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Affordable Community Adventure Gap Year with High Desert Center

The High Desert Center--one year of adventure and growth at an unparalleled rate.
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The High Desert Center
9.8 Rating
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Video and Photos

Aspens turning
two girls in a greenhouse
group under natural building
Group meeting outside on grass
man with backpack exploring canyons
woman in cultural outfit
girl cooking in house
Dehydrating apples with our solar dehydrator

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About Program

For the adventurous soul, who's craving something out of the box, who wants to climb mountains or try dumpster diving with a group of fun loving friends. We offer the chance to be seen and accepted for who you already are and the chance to see the world for what it is and what it could be. We inspire rather than coerce. We dumpster dive, skinny dip and challenge you to be real. We get dirty & think big.

We work on organic farms, build using sustainable materials, make our own bread and hike our brains out. In the process you learn the skills of self-sufficiency, community and quality living. We also travel around the South West and Mexico to immerse ourselves in border issues, & see first hand how we are connected to the people of Sonora not only by a river and water issues but also by trade, food, migratory fish and birds, politics and the human experience. By the end, you will be a new person, with new options for living the good life & experiencing the richness of the world.

Program Highlights
  • Live the good life while climbing mountains and hiking canyons, baking your own bread, learning community living skills, and exploring sustainable living.
  • Experience small town, off the beaten path Mexican & Guatemalan culture and learn about pressing border and environmental issues.
  • Be part of a homespun family that challenges you to deeply understand and experience your inner self, your world, and your options.
  • Between semesters, travel with friends from the program to Spain, Australia, Thailand, or one of our satellite locations
  • Adventure with fellow participants who are creative innovators, young people in charge of their own education already making things happen in the world.

Apply Now for 2021-2022 Gap Year

Applications are coming in for our upcoming Gap Year. If you resonate with our homespun, wild approach and want to join us in a year of adventure, community living, and personal growth at a relatively affordable rate, apply today. Explore the world with opportunities to travel to Spain, Australia, Thailand, Guatemala and more.
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Program Reviews

9.8 Rating
based on 5 reviews
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  • Housing 9.2
  • Support 10
  • Fun 9.8
  • Value 9.8
  • Safety 9.4
Good for Building your resume, Students, Adventure travelers
Showing 1 - 5 of 5
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Jesse
26
United States
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Life-Changing Program

May 4, 2020

Being a part of the High Desert Center was one of the best experiences of my life. Dev and Marian are amazing and I got to meet the most wonderful people that I hope to know for a long time.
I got to try a bunch of new things I never would have been able to without this program, with some awesome people along the way, from backpacking in Colorado, mountain climbing, driving to mexico and staying in rural homestays, as well as learning what it's like to live in a community, I would absolutely do this program again.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Be open and don't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and try new things.
4 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Default avatar
Milla
23
United States
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

A life changing experience!

Jul 7, 2019

My time with the High Desert Center was truly one of the best experiences of my life. The chance to go explore the world with a supportive community was so valuable and staff guidance throughout the whole program added an important sense of security to our often crazy adventures. The opportunity to learn skills like group cooking, farming, building, and butchering animals in the first semester was a definite highlight for me. Whether you join one of the shorter programs or for a whole year, anyone who feels attracted to what this company offers will gain something valuable from participating in such a cool space. I highly recommend this program for any young people seeking to grow their sense of self and figure out their place in the world!

4 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Group photo at the El Elegante Crater in Mexico.
Hiking in Dominguez Canyon, Colorado.
Group photo on the deck we built during the spring semester.
Default avatar
Otto
19
9/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Eye opening program

May 16, 2019

I had an amazing experience doing this program! I loved being able to sleep under the stars with some awesome people and being able to hike all day and see the land. It truly opened my eyes to so many more life options. it also made me appreciate how little personal items I need to have. after this program all I have been thinking about is what my next adventure is going to be. My goal was to walk all 800 miles, sadly I did not exactly that. it was kinda ironic trying to take a day in the van was more challenging for me that actually hiking, but I was glad that I ended up taking that break. this program is always gonna be one of those things that I think about before going to bed. one thing that was really nice during the program, I only would focus on the present not the stressful future . I reccommend doing any programs with the HDC.

4 people found this review helpful.
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Default avatar
Nic
19
United States
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

So awesome, would highly recommend.

May 16, 2019

My time staying at the high desert center was truly fantastic, I loved the people the place and all that went with. I wasn’t the best writer on the trip, but I had so many great people to talk to and learn from, which I think improved my writing greatly. We were given awesome sources to talk to from all around Colorado. I got to meet established authors, Learn dance from one of the staff, do impressions, have barefoot nighthikes and explore a truly wonderful area. After spending 5 weeks at HDC I was living life and felt more open to people. After I returned home I signed up for another trip they were hosting and went on an 800 mile thru hike! I enjoyed it immensely and would highly recommend to any and all who like off the grid living, meeting crazy cool people and learning the importance of healthy group living to check out the programs.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Do everything always, say yes to fun. You might be scared in the moment but it’s worth it. Have fun!
5 people found this review helpful.
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Default avatar
Noah
22
United States
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Definitely worth checking out!

