The High Desert Center Gap Year

If you are looking for a Gap Year program where you expect the unexpected, this is it. Be prepared for something that will change you in ways you never anticipated. This program is an amazing combination of outdoor leadership skills, emotional growth, and community building, which makes for an amazing Gap Year that could never be repeated. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, filled with quirky, creative adventures like getting lost on purpose and finding your way back--the affordability compared to other programs was also a huge benefit. If you are considering it--DO IT!!

During this gap year I have grown into myself. I first joined the High Desert Center (HDC) feeling unsure about the future and nervous about my responsibilities in it. Throughout this year I have become grounded in my sense of self and excited to go out into the world. I attribute this to the spaciousness of the program. Its leaders are inspiring, authentic, supportive and always ready to launch into epic and meaningful experiences . This is a beautiful place, perfect to start investigating the true meaning of community and adventure.

The High Desert Center taught me so much about myself, all while pushing me in new directions and encouraging me to follow whatever path that might lead to. By the end of it, I had climbed mountains, gone backpacking through canyons, and experienced community living to a refreshing degree. This place and its people forced me to confront myself as I was, and though it was hard to contend with that, I had support from every direction. There was never a day where someone wasn't willing to take a walk. So if you are looking for an adventure, both externally and internally, then this is the place for you.

Let me tell you about the mountains that we wake up to every morning, surrounded by sun-kissed peaks that offered weeks of back country exploration. Let me tell you about the delicious smell of bacon calling me from my bed just before the breakfast bell rings, bacon from a small organic farm down the road where we visited and worked with our hands in the dirt. Let me tell you about how I learned to thrive with less, how to live simply and cheaply, and minimize my impact on this environment. Let me tell you about the triumphs and tribulations of living in close community as I learned how to communicate and navigate conflicts. Let me tell you how I became empowered to notice and shift inner patterns and habits that didn't serve me, learning tools to liberate myself from myself. Let me tell you how I was guided by staff that supported me and made space to truly hear and see me. This gap year changed my life. If it calls to you, I encourage you to take the leap.

The directors, Dev and Marian, are both incredibly intelligent, caring and skillful leaders. They created an open, safe space for individuals to create community and share their stories. The program's combination of adventure, challenge, and support made for an amazing year with strong friendships and connections between other participants and staff members alike. The group was able to bond over things like hiking in the back country or cooking food in the outdoor kitchen. I wouldn't have traded this experience for any other.

This program strengthened and developed my passions! I fell in love with dancing every day, community meals, late night conversations, sleeping under the stars, and the adrenaline rush of exploring and backpacking the gorgeous backcountry of Colorado! I would highly recommend to anyone who wants to dive deep into the next step of life in an off the beaten path kind of way. Community is a very important part of this program and you will learn not only about yourself, but also how your role and compassion plays such an important part of the group throughout the year. This program creates a family where communication, food, mud fights and adventure are the foundation for love.

Although my time at the High Desert Center (HDC) ended well over a year ago, my experiences there impact me to this day. I enjoyed growth as a writer through both expert-led workshops and opportunities to share our work in intimate groups. Perhaps even more memorably, I transformed as a person. The small, tight-knit group felt like a family, and we shared the knowledge that we were in a space safe for vulnerability — not just through our writing, but through any stories, ideas, or questions. Through this communication, participants were able to form close bonds with other participants and with staff. Two of the program staff also taught partner dance lessons, which provided engaging yet relaxing community-oriented environments where we learned and laughed.

In addition to the mental and emotional growth I experienced, I became more independent; this program was the first time that I had been away from my family and hometown for so long. Participants experienced significant freedom in our daily lives — from walking through the woods or into town, to making consequential decisions about work and food, to grabbing our sleeping bags and sleeping outside beneath the twinkling stars. We also were encouraged to develop grit and appreciation for nature through hikes, survival trips, and group activities. Because it was such a distinct and powerful experience, I don't think I will ever forget how truly at home I felt at the HDC and how meaningfully it shaped my outlook on life.

Living among a group of people for a year is an experience unmatched, and taught me so much about myself and my interactions with others. The staff encouraged me to leave my comfort zone behind and strive to find the parts of life that truly inspired me. I left with the skills and experiences necessary to be a happy, confident member of the world and for that I will always be grateful. I also learned so much about the world by traveling abroad and doing a homestay. I especially loved that we traveled by land instead of flying--that was so eye opening for me. If I ever had the chance to participate on a program like this again, or if I was asked if I would do it all again, I would say yes in a heart beat.