Gap Year ideas

[Aslockton]

Is anyone's DC taking a Gap Year this year or planning one next year? What are their plans? Is travel possible or just work?

Before Covid, what were so good things that young people did? What was not worthwhile?

Mine travelled to Canada alone at just 19 to work in a ski resort. Cost plenty of money to get there but so worth it. He's never looked back since confidence wise. Plenty of life skills learnt.

DD worked, volunteered and travelled.

2 DC:

Pre Covid: 'Workaway' in Germany (4 months) then 'ICS' in Nepal (3 months). Whole gap year cost around 1k.

Covid: Work only.

Clinical trials unit.. excellent way of meeting people and earning money?

DS took a gap year working in a high school as a Maths & Science support tutor - organised via college and a firm who specialise in this.

Mine is currently on a gap year taking projects with European Solidarity Corp . Currently in Italy, about to go to Croatia & Slovenia & loving it. Lots of projects have funding to cover travel, accommodation & food.

Luckily he has dual citizenship so can take part.

I work in a Prep school and we employ gap students to help out. Lots of private schools do it. We call them Gappers. They help with sports, little ones to read, help in the science department, office duties, help on trips, ASC etc.

@Longdistance how many 'Gappers' didn't go to private School themselves out of interest? General ball park %

Some residential special needs schools also take gap year students to help out. Great for young people who want to go into health care/ social work/ teaching/ medicine

A few of dd1’s friends are taking a gap year at the moment. Most are carrying on with their summer jobs in retail, coffee shops, leisure assistant/lifeguard etc, taking driving lessons, doing some volunteering, trying to get a week or two unpaid work experience in their chosen fields and hoping to travel a bit in the Spring.

Have a look at Workaseason.

"For our Chef positions we are able to accept UK passport applications."

Chef positions seem to include chalet hosts

www.workaseason.com/work-for-us/winter-jobs/catering/

Lapland

"For our Santa's Lapland program, UK & EU passport holders are eligible to apply but must have a UK National Insurance number, UK address and Bank Account."

www.workaseason.com/work-for-us/winter-jobs/santas-lapland/

Other cheaper ski companies, like Crystal may be similar. The upmarket ones, however, seem to want 21 year olds with driving licenses, and the ability to cook more than the standard weekly menu.

Also think about Camp America

www.campamerica.co.uk/?gclid=CjwKCAjwwsmLBhACEiwANq-tXD5yT2o3S8oOXqrNnDl5nnC3-SST-YTdM3qajnTdnAYxpxlx-Iw4KxoC0z0QAvD_BwE

or alternatives. Camp workers go in on, from memory, J1 visas, the same as students so should be alright, even if tourist visas are stopped.

DD did both pre Covid and had a great time. Pay was not great but it was probably cost neutral, plus she got to travel round the US after the summer camp.

I also suggest considering things he is interested in either as a hobby or a potential career. There is a real labour shortage at the moment and he might find that all sorts of employers will leap to offer something if approached. DD interned with a cookery school, essentially as a kitchen porter, so though not paid, got several months of cookery lessons: everything from vegan, through sushi to dinner party. It means that she is a confident cook and has saved a lot of money by being able to whip up something tasty from whatever she has to hand. She also gained a lot by seeing how hard people running their own business have to work. And had a great time.

He could try theatres, clubs, all sorts of things.

My DS managed to do a gap year during Jan to June of this year by starting off here before travelling Central America:

dreamseacostarica.com/volunteer/

Friends of DC taking a gap year this year are mostly working at the moment and planning to travel from Easter of next year when they hopefully will know where they're going to uni (several reapplying) and can enjoy a few months off. Jobs they are doing at the moment - working in schools, restaurants, care homes. Most of them are planning to travel across South / East Asia next year.