Gap Year Programs in the United States

Experience New York City, the world’s financial and business capital, with a career-boosting international internship. NYC provides unparalleled opportunities to gain professional skills, global connections, and real-world experience across finance, business, marketing, PR, tech, NGOs, and more. Ou

GoEco is one of the world’s top volunteer organizations, with award-winning and ethical programs selected by sustainable travel experts. Since 2006, tens of thousands of volunteers have taken part in projects and internships worldwide, focusing on wildlife and marine conservation, education, and med

Journey through Hawaii, Fiji, and New Zealand on a 10-week adventure that blends exploration, cultural immersion, and personal growth. Surf volcanic coastlines, hike through lush rainforests, and volunteer on conservation projects that protect Polynesian ecosystems and honor Indigenous traditions.

Love travel and adventure? This is your game-changer. Embark on a life-changing adventure and take your skiing to the next level. Meet like-minded individuals while exploring some of the biggest and best mountain resorts across Canada, Switzerland, New Zealand, Japan, and the United States. Join

The Glacier Bay Semester offers an unparalleled opportunity for young people aged 18-24 to develop as leaders, community members, and global citizens. Based at our twin campuses, students will explore a mossy old-growth forest, paddle through icy fjords, and climb the rugged alpine summits of Glacie

Traveling through Patagonia, Colorado, and Utah, you'll develop your backpacking or rock climbing skills, leadership style, and personal environmental ethic. You'll investigate critical local issues and volunteer as an environmental steward. Living with a small group of peers and instructors, you'll

Looking to apply your talent and expertise to a good cause? Find a program that matches your interests and skills through Volunteer World! We are the largest volunteer abroad comparison platform around the globe, enabling you to seek and compare offers from major travel agencies as well as smaller g

Spend Your Summer in the USA as a Camp Counselor! Looking for a meaningful way to travel, gain experience, and make lifelong memories? InterExchange Camp USA lets you live and work at a traditional American summer camp for up to four months on a J-1 visa. As a counselor, you'll join a close-knit c

It’s weird being a young adult in these times! With countless voices telling us who to be as the world around us burns with crisis after crisis, finding an authentic, hopeful, and life-giving way forward can feel out of reach. The Contemplative Semester offers a chance to slow down, take a break fro

Are you a student or young professional looking to enhance your career prospects through international work experience and hands-on learning? At Intern Abroad HQ, we help students and young professionals turn career aspirations into reality. We organize affordable internships in 20 destinations ac

IGS has placed students in some of the world’s most exciting museums. Our internship placements typically fall into two categories: working on the floor or conducting research and marketing behind the scenes. Floor work includes assisting the docent in the setup and interpretation of current exh

Live like a local whilst getting paid on a Working Holiday in the USA. What better way to spend your university break with the opportunity to travel to The Land of Opportunity! Head over for up to 4 months with an amazing job lined up from a range of fun host companies, from hospitality to hotels an

ARCC’s Western U.S. Gap Semester provides access to some of America’s most beautiful and remote landscapes ranging from the jagged peaks of the Grand Tetons to the depths of Utah’s most spectacular canyons to the expansive deserts of Arizona and the dazzling turquoise waters of Hawaii. Explore some

Gap at Glen Brook is a place-based semester program for 18-21 year-olds, nestled on a working farm in rural New England. Our eleven weeks of outdoor, experiential learning focus on developing practical skills to create sustainable lives and communities. Live with a close-knit cohort of peers, work o

Not sure the traditional 4-year college path is right for you? Maybe you’re unsure what to study, craving real-world experience, or wanting a year that actually means something. If that sounds like you, Touch the World’s MissionYear offers a purposeful, meaningful way forward. MissionYear is a disc

Spend a year living as part of an American family while gaining meaningful childcare experience and true cultural immersion. As an au pair in the United States, you’ll provide up to 45 hours of childcare per week, receive a weekly stipend, and improve your English through daily life and required col

🌍 Work, Live & Play at Camp Augusta – A Workaway Adventure! Camp Augusta isn’t just a job – it’s a journey. Live in community, play the wildest games you’ve ever imagined, and grow through training in child development, leadership, and unique activities like high ropes, horseback riding, blacksmit

Unlock the Future of AI this Summer at Johns Hopkins This July at Johns Hopkins is a great time to explore the world of AI and let your curiosity take flight. Join us for the Engineering Summer Institute: AI—a two-week immersive program designed to build your knowledge of artificial intelligence, pr

The Camp Counselor Program enables post-secondary students, youth workers, teachers, and applicants with specialized skills to share their culture and ideas with the people of the United States in camp settings throughout the country. Participants in the program receive pay and benefits, such as mea