May 16, 2019

Ive done both the 2018 Gap Year Program, and the Arizona Trail trip with the HDC and both have been amazing and life enriching experiences. In fact, I love it so much that I keep coming back for more! The town, Paonia is such an interesting and beautiful place. Make sure to take a dip in the River! Ive made so many exciting memories here and made some friends that I will have for the rest of my life. The programs challenge you in every way, and the staff are extremely supportive of you and anything you want to do. The town is full of people that have an insane variety of interests, and there is no doubt that there is somebody who can nurture yours! There is no shortage of adventures and plenty of personal growth, Highly recommend to anyone and everyone!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
If I had the chance to have a do-over, Id definitely do my best to push myself to do the things I want to do. You have the ability to go for anything that piques your interest here and I wish I had taken advantage of that.
3 people found this review helpful.
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A view of Roosevelt Lake during the Arizona Trail trip.

Questions & Answers

Staff Interviews

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

Marian Pierce

Program
Affordable Community Adventure Gap Year with High Desert Center
Job Title
Assistant Director
Marian brings a deep love for the natural world, community living, and old fashion fun to her work with the HDC. She’s continually amazed that her work-life feels so meaningful, full of adventure/travel, and results in so many deep and lasting relationships.
Marian Pierce

What is your favorite travel memory?

During our first semester, participants design and execute self-designed challenges in small groups. One group chose to do an all-womens' writing retreat in nature using a series of prompts called The Heroine’s Journey.

The snow came early to Colorado that fall right as we headed off for this adventure.

The off-grid cabin where we stayed was only accessible by foot. We climbed a mountain with heavy packs through the snow to get there, and for the next week, we were both writers and homesteaders. We chopped wood, melted snow for water, cleaned the snow off the solar panels and took turns building fires.

During the day, we wrote and shared our stories which resulted in a lot of laughter and some tender tears. We went for walks through the deep snow. The experience slowed us down; connected us with our bodies, our stories, and the landscape; and brought us closer together in this intimate, nourishing way.

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

At the High Desert Center, we live what we teach. I am constantly asking myself,

Am I feeling inspired by my life?

Do others thrive in my presence?

Are my actions in line with my values, creating a world I want to be part of?

I haven’t always liked my answers.

As leaders, our job is to model the compassion, perseverance, and patience it takes to grow. I’ve practiced doing this for myself a lot over the last eight years. I am happier as a result. My relationships are deeper. I laugh more often. I’m not afraid to put in the work when someone shows me a blindspot, which used to be scary and send me into a pit of despair. I feel more confident and powerful in my life.

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

One student traveled around SE Asia during his independent study part of our program (Winternship). For six years prior, he wanted to travel overseas but didn’t believe in his ability to do so. He was especially worried about finances and his safety. With coaching and support, he took the plunge.

When we talked on the phone while he was abroad, his voice was alive with the excitement of going after a long term dream. He tried scuba diving and in the process discovered some ways to cope with his anxiety. He felt empowered and full of possibility afterward.

I love that he went after the life he dreamed for himself, and in the process came up against things he might have previously shied away from. With the momentum and confidence he built on our program, he overcame challenges. Participants and staff supported him to keep going when he experienced doubt and cheered him on when he had success. I love getting to witness people step into their lives with more strength and power than they previously knew they had.

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

I love our Gap Year Programs. We are in the community for NINE months. We become a family. We share our highest highs and lowest lows with one another. That creates a bond that transcends our individual preferences and allows us to experience how interconnected we are.

It also pushes us to be real with one another. Eventually, you can’t push through discomfort by politely ignoring or avoiding things. That’s so boring. An uncomfortable conversation can be just as scary and rewarding as climbing a steep, unstable mountainside. On the other side of that conversation, it can feel like suddenly there is so much more possibility. You might know yourself or the other person better, and that can feel like you’re on top of the world.

We also have FUN. I love spending time climbing mountains with groups, traveling in Latin America learning Spanish and the effects of American foreign policy, cooking in the kitchen, meeting new and inspiring people, learning the names of plants and birds, and having all-night conversations around the campfire. We laugh a lot together. We hug. It feels so good and exciting.

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

I’m usually proud of our team on a regular basis. We are family--we laugh together and we grow together by rising up to meet all the challenges that inevitably arise. We are deeply involved in one another’s lives and care about each other’s well being.

I am especially proud of our team when we get in there and listen to a participant to the point where they feel seen, understood and accepted in a way that perhaps they’ve never experienced before. That’s when big shifts start happening. It’s exciting for all of us to watch our participants step up and take responsibility for their lives, their community, and contribute to the well-being of the world.

I think if you are looking for a program where you have the opportunity to experience profound personal growth, then that’s us. We’re also open to having crazy adventures that come out of conversations with participants so that there’s a sense of co-creating the program.

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

We are committed to creating a world that is cooperative, sustainable, and fun--every day, whether we’re getting participants purposely lost so they can master orienteering skills, harvesting produce for our evening meal, speaking with people who live on the US/Mexican border to learn about American water policy, or working on our communication skills, we believe that it’s possible to do meaningful work and learn in a way that’s exciting and inspiring. Running programs in this way means that we work together, staff and participants, to carry this vision forward as a team.

About The High Desert Center

The current High Desert Center Gap Year Programs represent our best efforts to take the most successful strategies and components and link them together into the kind of long programs that support participants in discovering who they are and what they want and then learning the skills to start living it. Our campus has gotten closer to home to the...
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