The High Desert Center Gap Year

If someone had told me on that first day the sense of achievement I would gain from summiting the peaks towering off in the distance, or the warm fuzzy feeling I would get every time I saw my community all together whether for a meeting or a meal, or how I would look back on who I was then and not feel embarrassed but rather proud of how hard I worked to be who I am now, I would have said “No, that’s impossible.”

With the rock-solid support of the incredible staff, and the love and lessons I received from my peers, I was able to grow into the empowered, inspired, and capable person I am now. The community we built was what made my Gap Year experience what it was—challenging, fulfilling, joyful, and real.

I recommend this Gap Year to any young person with the desire to build strong relationships, grow as a person, and be themselves.

I look forward to the day I have acquired a preference for rocking chairs. I picture myself sitting back and letting memories of my year at HDC persuade a smile onto my face. I’ll think about making mud soup with sticks and a view, the countless shooting stars and sleeping beneath them, dancing without realizing it but not stopping once I did, and everyone I shared all of this with. HDC offered me a chance to gain a better understanding of myself and the world around me as well as the chance to let myself be seen and understood by those around me. If my authenticity was a person HDC was the hand that reached out and asked it to play. I found myself in a space with just the right ratio of challenge and support to help me foster confidence in myself and a feeling of competence. Before HDC I felt a little like rain with nowhere to land but slowly throughout my year there I felt myself slowly contributing to something bigger than just myself, a small but wonderful community where love thrives, obviously so, yet subtly all at once. Due to HDC’s adventurous and spontaneous spirit I will die having accidentally seen more than 100 wagons. I will laugh at that in a rocking chair someday. I feel lucky to have made memories I look forward to remembering.

The best way to describe my time at the High Desert Center would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I thought I liked the outdoors before coming here, but the opportunities and Adventures provided here has made me realize I would like to pursue a full-time job in the outdoors. We hiked to the bottom of canyons we summited multiple Peaks. This experience has made me crave the outdoors. I've grown so much as a person, through the workshops and endless support of the staff members. The people in the connections you will make here are ones that will last a lifetime. If you're looking for skills that you can apply to the real world this program is definitely for you.

This is an experience of a lifetime, I’ve grown so much as a person because of this program. I came to HDC with no backpacking experience not even sure if I would enjoy backpacking. All of the backpacking trips are gorgeous and an amazing bonding experiences. Now I have a life long skill that I can bring to my family and friends. This program helped me discover the beauty of life and how meaningful connections can be. Be prepared for an exhilarating challenge and to make life long friends. My favorite part about this program is the community. Everyone is so supportive and loving. There is so many opportunities to grow and experience life to its fullest. I highly recommend this program if you crave adventure!

My gap year with the High Desert Center was a truly mystical experience that always left me thinking, “how is my life this wonderful?” Through doing fanatical outdoor adventures, making lifelong connections, and having the ability to learn about what makes me most passionate, I found myself growing and changing into a person I can admire. I have gained confidence in myself, and my ability to enter into the world as a more developed and passionate person. I would recommend this program to anyone and everyone looking for an amazing adventure and the chance to meet and connect with truly wonderful people.

I don't think that any review can adequately show how much HDC means to me. This gap year has changed my life in so many ways. From giving me a love of nature and backpacking to teaching me how to effectively communicate in my relationships and how to form deep connections to introducing me to self-expression through dance, HDC has done so much for me. Though the best part is the community - HDC has given me the most supportive community I could ask for, and that is what I am most grateful for. The support and love I feel from this community is unmatched, and I know that I will feel it for a long time.

At The High Desert Center I became part of a tight knit community with people from all walks of life. We lived, learned and adventured together during two extremely unique semesters. During our fall semester we focused on developing our community on our campus in Western Colorado. The staff offered us a variety of different learning experiences that ranged from farm to table cooking to pottery to rappelling. In the spring we hit the road and traveled through the Southwest and Mexico for an epic adventure that was truly one of a kind.

I loved my time at HDC! I never thought I would learn so many practical skills and feel confident hiking through canyons, doing carpentry, and having direct conversations with friends. It was thanks to the supportive staff that helped me push my comfort zone and see what I am capable of. This program has opened my eyes to how many ways there are to exist in the world and I feel even more ready to find my own path. I have deep bonds with the land and community here and I know I will return to this new home.