My child experienced explosive growth over the 12 weeks of this program, had loads of fun, deepened her appreciation for other cultures, and strengthened her connection to her own. Life-changing is the best description of the experience, and I don't use that phrase lightly. If your goal for a gap year is to have fun, learn, build resilience, self-reliance, broaden your world and challenge yourself, this is a great program. I think the fees for this program were the best money I've ever spent on my kid.
The trip leaders were experienced, well-trained, compassionate, set excellent examples, and kept control of the group (no small feat with 18-22yos). The kids sing their praises long after the trip is over. They are able to help the kids integrate their experiences and navigate their worries and challenges (both mental and physical) along the way.
PD offers an appropriate level of structure, and keeps the kids very, very busy with hikes, activities, cultural events and group-directed side trips. There are optional add-on experiences available in Hawaii and NZ, including night dives with manta rays, sky diving, and bungee jumping. My kid did all of them.
Lodging was a mix of camping, home stays, shared homes, small resorts, and hostels. I know the kids carp about some of the places they stay, particularly in Fiji, but if you've ever been a backpack traveler, you'll be familiar with what they are encountering, and none of it is dangerous or filthy. It's the tropics, after all. There are bugs. If your kid hasn't stayed in a tent, that will be a new experience.
There was a wide variety of kids on the trip, a mix of US and Europeans, some taking a pre-college gap year, some taking a semester off. The group seemed to get along well, and the leaders were on top of the social dynamics in a very helpful way.
There is a good mix of Type 1 and Type 2 fun. Type 2 are experiences that are outside of your comfort zone, but help you grow into a better person. Type 2 fun produces much better stories, the kind that you'll think back to as you navigate the twists and turns of life. Long, challenging hikes that you didn't think you could do, (or didn't think you'd enjoy as much as you did), river rafting over a 7 meter waterfall, getting caught an unexpected rainstorm, are all examples of Type 2 fun, and all real experiences on this trip. Balance that with Type 1 classics like surfing, snorkeling, shopping in Auckland, and exploring Waikiki and you have a truly great adventure.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this trip, and Pacific Discovery, to anyone looking for a life-changing adventure.
Response from Pacific Discovery
Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your experience. It is important to us that all of our students have a positive experience on our programs and so we welcome your feedback. If you feel there are specific details we could add to our pre-departure checklists, we would love to chat with you so we may improve for future programs. Please email us at info@pacificdiscovery.org.