Whether your teen needs to save up for post-secondary education, they just aren’t sure what they want to study after high school, or they want to explore the world outside of school, there are many different ways they can spend their gap year.
Taking a year off prior to continuing post-secondary studies is commonly referred to as a gap year. If your youth is interested in taking a gap year, don’t dismiss it as a waste of a year! Many gap year opportunities allow youth to figure out exactly what they want from their post-secondary education while also being productive.
Popular Resources
The Canadian Gap Year Association (CanGap) is a registered non-profit organization with a mission to support young people looking to take an intentional step off the conveyor belt of life to explore and experience ‘the real world’ according to their talents, goals and interests. They support gappers and their families through one-on-one coaching , a year-long certification program and free resources.
Work Away builds a shared community of global travellers who genuinely want to see the world whilst contributing and giving back to the places they visit.
Canada Roots Exchange (CRE) is a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth who believe that in order to bridge the gap between Canada’s peoples and work towards reconciliation, we need to become educated and aware of the teachings, triumphs, and daily realities of Indigenous communities. Get involved during your Gap Year!
Katimavik is a Canadian non-profit dedicated to youth development. With a variety of programs to choose from, including National Experience and FuturePerfect, you can gain essential skills, engage in your community and take part in enriching travel experiences that promote diversity and the exchange of languages and cultures.
Discover Year is a one-year life and career skills program that helps young people better understand what they want in life and build the skills they need to get it. High school graduates aged 17-21 will participate in work, travel and volunteer experiences with coaching and mentorship. Completing the program will earn you a Double Certificate in Career & Leadership Skills.
