LEAPYEAR South America - The Most Unique Year of College on the Planet

  Ecuador

• Quito: 
Quito
• All Other Regions of Ecuador: 
Santo Domingo de los Colorados,  Otavalo,  Salango,  Rural Areas

  Peru

• Cusco: 
Cusco
• Lima: 
Lima
• All Other Areas in Peru: 
Arequipa,  Manu National Park,  Sacred Valley of the Incas,  Machu Picchu,  Incan ruins,  Rural Areas

Term: Fall, Spring 
Duration of Program: 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 7-12 months
Dates: Academic Calendar, September to May

Description: LEAPYEAR is an amazing blend of 3 months of guided group travel to South America, 3 months of individual internship anywhere in the world, interspersed with two months of inner exploration and transformation in the U.S.   

The fall semester is spent traveling with a guided group of up to 10 other LEAPYEAR students to Peru, Ecuador, and Argentina. During the fall semester participants engage in intensive language training, cultural immersion, community service, environmental work, and adventure trekking.

The winter break consists of 6-7 weeks of "home time." Usually home time is spent decompressing from the intensity of the fall semester's travels.

The spring semester consists of a three-month solo internship in one of 126 countries or the U.S.    The internship is chosen by the student to explore and interest or region, try on a career, or learn a specific skill or language.    The students select from LEAPNOW's database which offers thousands of options.    Students are counseled throughout the decision process to ensure a good placement.

Each semester is bracketed by two retreats at our California campus.   These weeks are dedicated to self-exploration, life path visioning, deepening of emotional literacy, formal rites of passage, and generally examining one's life before getting the rest of your education.   Retreat weeks form the backbone of the program.

Highlights: Students are enrolled as full-time B.A. Humanities students. They earn a full year (24 semester credits) of lower-division college credit. The program is fully accredited, and Federal Financial Aid is available.      

During the second semester students have worked with baboons or cheetahs in South Africa, learned drumming in Ghana, studied yoga or Thangka painting in India, led treks and worked with street children in Guatemala, studied kung fu and Chinese in China, worked at schools and orphanages throughout the world, made jewelry in Mexico, worked with autistic children in Vietnam, and much, much more.   Past students have also used the program to complete high school.   

Qualifications:
* Applicants must be between the ages of 17 and 23 at the start of the program
* Applicants must meet with one of the program directors
* Applicants must commit to integrity as a guiding principle
* Applicants must commit to the entire year-long program

Cost in US$: 29,900

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Students need to be interested both in radical outer exploration of the world, and inner exploration and transformation. You cannot do the program and remain unchanged. The time spent abroad is often challenging and involves traveling in the developing world. Previous students have been come from all walks of life, though they all share the commonality of wanting to understand themselves and the world around them on a deeper level.

Age Range: 17-22

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and World Wide Participants.

Participants Travel Independently Or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups

Scholarships are Available. - Federal and State Financial Aid are available through the normal FAFSA process. LEAPYear also provides partial scholarships based on need.

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview Required
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit DebriefingAbroad
• Job and Internship Network
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

LEAPNOW: Transforming Education's Mission Statement: Leapnow's primary purpose is nothing less than transformation and positive change on the planet. We aspire to keep our work on the cutting edge of human evolution. We feel that we can have the most positive impact on the world by working in the area of education- which ideally is all about transforming and expanding the consciousness of our students. Cultural immersion, study and work abroad are our main vehicles for learning about one's self and the world.

Year Founded: 1993