Summer Gap Year Programs

Summer gap year programs give you the chance to learn new skills or refresh old ones, take time out to discover new places, or even gain some valuable working-world experience. Whether it's taking a domestic gap year backpacking through state parks or leaving your comfort zone to volunteer in Thailand, there are plenty of adventures out there if you decide to take a gap year this summer!

Summer gap year programs do require some advanced planning -- after all, this is the high season for a lot of the most popular places in the world! Narrow down your program search by figuring out how you want to spend your gap year! To help you get started, here are a few popular ways to spend your gap year:

• Volunteer: From doing a conservation project in Peru to empowering communities in Cambodia, there are plenty of impactful projects and organizations around the world looking for international volunteers!
• Adventure travel: From surfing to snowboarding to scuba diving, there are adventure travel programs spanning the globe that will provide you with a thrilling summer you will never forget.
• Work exchange: Gain international work experience and transferrable skills to add to your resume.
• Teach English or work at a camp: Whether you're teaching English as a second language or at a camp as a counselor, spending a summer giving back through educating others is a wonderful opportunity to find fulfillment.
• Learn a new language: Get real-life practice that goes far beyond the classroom by learning a new language in another country! Take a course, make new friends, and learn to speak and interact with the locals.

There are hundreds of possible destinations for a gap year program in the summer. Most of Europe and the rest of the northern hemisphere experiences their peak weather during the months of June to September, so it's certainly an appealing time to go. Here are some options you may want to think about.

France

La Belle France is at its absolute peak in the summertime when holidaymakers flock to bask along its coasts and sample the fruits of its wineries. France is an excellent location for a summer program, whether you're learning the language or delving into art and history.

There's also a diverse range of scenery, from pristine Alpine peaks perfect for hiking, to the beaches of the coastal region, or the lush valleys of Provence. Then again, you might just find yourself relentlessly drawn back to the shaded boulevards of the City of Love: Paris.

Spain

Tapas, siestas, and sangria: that's the essence of a summer in Spain. There could hardly be anything more luxurious than immersing yourself in the laid-back Spanish lifestyle. Lengthy meal times, late dinners, and even later nights out define Spanish culture, and you could be absorbing all of this while still learning one of the most widely spoken languages in the world or gaining real-world experience through an internship.

UK

Summer is certainly the best time of year to visit the UK -- as summertime is when you stand the best chance of not being rained on. Picnics in the park and pints in pub beer gardens characterize a quintessentially British summer, and it's just as lovely as it sounds.

The options here are broad-ranging: you might spend time developing your acting skills in Shakespeare's own country, or perhaps build your CV through one of many innovative internships on offer. And there's more to the UK than just London -- there's the liberal charm of Brighton and the historic atmosphere of Edinburgh to think about, among many others.

USA

For those not native to the US, the land of the free holds a global appeal whether to study in one of its quintessential university towns or to experience big city life in a large metropolitan hub -- or even to explore its vast expanses of spectacular scenery on a cross-country road trip.

Summer is a great time to discover America at its peak, and the best thing is the sheer range of different options available, like coding, engineering, business, or fashion.

Perhaps it doesn't need to be said, but not all countries experience their peak season in the 'summer' months of July, August, and September. For a lot of places, this might be monsoon season, and some countries in the southern hemisphere have their seasons in reverse -- meaning frosty fingers and woolly hats in August when you might be expecting sunbathing.

It's definitely worth working out the climate of your destination country before you start packing!