Warriors Academy Gap Year Program in South Africa

This is not a time to say "no comment"! Our son, whom finished school in 2020, joined the Warriors for the first time during the Autumn quest. Where can one begin to try and encapsulate what this program means for its participants? For us as parents it was a difficult decision to make, not being the predictable route we took with our other children and also bearing in mind that our son was not the outdoorsy, adventurous type who liked to be out of his comfort zone (take note: at the time!). We now believe that if all young people could have the privilege to partake in such a program, the world would be an infinitely better place! In the short time he has been there, he has had a bucket load of bucket list experiences which are combined with life skill sessions of note. We are astounded at the personal growth he has experienced! He has learnt to embrace the joy of being alive and is more confident in his abilities to go beyond what seems to be the impossible, whilst at the same time learning to take responsibility for his own wellbeing and functioning as part of a diverse group. If you want to provide your child with an experience of a life time whilst simultaneously investing in his or her future - send them to Warriors! We cannot recommend this program enough. It is worth every penny and more.

My daughter has grown mentally and physically. She is much more self assured and has developed an appreciation for nature. She has met people from different cultures which broadened her perspective in life. I will defenately reccomend this adventure for post school graduates who are unsure of what they want to do with their future and who need to grow in themselves and to get "fit" for life. Warriors is a place where you can find and express yourself. This all is done in spectacular surroundings of Magoebaskloof.

My son matured, gained enormous confidence and made life long friends on the Summer Quest. He became fitter, healthier and generally more aware of the world and its inhabitants. He learned the critical importance of teamwork in almost every undertaking. He also found the quest great fun and extremely helpful in his determination of future academic and career paths.

This was a most valuable and focused character building experience and I cannot think of and young man I know who would not benefit from it.

He looks forward to the next episode.

The friends I made during the quests are friends I will have for the rest of my life, and the experiences were fantastic but what made them fantastic were the people I could share this experience with. How each and every one of them played a role in my growth and making me a better person as a whole. I have enjoyed every experience beyond belief and 100% would do it again and recommend it to anyone out there who is looking for a sense of direction and finding themselves, through adventure, challenges and lots and lots of fun

I am a parent and my son is busy with his 3rd Quest In 2021.
The growth and development that we have seen in our son has been beyond remarkable. We notice it , every time we speak to him. He is having the time of his life in a secure, remarkable environment. He is in awe of the beauty he has experienced in the hikes and the trips he has done . He has seen parts of South Africa that he would never get to see with us. He has really just excelled. This experience especially, that we have been hit by the Covid pandemic has been everything we could have dreamed a gap year would be be for him. The pandemic has not held them back. He has made great friends and just started really living. I am so glad that he got to experience , what he has , in this fabulous very supportive group of people he sees as family.This is truly an adventure for all who want to feel Alive and thrive in the beauty of South Africa. For our son this will be with him forever, and we feel blessed that he could experience it .

From the outdoor activities to the personal growth workshops the whole experience was amazing. This program helped me to grow immensely as a person and I will always remember it as one of the best experiences of my life. The councillors, as such, were very supportive and would console me while still pushing me to carry on with a little tough love here and there. I’ve also come out of the summer quest with level 1 first aid and a vast knowledge of hiking, biking and even cooking. The best part of this trip is the lifelong friends you make along the way. P.S. You have to try the bar one cake haha!

My son was already in SA when he called me saying that he did not want to go to this Quest. It was going to be boring, he did not need the self reflection, it was not his choice and much more. However 4 days into the Quest and we talked to a different person. He loved it and he loved it all. The personal challenge, the endurance, the variation of the program, the other kids in the group, the staff and their amazing support, the different tests he could do but most of all he experienced a different world. Warriors has the capability of creating a 'new world'. A world where our son realized that he is in charge of his own life, that he has a choice, always. This involves his pyhsical capabilities, but also mentally. It focusses on who he is as a person, how he wants to interact with others, how he positions himself towards others and how to you overcome your own barriers.
This all happened as part of a very diversified, busy, challenging and fun program. It is not just biking, or hiking, but there was a 2 days dance class as well, cooking, wellness and much more. Limited free time and very limited social media time. But that was no issue.
I think the biggest compliment for Warriors is that he regrets that he is not able to do another Quest. But fortunately his sibblings will go in the years to come.
We defenitely see the changes looking at him. Ofcourse some of the intentions will fade away when time pass by, however listening to him when he shares his experiences with friends and family back home, I am 100% convinced that it has made a profound impact and he will take these experiences with him, wherever he will go.

Our son, Joshua, attended the Summer and Autumn Warrior Quests - it was the best decision we have ever made for him! Though a sociable chap, he lacked focus and direction for the future, and suffered with very low confidence. The 2 programs he attended helped him to manage the confidence issues and to realise that he is capable of many things!
I honestly wish that Warriors Gap Year program was part of the school curriculum, purely for the practical skills the kids learn and the emotional readiness for life that the program teaches them.