Program Reviews

This trip was great! Jess and Eli were awesome. I’m not sure what to write for 400 more characters. It was a really cool trip. All the activities were a good blend of fun and educational. I never had any complaints about the housing, food, or anything of that nature. One of my favorite parts of the trip was receiving my SCUBA certification on a private island in Belize. It really cannot be beat. Panama and Costa Rica were also really cool. We spent some time living in the jungle, which was sweet.

I definitely recommend this trip!! I learned how to scuba dive, I got better at snorkeling, we explored so much, I learned about so many different communities, and all around had a lovely time. Eli and Jess (the instructors) were like siblings and mentors and friends and I’m so glad we had them on the trip. :-) I really enjoyed our slower moments throughout the trips— ones I spent meditating, stargazing with the group, watching the sunrise, or journaling. It was a fast paced program, so it was really nice to slow down.

My spring semester exploring the American southwest was one I will never forget. From surfing the California coast, to climbing rock faces in Arizona, to exploring the Grand Canyon, to rafting on the beautiful Colorado river, each day was a new adventure full of learning that came while immersed in the environments we were talking about. The stories I heard, the people I met, the projects I helped with, and the lessons I learned were all unique and taught me so much about both myself and the American southwest. Each new experience brought new stories, laughs, and moments I’ll remember forever.

I think it was really good for me and I think the experience was valuable for me. I have very little I would change about it. South America has a lot to offer. I would do again if I could. Even though some things don't go according to plan it still feels like in the end the trip worked out. I enjoyed the different places we went to. Also it was nice getting to know the group and sharing memories and laughs. It made me certain on what I wanted to do after the program and continue my education in college.

I believe this program contains a diverse curriculum that will appeal to everyone no matter your background coming into this program or level of experience. The staff do an exemplary job helping you learn about yourself on the trip and grow as a student, friend, and leader. I learned so much about the vibrant and rich culture in Hawai‘i along with some common phrases and words related to the work we were doing. I believe at time I felt there was too much free time or sometimes not enough, but I believe that as we neared the end of the program we really fleshed out a good schedule that worked for everyone and became a very cohesive group.

I had such a good semester in South America. I experienced many new things including white water rafting, A homestay, weaving classes, language classes, and a group backpacking trip. I made many good friends. I tried new food and experienced many lenses of culture. My favorite activity was the student planned module where we were able to choose what we did throughout the week and where we stayed. The best part was a Via Ferrata day where we climbed up the side of the mountain and repelled down. The instructors were supportive and insured we had fun at every stop. Overall I recommend the South America semester. I believe it to be the most adventurous ARCC semester you could do.

ARCC gap programs was a great program that offers both international and domestic trips for students on a gap year. I went to Chile and Peru and had an awesome time. It was a 10 week program that first went to Patagonia in Chile and then to the Sacred Valley in Peru. It was a good introduction to outside living and activities while not being too intensive. It was incredible being able to visit places like Torres Del Paine national park and Machu Picchu. Overall I had a great time and would recommended this program to students looking to take a gap year.

It was a great trip overall had so much fun and met the coolest people. The experience was the best one I’ve ever had. The rules were kind of annoying but I understand why they are rules. I recommend this trip to any student that wants a fresh start and a new prospective like I did. I see myself and others in a totally different way than I did before and met really interesting people along the way. I also loved the structure of the program and the challenges that pushed me out of my comfort zone. At times, I did get a little bored and annoyed how structured it was but overall it was good

Overall this was a very memorable and impactful experience that I’ll forever cherish. I was able to meet so many amazing people and learn so many things about Hawaii that I would never have been able to any other way. I think this is a great way to travel because I was able to have very unique experiences and make so many different connections that gave me a new perspective on my life. I think it would be better for future participants if they knew exactly what this trip entails because it was not what i expected. I thought we would be camping most of the time/ backpacking to campsites but instead we were staying in cabins most of the time and we didn’t go on very many hikes. I think the packing list could also be less strict because I ended up not using many of the things I packed and I had to buy a lot of things here.

I had an amazing time on this program! Traveling around the different islands of Hawaii for two months is something I would most likely struggle to accomplish on my own or with a couple friends, making this a perfect program for anyone trying to learn how to travel with a group and on a budget. I got to essentially live with 12 other amazing students while experiencing the culture and fun activities Hawaii has to offer!! This will definitely be a trip that’ll stick with me for the rest of my days.