in bio! 🌍

05/29/2026

Happy Friday! What better way to kick off the weekend than by welcoming a new program provider to the Gap Year Association? We are thrilled to officially welcome to the GYA community! 🎉

Triform Camphill Community offers a meaningful gap year experience where volunteers live and learn alongside young adults with disabilities. Volunteers gain hands-on experience in therapeutic human services while immersing themselves in biodynamic farming, gardening, pottery, fiber arts, cooking, theater, painting, bell choir, and more.

Set on a beautiful 500-acre rural campus just ten minutes from downtown Hudson, volunteers build lifelong friendships and become part of a vibrant, inclusive community grounded in shared work, creativity, and a rich cultural and spiritual life.

Triform is a nonprofit organization and part of the global Camphill Movement. Learn more at www.triform.org.

Interested in becoming a member of the Gap Year Association? Click the link in our bio to learn more!

05/26/2026

One of the most popular ways to spend a gap year is by learning a new language through cultural immersion. This experience encourages gappers to step outside their comfort zone, with immersion looking different depending on where in the world you go.

For example, our program provider offers students the opportunity to immerse themselves in Spanish life through volunteering, internships, and outdoor adventures, all while mastering the language.

This process of being exposed to new cultures and ways of living helps students get comfortable with being uncomfortable. It’s an incredible way to not only acquire language skills but also to build the confidence and self-trust needed to navigate any future challenges or new environments.

If you or someone you know is looking to take a gap year and learn a new language, check out our website for unique, tailored immersion programs like those offered by and more!
Link in bio!

05/21/2026

Welcoming a new program provider to our Gap Year Association community is truly such a joy! We’re so pleased and grateful to be expanding our community. Today, we’re thrilled to welcome to the GYA!

Semester at Sea is a multi-country study-abroad program in which the ship, the MV World Odyssey, is the campus. Partnering with Colorado State University, it offers 70+ accredited courses across diverse disciplines. Students earn 12–15 credits while visiting 10+ countries, across 3-4 continents, over 100+ days, spending an average of 5 days in each port.

From studying global economics while crossing the Atlantic to trekking through the vibrant markets of Ghana, this isn’t your average semester. You won’t just learn about the world; you’ll live in it, gaining a competitive edge and a global mindset that will stay with you long after you disembark. 🎓✨

This reaffirms that gap years truly can combine adventures and academic learning. Whether you are taking time before starting university or stepping into the workforce, it’s the ideal opportunity to explore what interests you, challenge yourself, and step firmly out of your comfort zone.

For more information on Semester at Sea, head to their website: www.semesteratsea.org

Interested in becoming a member of the Gap Year Association? Click the link in our bio to learn more!

05/19/2026

Gap years are so much more than traveling to new parts of the world, outdoor adventures, or even interning or volunteering. Yes, these experiences are unique and simply very cool to have, but there are so many outcomes that participants gain apart from having a really incredible experience to share with peers and family.

For example, let’s take a look at one of the program providers in our very own association, offers a variety of gap year opportunities for students whether it is an outdoor adventure like hiking or surfing, leadership building through workshops and team challenges or refining a creative craft, all the programs that provides ultimately are all about building independence, confidence and resilience all while just having a great a time and making new connections!

These soft skills, independence, confidence and resilience, are lifelong skills that help students navigate their personal, academic and professional development. Being able to leave a gap experience having cultivated these strengths, so if you or someone you know is looking to develop these skills, consider taking a gap year and have a look at our comprehensive of program providers on our website, like Irish Gap year, that create tailored experiences to help student gain these skills all while having a great time!✨

For more information on our program providers, gap year planning resources and more, check out our website, link in bio!

05/15/2026

Happy Friday, everyone! Today, we are elated to welcome another fantastic program provider to our community. Please join us in welcoming .mentoring! 🎉

NeuroDev is a developmental gap year designed for neurodivergent young adults who need more than just time off. With campuses in Raleigh, North Carolina, and St. George, Utah, the program engages students in the real world through taking classes, exploring career paths, creating meaningful relationships, and trying new experiences. Through mentorship and structure, students develop executive functioning, confidence, and independence while building momentum toward what comes next.

For more information on NeuroDev, check out their website: neurodev.circle.so

Interested in becoming a member of the Gap Year Association? Click the link in our bio to learn more!

05/07/2026

We’re pleased to announce yet another incredible new program provider joining the Gap Year Association! Today, we’re highlighting and welcoming to our community. 🌟🎉

provides residential support to individuals with disabilities, offering gap year students the opportunity to take part in a paid experience where they contribute to support staff, residents, and the larger community. Students live, work, and contribute to a family-like culture within a home alongside house managers, staff, and individuals with disabilities.

This is a truly unique and meaningful gap experience for students looking to make an impact through relationship building, co-living, and much more! Although living where you work is non-traditional, there are many benefits to consider. In addition to regular pay, live-in staff receive free housing and meals while building lasting, purposeful connections.

Nestled in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, the farm fosters a beautiful community of shared living and lifelong relationships. 🌲

For more information on High Spirit Community Farm, check out their website:
🔗 https://www.highspirit.org/

Interested in GYA Membership? Head to our website, link in bio!

04/28/2026

We’re just days away from May 1st, National College Decision Day in the United States. For many students and families, this week brings big decisions, along with a fair amount of stress and pressure.

At GYA, we want to share a few key reminders as you finalize your plans, especially if you’re considering taking a gap year before starting college.

✨Reminder 1: Make sure you and your family or caregivers fully understand the deferral policies of any college or university you’re considering.

✨Reminder 2: If you haven’t already, take the time to write a strong, thoughtful deferral letter. Check out our previous Instagram posts and blog for tips on structure and what to include.

✨Reminder 3: Thinking about a gap year but not sure where to start? You’re not alone. GYA offers a range of accessible resources, from our Gap Year Planning Guide, designed to help you plan an intentional and meaningful gap year, to expert consultants, financial aid and scholarship opportunities, and so much more!

And finally, remember: this decision doesn’t have to be perfect. It may come with challenges, but also with unexpected moments of growth, discovery, and possibility!

04/24/2026

Happy Friday, everyone!

What better way to start the weekend than by welcoming a new program provider to the Gap Year Association! Today, we’re thrilled to have joining the GYA🎉

provides programming for students to travel on the Upper San Juan River. This unique adventure is one of the experiences that make the College Field Semester in Regenerative Design distinct.

This multi-day river journey is not only about adventure. It is designed to help students build community, deepen their understanding of the San Juan watershed, and engage the layered ecological and cultural history of the region.

As students travel the river corridor between Bluff and Mexican Hat, they encounter a landscape shaped by water, time, and human relationships, including significant Indigenous cultural sites along the river. The experience invites students to learn not only from the river itself, but also from the broader story of place, stewardship, and community that surrounds it.

In the semester, the river serves as a living classroom for watershed literacy, community, reflection, and place-informed learning.

The College Field Semester in Regenerative Design launches in Fall 2026 in Southwest Colorado. Students earn 16 college credits while engaging in sustainability, watershed stewardship, wilderness travel, intentional community living, and personal growth.

For more information, check out their website: www.westernslopeinstitute.org

Want to join the Gap Year Association? Discover membership perks, eligibility, and how to apply by clicking the link in our bio✨

Address

Missoula, MT
59807

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 4pm
Tuesday	9am - 4pm
Wednesday	9am - 4pm
Thursday	9am - 4pm
Friday	9am - 12pm

Telephone

+14062015389

Website

http://www.gapyearassociation.org/

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