The Gap at Sawmill Meadow

The Gap at Sawmill Meadow

Location
  • United States of America
Length
26 - 52 weeks

Program Details

Activities
Backpacking Fishing Hiking
Timeframe
Fall Summer Winter
Housing
Host Family
Age Min.
18
Age Max
23

Pricing

Starting Price
2500
Price Details
Accepted applicants are required to pay a first month room and board ($1100) and a $5000 deposit. $2500 of that deposit is refundable after completion of all aspects of the program. Remaining cost is covered through monthly fees paid by attendees with money earned from local employers.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Some Meals
What's Included (Extra)

All monthly utilities, internet, guest experts, group outings, 4 dinners per week

Nov 17, 2025
Jan 13, 2026
0 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

We are a 9 month immersive experience in South Fork, CO designed to allow time and space for new adults to pursue Jesus and practice life skills with designed guardrails in the form of caring mentors. The program is a rigorous exploration of personal identity in Christ and life purpose together in a group setting and with individual assignments while learning to balance “typical”adulting demands like maintaining employment and serving the local community.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Access millions of acres of national forest in free time.
  • Learn how to follow Jesus while living in the world.
  • Affordable program through our unique employment requirement that offsets cost.
  • Embrace wisdom through strong mentors.
  • Learn valuable life skills through PRACTICE, not just information.

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Program Reviews

4.50 Rating
based on 2 reviews
  • 5 rating 50%
  • 4 rating 50%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Housing 5
  • Support 4.5
  • Fun 4
  • Value 5
  • Safety 5
Showing 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Nancy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Excellent choice

The Gap at Sawmill Meadow was, without a doubt, the best gap year experience for our daughter. In addition to all the fun adventures they experienced, they also learned about life and most importantly, the Lord.

Our daughter entered the gap as an insecure “new adult” unsure of her future, and emerged as a confident, self assured young woman with a deep, solid faith. During her time at The Gap, our daughter was surrounded by loving, positive role models who helped her navigate some very difficult life experiences. While in Colorado she learned valuable life skills such as living in community, embracing difficult conversations, meal planning, cooking, money management and even how to repair a window. The host couple, Rob and Terri, were great examples of living an authentic Christian life. They were supportive and kind and they have an uncanny ability to connect with young adults. They provided sound guidance, encouraged her faith walk and listened without judgment.

The speakers that Tammy and Matt brought to The Gap were amazing and relevant. The curriculum taught the kids to be intentional with every aspect of their lives. I highly recommend The Gap at Sawmill Meadow for the positive, life changing impact it had on the trajectory of our daughter’s life. I am forever grateful to all of the individuals who so selflessly gave of their time and their resources and poured into our daughter. Thank you just isn’t adequate. Send your kids here. You won’t regret it.

What would you improve about this program?
As a parent, I would like to extend it by a month. It was such a great experience. The participants had fun adventures and learned how to survive in the outdoors, something that my “city kid” didn’t have experience with before The Gap.
Pros
  • Deeply faith focused
  • Life skills taught
  • Intentional living
Cons
  • Very small town
  • May have to work at multiple jobs
  • Need a car
34 people found this review helpful.
TJ
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Growth in the Wilderness

The year I spent at the Gap at Sawmill Meadows was a huge time of growth for me. I felt that while I was there I had the space to work on and develop important skills that I previously felt I didn’t have time for or didn’t know where to start. Historically I’ve felt that I’ve struggled with knowing what I want and being confident in that, and I feel that the Gap allowed me to have space to explore that. I got to grow in my decisiveness when cooking or initiating a time to do an activity with others, I also had the space to talk things through when something from our regular group meetings really impacted me. I would say that the fact we are so connected with nature there in Colorado was very rejuvenating for me, and they had this awesome career discovery section that blew me away.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
We went on this incredible backpacking trip in the mountains and, when we were summiting, there was this amazing moment where you could see the sunrise and the colors where both on this sea of clouds below us and on these wispy clouds above us.
Pros
  • Space to decipher want you want
  • Learn and develop life skills the school doesn’t teach
  • Be able to be immersed in nature
Cons
  • Not a lot of young people in town
  • Sometimes we had too much information at once
  • There are major slow seasons for work in the fall and spring
45 people found this review helpful.

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