Gap Year Experiential Learning Programs

This Gap year helped me realize what I wanted to pursue in my future. Anika and Roger were amazing and great help. The area was nice, my home stay was very nice loved my host family. I enjoyed this trip very much.

I highly recommend this agency to anyone looking for a safe and inspiring au pair experience. They have proven to be extremely reliable, and the staff is always available to help with any questions or concerns, providing constant support that truly makes a difference. Living here is an incredible opportunity: it’s not just about work, but a deep dive into a new culture, fascinating traditions, and daily life—perfect for improving the language naturally. A professional, caring, and exceptionally well-organized agency!

This past quest has been two of the most significant months of my life. Because of Warriors, I have learned to be grateful for every little thing I have in life, and understand how everything has shaped me as a person. I feel so alive and so present. As someone who struggles with mental health, coming to Warriors was an experience that both changed and saved my life. The people are absolutely incredible and will love you to bits. The memories you make and the lessons you learn will stay with you forever. The program, on a surface level, might just look like a ton of cool, extreme activities to invigorate and inspire you, but it's so much more than that. It teaches you to live life to the fullest and builds your confidence in a way you have never seen before. I unlocked my potential this quest, and I hope to see a lot more from myself. I owe so much to this program, and I'd honestly recommend it to anyone. You are so much stronger than you think.

We did plenty of things like scuba diving skydiving cycling and a whole lot more. Warriors has alot to offer and it is once in a lifetime activities and the important point of warriors is to get uncomfortable intentionally

You are doing the most insane and unbelievable adventures with a group of amazing people from your age. You do a lot of activities in a short period of time what makes it so much fun. Beside the adventures you also get lessons, like having a better mindset, that wil help you in the future.

Warriors Academy was an absolutely incredible experience! The staff are amazing, the activities are exciting, and the whole experience pushes you out of your comfort zone while helping you build confidence, teamwork, and new skills. The atmosphere is fantastic, and you leave with unforgettable memories, great experiences, and friendships that last. I would highly recommend Warriors Academy to anyone looking for adventure, personal growth, and an experience they’ll never forget!

For anyone unsure of a gap year, warriors is the place to be. I met the best people and had the greatest seven weeks of my life and did things I never thought I would be able too. It was truly an extraordinary experience and there is nothing like it.

Everything from the experiences we were doing to the vibes that the MAIs and facilitators gave was incredible, everyone who had already done this before made u feel instantly more relaxed, comfortable and made sure you knew you were in a safe and friendly space. It was an exhilarating experience overall.

My experience at Warriors Academy Limpopo was absolutely incredible, and I can honestly say I had the time of my life! It was an unforgettable adventure filled with amazing experiences, challenges, laughter, and memories that I will cherish forever. From the moment I started, every day brought something new and exciting. I loved every second of the journey, from the adventures and activities to the incredible people I met along the way. Warriors Academy gave me the opportunity to step outside my comfort zone, challenge myself, and experience things I never thought I would. Every moment was an opportunity to learn, grow, and make memories that will stay with me forever. What made the experience so special was the atmosphere, the people, and the incredible adventures we shared. It is so much more than just an adventure programme; it is an experience that leaves you with a full heart, unforgettable memories, and a whole new appreciation for life. I am incredibly grateful for every moment I got to spend there. Warriors Academy Limpopo is truly something special, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for an unforgettable adventure. I loved every minute of it, and if I could do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat!

To my warriors family This quest pushed me further than I ever thought possible and showed me that I am capable of facing my greatest fears. What once intimated me became something I was most passionate about. And I loved every moment of it. Whenever I fell, there were always hands reaching out to lift me up! Through every challenge, success and laugh, strangers became family. Saying goodbye is bittersweet, but the strength, support and love we shared will stay with me forever. Thank you for being part of this incredible journey!

Spanish classes were good I’m definitely improving which is spectacular. The volunteering was really cool for turtle conservation - not much sleep but a whole lot of turtles. Haven’t finished program but am looking forward to Manuel Antonio.

Spent a month volunteering with the turtles in ostional. Such an incredible experience to see the arribada and all of the turtles in the night. Beach and sunsets were so beautiful and I met so many amazing cool people!

Looking ahead to my first year out of high school, I knew I wasn’t quite ready to head straight to college, but I was nervous about choosing a path that looked different from everyone else’s. Finding CIEE gave me so much comfort and excitement for what was ahead. From the moment I signed up, they made the process of moving abroad feel organized, welcoming, and safe. Living in Seville gave me the opportunity to truly immerse myself in the Spanish language and culture in a way I never could have from home. Between living with a host family, improving my Spanish, exploring a new city, and meeting some of my closest friends, I gained so much more from the experience than I ever expected. My time in Seville gave me a new sense of independence and confidence, along with friendships and memories I will cherish forever. I couldn’t be happier that I chose CIEE for my gap year!

Would absolutely recommend this program to anybody looking to experience Chinese culture! You’ve got to be able to roll with the punches, and learn to manage your time well, but the rewards are so worth it. Being an au pair is incredible for learning Chinese, as you get to learn as you teach. The friendship I made with my kiddo was the highlight of the whole experience!!! LoPair is amazing at finding great host families, on top of creating a great support system during your stay.

It has been an incredible experience. I was able to fulfill my dream of studying Chinese and getting to know this beautiful country. Also, meeting my "little friend," being able to teach her English and share time with her, has made me very happy. Being part of a Chinese family has been a challenge because of cultural differences, but it has been a beautiful experience.

I was in Quepos for 6 weeks did Spanish classes, surf classes and two volunteer projects (working with kids and teaching english). I made a lot of new friends, got more independent and experienced an amazing country like a local.

My experience in Guangzhou was amazing thanks to my host family, surely not thanks to the agency, especially after getting to China, the agent following me was not interested in me and disrespectful. I was forced to anticipate my flight two days before my expected departure, not even a little bit of empathy or understanding, she was just forcing me to make a decision quickly, furthermore on the day of my departure and the following days, no one asked me about how the flight was, if I was home safe, she just texted me on the morning of the flight, no good morning or greetings, just telling me “don’t miss the flight”. Quite disappointing approach.

I strongly recommend LoPair for an experience as an au pair in China! The staff has always been helpful whenever i had questions, and they were extremely supportive throughout my experience. Not only is this an amazing opportunity to learn more about the culture, history and traditions of the country, but it’s also an excellent way to learn Chinese and make new friends. Every month the staff will also plan a cultural activity for all au pairs, giving us the chance to try different crafts and meet up together.

One thing I appreciate about this program is that you are able to focus on just living. Before taking the leap, I constantly made decisions around bills and working. For the time I have been here, I have met amazing people that have changed the course of my life and learned from teachers who taught me lessons beyond just Chinese. I am not saying that your experience will always be easy, but the plot is well worth it.

I went into Seamester feeling excited, nervous and worried that my expectations were unrealistically high! I can not stress enough that I was so wrong, Seamester blew my mind, it was more incredible than I could ever have began to imagine. I can not recommend this program enough, you will experience once in a lifetime things and see incredible places. More than that you will learn, learn about the world the ocean and most importantly yourself. You will be challenged in the best way possible and truthfully flourish. I owe this program so much and would do it again in a heartbeat. Go in with a smile and an open mind and it will not disappoint.