Blog

Past student Abigail recalls her time on her Central America Gap Semester with Pacific Discovery in a three-part blog series. In part two, we head to Guatemala! Guatemala was the part of the trip that I was most excited for and most anxious for.  This was a country I'd never explored before, so I was excited to see a new place. However, I think I had a lot of preconceived notions about Guatemala -- that it was a very poor and humid country, and that our accommodations a… Read more

Past student Abigail recalls her time on her Central America Gap Semester with Pacific Discovery in a three-part blog series. In part one, we head to Mexico! It was 3 a.m. on February 1, 2021.  The COVID-19 pandemic was raging across the United States. And I was choosing to travel. This may not have seemed like the wisest decision, but I knew that the gap year organization I was traveling with, Pacific Discovery, was taking safety precautions. Masks, routine PCR tests, … Read more

New Zealand is the creme de la creme of pristine environments. It has been rated as the world’s Number 1 most scenic location by US News Today. Milky, glacial fed valleys, rolling green hills straight out of Lord of the Rings, alpine tundra with sweeping views of snow capped mountains and remnant volcanoes. The ocean views and bays with windswept pohutukawa (New Zealand's christmas tree) are unbeatable. Put simply, New Zealand is a photographer's dream. Here are our top … Read more

Thai food is famous all over the world for good reason! On your Thailand Mini Semester, make sure to push yourself out of your comfort zone and try some of the local delicacies. When we first arrive in Thailand, we will be immersed in a melting pot of smells and colors - especially in the local markets! The secret to Thai food is the balance between the sweet, sour and salty elements. We will do a cooking course on program to learn more, but every day is truly a food jo… Read more

Life on the road although incredible can be tough. Here are some tips for coping mechanisms while on your program. If you are contemplating signing up for a program or you’re getting ready to head out on a program, you might be thinking, how in the world am I going to travel FULL TIME with a group of strangers for one to three months of my life?! Further to that, I won’t have my special pillow, my lunchtime latte, or my regular football lessons and I guess my sleep-ins … Read more

What is a Gap Year? A Gap Year is a blank slate for you to create! A Gap Year is like a tasting platter of the world. It’s the time to go and see what you’re into, and what you want to prioritize moving forward. A Gap Year is time away from studies and work - and the best part is that you design your own brilliant version of what that intermission might look like!  'Gap Year’ might be a bit of a misleading term. It’s not always a year, it could be a semester or a mini … Read more

We keep on talking about this idea of experiential education like it’s a really big deal, but what is it?!  Experiential education one of our guiding philosophies - for good reason! This concept is rooted in the idea of learning by doing, followed by facilitated reflection. Experiential education is a shared methodology across many disciplines, from teaching to counseling to outdoor education.  Since 2001, we’ve been taking students on epic overland journeys across the… Read more

Our Thailand Mini-Semester is incredibly diverse; from immersing ourselves in Bangkok's bustling mega-city vibes to climbing on the limestone ocean cliff walls of Railay. The mountainous northern jungle of Thailand is populated by minority tribal groups and has stunning national parks, while tropical islands in the south have some of the world’s best beaches and snorkeling spots. From cultural immersion in the mountains to island living, the program is deliberately sta… Read more

This six week mini semester is jam-packed with multi-day adventures through a country rated one of the happiest on earth! You can come and be the judge of why the people are so happy, but this rating probably stems from the laid-back ‘Tico’ vibe, combined with a globally inspiring model of eco-stewardship.  The adventures on the Costa Rica Mini Semester program are for all skill levels and abilities, and will be led by professional guides as you hike, kayak, raft and su… Read more

On our six-week Australia Mini Semester, we road trip all the way from Sydney to Cairns in this quintessential journey Down Under. Our program instructors drive us up the east coast, taking in diverse landscapes and experiences along the way. We will go canyoning in the ancient chasms of the Blue Mountains, hold a koala on Magnetic Island, boat to the Whitsundays, snorkel on the world’s largest barrier reef, and learn to surf in pristine National Parks. Canyoning in t… Read more