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Eco-Gap

4.67 Rating
3 reviews
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Why choose 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 environmentally sustainable techniques and skills for food and farming, including healthy cooking, community development and green design and building. 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!

Website
ecovillageithaca.org
Founded
2016

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Reviews

Default avatar
Audrée
38
Canada
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Hands On Learning Eco-Gap Immersion at EcoVillage Ithaca

Great opportunity to build my passion into a future career!

Feb 12, 2019
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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!
Art exhibit at Spark Fest
The pond
Tree and Song neighborhoods
Default avatar
Anna
25
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Hands On Learning Eco-Gap Immersion at EcoVillage Ithaca

A

Dec 10, 2018

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.
An Ecovillage sunset
Default avatar
Brock
25
Female
United States
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Hands On Learning Eco-Gap Immersion at EcoVillage Ithaca

Unique and Powerful

Oct 30, 2018

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.

Programs

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Staff Interviews

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

Astrid Jirka

Program
Hands On Learning Eco-Gap Immersion at EcoVillage Ithaca
Job Title
Program Coordinator

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!

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.

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