LEAPYEAR Latin America - The Most Unique Year of College on the Planet
Location
Argentina: Buenos Aires, Rural Areas, Zapala
Peru: Arequipa, Cusco, Incan Ruins and 5 other cities
Description
LEAPYEAR is an amazing blend of 3 months of guided group travel to Central and South America, 3 months of individual internship anywhere in the world, interspersed with two months of inner exploration and transformation in the U.S.
The fall semester is spent traveling with a guided group of up to 10 other LEAPYEAR students to Nicaragua and Peru. During the fall semester participants engage in intensive language training, cultural immersion, community service, environmental work, and adventure trekking.
The winter break consists of 6-7 weeks of "home time." Usually home time is spent decompressing from the intensity of the fall semester's travels.
The spring semester consists of a three-month solo internship in one of 126 countries or the U.S. The internship is chosen by the student to explore and interest or region, try on a career or learn a specific skill or language. The students select from LEAPNOW's database which offers thousands of options. Students are counseled throughout the decision process to ensure a good placement.
Each semester is bracketed by two retreats at our California campus. These weeks are dedicated to self-exploration, life path visioning, deepening of emotional literacy, formal rites of passage and generally examining one's life before getting the rest of your education. Retreat weeks form the backbone of the program.
Highlights
Students are enrolled as full-time B.A. Humanities students. They earn a full year (36 quarter credits) of lower-division college credit. The program is fully accredited, and Federal Financial Aid is available.
During the second semester students have worked with baboons or cheetahs in South Africa, learned drumming in Ghana, studied yoga or Thangka painting in India, led treks and worked with street children in Guatemala, studied kung fu and Chinese in China, worked at schools and orphanages throughout the world, made jewelry in Mexico, worked with autistic children in Vietnam, and much, much more. Past students have also used the program to complete high school.