What are the age requirements for Hands On Learning Eco-Gap Immersion at EcoVillage Ithaca?

Hands On Learning Eco-Gap Immersion at EcoVillage Ithaca is open to participants aged 17 to 21.

Is housing provided for Hands On Learning Eco-Gap Immersion at EcoVillage Ithaca?

Yes, the program includes housing. Participants stay with a host family.

What's included in Hands On Learning Eco-Gap Immersion at EcoVillage Ithaca's fee?

The program fee includes accommodation, activities, meals, and wifi.

Gap Year

Hands On Learning Eco-Gap Immersion at EcoVillage Ithaca

Q: How long is Hands On Learning Eco-Gap Immersion at EcoVillage Ithaca?

The program runs for 1-3 months.

Hosted by

Eco-Gap

4.67 (3 reviews)

Hands On Learning Eco-Gap Immersion at EcoVillage Ithaca

Eco-Gap

4.67 · 3 reviews

Location

United States of America
- New York

Length

4 - 12 weeks

Program Tags

Health & Safety

Learn More

View Other Details

Program Details

Activities

Hiking Swimming Yoga

Timeframe

Fall

Housing

Host Family

Primary Language

English

Age Min.

Age Max

Pricing

Price Details

The Eco-Gap Immersion Option starts at $5,500 with an earlybird deadline of February 28th and some possibilities for scholarships. Thereafter, prices will increase up to $6,250 and later $6750. Price includes housing, all meals, and all programming. Not included is transportation to EcoVillage, medical insurance and personal expenses.

Scholarships (full and partial) will be available as funds permit. It is our intention that interested and qualified participants will not be turned away on the basis of financial need. Funds will be awarded based on need and availability and will be determined on an individual basis based on your application information.

What's Included

Accommodation Activities Meals Wifi

What's Not Included

Airfare Domestic Airfare Airport Transfers Transportation Travel Insurance Visa

Last Reviewed: Feb 12, 2019

Wish List

3 travelers are looking at this program

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to help you plan with confidence.

About Program

Eco-Gap Immersion give you a chance to experience life in a vibrant and cutting edge intentional community.

Through hands-on learning, discussions and field trips you will explore a variety of socially just and environmentally sustainable techniques for living lightly on the land and peacefully with others. You’ll learn practical skills for transforming yourself and the world around the topics of food and farming, green building and renewable energy production, personal wellness and community development. We offer opportunities for you to explore topics that matter to you and the world, while adding to your skills and exploring ideas of how to apply your interests and talents to your life after the program! This is an 8 week long program that takes places September - October, with up to 8 participants.

Request Info

Program Highlights

Ecovillage life.
Organic farming.
Green building, renewable energy, climate change.
Healthy cooking and personal wellness.
Social justice and cooperative decision making.

Video and Photos

View All Photos

Related Programs

Program Reviews

4.67 Rating

based on 3 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Gap Year

5 rating 66.67%
4 rating 33.33%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Housing 5
Support 4.7
Fun 4.7
Value 5
Safety 5

Showing 1 - 3 of 3 reviews

I loved everything about Ecovillage at Ithaca. I'm passionate about ecovillages, so it was amazing just to spend time and experience life in one of the biggest and most well known ecovillages in the States. I had the chance to participate fully in the community life: cooking and eating communal meals, going to their meetings, being part of their talent show! The program is well adapted to each person's preferences: the program coordinator connected me with experts in the areas I'm most interested in, which allowed me to make great contacts and continue building my passion. I was housed by a very generous lady, had my own room and was very comfortable in her beautiful solar passive house! I had a chance to spend some free time in the forest, bird watching and discovering the protected land of the community.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

I was really surprised and impressed that they have built almost the same number of houses as the original development plan... while preserving 90% of the land in forest and farms! And that their houses produce 80% less greenhouse gas emissions than the typical american house!

During my time in the Eco-Gap program, I had definite takeaways from all aspects of the program. When I first approached the possibility of taking a gap semester, I wanted to live in a place and be surrounded by people that I could collaborate, learn from and grow with. The Eco-Village community and city of Ithaca provided me with just that! HIGHLY recommend this program for all people who want to step out of the classroom and test out a new and more fulfilling learning experience. Anybody from any background and any place in life can grow from this experience.

What would you improve about this program?

With this being The EcoVillage's first gap semester program , I had already expected there to be minor hiccups along the way. But none that were too unexpected.

The Eco-Gap program was an incredibly enlightening experience, one in which much personal growth was attained. The program teaches you the many aspects of green living and organic farming as well as how to live and thrive in a community setting. Here, i found so many talented individuals who were always friendly and happy to help. The beautiful scenery and powerful history of the area only add to this delightful experience.

Community Questions

Is there an age limit for students who want to apply?

Our age range is 17-20 for our fall program. Thanks for asking.

By Astrid Jirka on August 6, 2018

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Astrid is a Sustainability Educator, Yoga Instructor, and Retreat Leader and has been active in the field of international education for many years. She's also helped countless individuals experience the world from a new perspective by organizing eco-tours, students’ trips overseas and study abroad programs. She is now happily involved in organizing gap year programs as well.

What is your favorite travel memory?

Do I have to pick just one?!

How about standing on the side of the Machu Pichu Mountain in Peru, next to the Inca ruins that are hundreds of years old, in the early morning fog, all by myself, breathing the moist air, listening to the stillness, and imagining what life must have been for the Incans so long ago.

And then I turned around and saw a rare orchid, and had to make my way down the hill to catch the train back along the river valley to the mountain town of Cusco. The whole journey was very enchanting and magical!

View Entire Interview

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Since working with Eco-Gap, I've learned a lot about EcoVillage Ithaca and how Ecovillages function in general.

It's so interesting to learn about how a group of people can come together and establish a modern community with wifi and solar panels that also enables everyone to have a say in what happens, and to live lightly on Earth.

It's really a fantastic example of how we could all be living more in tune with nature and each other and establish a world that could be more fair and peaceful!

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

Most students who visit and stay at EcoVillage Ithaca say "I want to live here some day!" That's after they've done some composting and planting trees and vegetables and eaten a meal with their host family or with the ecovillage community – likely the food they picked from the garden that day in their rubber boots.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

At the moment, we only offer one – the Eco-Gap at EcoVillage Ithaca, which is located in a beautiful rural area of upstate New York called the Finger Lakes where there are tons of lakes and gorges to hike and swim in as well as organic farms.

There are many ecovillages in the world, and it's possible that the program could expand to other countries someday – like India or Ghana or Scotland. I'd love to check out an ecovillage in Ghana!

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

Eco-Gap Ithaca is pretty unique because most of the people who are organizing it actually live in EcoVillage Ithaca. They're intimately familiar with what goes on there. They will be the most amazing teachers and guides to help others explore how we could all live in new ways that are more in harmony with nature and where everyone gets to have a say.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

For me, a successful company is one that has a mission that helps the social good in some way and in which everyone who works there is passionate about that mission.

Respect for everyone is also really important! I think it's also good to think about the needs of the local community where the company is located while keeping in mind the global context. We're now in an age where we have to think and act locally and globally.

About Eco-Gap

Eco-Gap offers Immersion and Internship programs to experience life in a vibrant and cutting edge intentional community. Participants will be welcomed into EcoVillage Ithaca, located in the scenic Finger Lakes region of New York State. Here you will explore, through hands-on learning, discussions and field trips, a variety of socially just and...

Hands On Learning Eco-Gap Immersion at EcoVillage Ithaca