Program Reviews

The program was amazing!! If you love the outdoors and going on adventures this program is for you. We did everything from surfing to rock climbing and hiking! Everyday was something different and each week brought different activities. You get to work with lots of different people living in Ireland for these activities. The leaders are great and very supportive, planning out the weeks and driving people to locations. The housing is nice and they do a great job with paring roommates. Overall an amazing experience!

The adventure and leadership was such an amazing opportunity I will forever be grateful for. The best 2.5 months of my life. Ireland is so beautiful and the people here are so friendly. Every week was packed with activities, things I never would’ve done back home: rock climbing, surfing, hiking mountains. The group got so close so fast, we all had so much fun. I am so glad I was able to do this before college. It’s brought me out of my shell and I will be talking about this for as long as I live.

At first, I was nervous about coming to Ireland. I was nervous about meeting everyone and settling in. But in the first day or so after we arrived, everyone started to bond and feel comfortable in their new home. Living together really brings people together quickly, and it did for everyone in our house. The adventure aspect was incredible, hiking some of the most beautiful mountains in the world, visiting small towns and major cities, and doing things we would never do in the states. So glad I did this. I’m pretty disappointed to leave everyone, but we all have contacts for eachother, and have promised to mostly keep in touch. If you want to really explore a country like Ireland in depth, this is the program to do so. After living here for three months, it really does become your home.

Choosing to take Irish Gap Year might be the best decision I will ever make in my life, This program improved me as a person, physically and mentally, And helped me with independent skills. I don't know how well or poorly I would be doing in college if I didn't choose to take this program. If you are second-guessing your choice about going straight to college. Take this program, It helped me wonder,s and will do the same with you. you will make lasting friendships and have memories that will last a lifetime.

I was terrified to leave home and do this program. As soon as I got here all of my anxieties were relieved. We have done so many unimaginable things. We've seen so much beauty. The staff is warm and cool and helpful. It's going to be very hard to leave here. I've grown so much as a person, and it's awesome to see that as well in my peers here. I am so lucky to have found this program, I have gotten EVERYTHING out of it. Some highlights were the all the incredible trips around Ireland, the hikes, the friendships, and the Irish people. 100% recommend.

This program has been very eye-opening towards a new perspective that I have trust and a lot of other struggles that I don’t really talk about but it is nice to know that there’s other people out there who wanna take stuff off like me and also see the world for a different set of backgrounds and that we can all connect on a certain level to trust each other enough to live with each other for three months and have some amazing memories leaders I really don’t see any other leaders that I can imagine being this good. They were the perfect fit a missing piece to the puzzle and made sure that I was always happy and well even though there were some low points. I really don’t see why the idea of a gap here is not approved by a lot because, in my time in Europe with this group, I’ve both felt grown with maturity and like being able to notice changes in mood and make sure I can avoid that next time I can manage myself a lot better and I feel like I’m a lot happier coming out of this than I was going into it. I was nervous and scared, and now I’m sad that we’re leaving, but I’m also happy that it happened.

This program is really good for people wanting to gain independence and unique life experiences before going to college. It’s a great option for young people who want to travel but don’t have experience planning a trip on their own. My favorite part was definitely the social aspect, getting to know everyone in the group and experiencing everything together. Some of my highlights from the trip were Berlin, rock climbing in Innsbruck, the fall weather in Ljubljana, and the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam.

I had the most incredible experience with the European expedition. From the very first day, it was clear that this program was designed to provide a truly immersive and transformative experience. The itinerary covered a rich variety of countries, from vibrant cities like Prague and berlin to the charming, lesser-known villages tucked away in the countryside. The program balanced cultural exploration with personal development perfectly. I had the opportunity to learn about local histories, and try new activities. Each destination offered something unique, and the structured group activities helped me connect with fellow participants from all over the world, creating lifelong friendships.

This trip was 100% worth it. I knew I wanted to travel lots of various countries throughout Europe but also with it being my first time traveling without my parents I knew I needed some support with that. I was able to learn so much and have lots of unique experiences I wouldn’t ever thought I would have. I loved the sailing adventure around Dalmatian islands aswell as Zell Am See Austria and Kayaking in Norway. I got to experience some of the most beautiful places which is another reason why I wanted to go on this adventure. When we are in the cities taking public transportation was a must. I found learning how to navigate throughout the cities and between countries is another super valuable skill I learned while on this adventure

I really enjoyed my time with Irish gap year on their European expedition program. There was such a large array of different places to see and foods to eat. Each day is structured to get you up and going in the morning so that you can experience everything that your surrounding area has to offer. There is also a good deal of free time, and space for taking a break from the fast paced life of this program. It is also very helpful that any time you need to step back from the group and take a mental health day for any reason, you are able to do so with no questions asked.