The Pioneer Project

Why choose The Pioneer Project?

We are a unique Gap Year program in South Appalachia focused on personal growth through practical crafts, wilderness adventure, and living well in community. For 17-22 year-olds taking time away from formal academics to experience hands-on learning through expert facilitation; for purpose-seeking students who are ready to be active community members and empowered self-starters; for those ready to grow and transform, and by extension, contribute to a more sustainable, aware, and enthusiastic society. Take on tasks joyfully in the garden and in cooking homemade foods. Make your life: create practical items from raw materials. Challenge yourself to play hard and explore this earth, and, as a result, lead with character, clarity, and confidence. Set yourself up for success and fulfillment in college, work, and life.

Website

pioneerprojectgapyear.com

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Reviews

I completed my Pioneer Project experience in the fall of 2013. I was 18 and had just graduated High School and I was looking to fill my life with adventure and purpose. Pioneer Project helped me find out who I was meant to be and completely overfilled my needs for adventure. Over 12 weeks I developed many new skills including wilderness skills, cooking, craftsmanship, and gardening. Additional I became a better leader, planner, learned to work with a team and work with others that shared completely different view points. The staff was super supportive and I am still in contact with many of them today. I made life long friendships during my time at Pioneer, and the location was perfect. The southern Appalachian Mountains are always beautiful. I enjoyed the area so much that I spent my first two years of Undergraduate at a college 15 minutes away. As some one still benefiting from the lessons learned at Pioneer almost 7 years ago, I would recommend this program to gap year students looking to find themselves and be themselves in a supportive environment

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?

As an unhealthy teenager living on fast food and in complete avoidance of vegetable the first night I was at Pioneer we had a very strong pesto, it was the first time I had pesto, and as my taste changed I realized it was a very good pesto. I had just never had something so seasoned before. Pioneer Project started my journey on eating healthier foods for people, animals, and the environment, but I'm still fairly cautious around pesto.