We are constantly asked “What does one do during a Gap Year with social distancing and limitations on international travel??” We decided to have some fun and compile a list of the many, many things that students can do during COVID, and after. A good number of the items on this list were in fact activities of Gap Year Solutions students since March 2020. Many of these are pre-COVID activities of our students. And – you guessed it – these are ALL great ideas for Gap time with or without a global pandemic. We hope you enjoy this list, and please send us your comments and other ideas!
- Participate in a sustainability program in Costa Rica
- Intern at a Washington DC think tank
- Teach tennis
- Earn Red Cross First Aid certification
- Learn woodworking skills
- Help get a real estate property ready to sell
- Participate in a leadership program in Ireland
- Explore culture through the food we eat
- Learn sign language
- Participate in an ecology program to understand local biodiversity
- Intern remotely with an organization supporting LGBTQ rights in Morocco
- Work at a local thrift store
- Complete the college application process started during high school
- Explore how to relate to different cultures through what we wear
- Intern with a financial services company
- Volunteer with NCCC or with another Americorps opportunity
- Intern with a research institute and write a paper for publication
- Make a list of books to read and finish at least two
- Train with your sports team
- Work at your local YMCA as a lifeguard
- Babysit for local families
- Work at a local farm stand
- Provide companionship and assistance with daily activities for elderly neighbors
- Focus on personal well-being and strengthening mental health
- Enroll in esthetician courses
- Work at a local ice cream shop
- Earn Wilderness First Responder certification
- Shadow a local business owner
- Create a smartphone app
- Become certified to teach yoga classes
- Plant and tend a vegetable garden
- Take care of a family member with special needs
- Earn PSIA Ski Instructor certification
- Intern with a non-profit focused on clean water in underdeveloped areas
- Volunteer with an afterschool sports program
- Start a dog walking business
- Intern at a neuropsychologist office
- Volunteer as an assistant coach for a school sports team
- Assist parents with learning needs of remote students
- Travel to Thailand to learn about history and local culture
- Earn Red Cross Lifeguard certification
- Take community college classes
- Pursue service-learning projects in the U.S. with a structured program
- Complete and submit college transfer applications
- Learn to make an Excel spreadsheet
- Teach dance classes
- Learn to cook including shopping for the food
- Work at a local hardware store
- Learn how to plan an extended wilderness backpacking trip
- Learn to play guitar
- Live and work on an organic farm in the U.S.
- Participate in an arts program in Ireland
- Overcome your fear of flying
- Work at a local auto body shop
- Practice rock climbing and surfing with a Hawaii-based program
- Intern for your U.S. Congress Representative or Senator
- Teach swimming lessons
- Help perform trail maintenance with local volunteer groups
- Spend time immersing in the history and diversity of the U.S.
- Learn to create an effective resume
- Explore landmarks, history and cultural attractions of your local city
- Teach cross-country skiing
- Volunteer to work with patients at a local physical rehabilitation facility
- Tutor students in a subject you know well
- Build a mini-motorcycle
- Make wine in your basement
- Earn an EMT certification
- Live away from home and work on a construction site
- Become an entrepreneur and start a new business
- Work with a local landscaping company
- Teach barre classes
- Dive into your drawing, painting or photography
- Move in with relatives or friends in a new location for period of time
- Learn how to cold email or cold call companies to find an internship
- Develop communal living skills with a U.S. place-based program
- Begin the college application process
- Volunteer as a mentor for young teens
- Become a social media influencer
- Volunteer at an archeological site in Israel
- Study a foreign language
- Sample the thousands of online courses offered by leading universities
- Learn to code
- Help a business with its social media
- Earn PADI scuba certification
- Road trip across the U.S.
- Organize a multi-day hike in a national or state park
- Learn about and practice furniture restoration
- Film a short documentary
- Write in your journal each day
- Volunteer with an organization that works on immigration issues
- Teach English as a Second Language
- Study fashion design
- Build up your art portfolio
- Intern as an online research assistant
- Work at a local coffee shop or bakery
- Train for a half marathon or triathlon
- Teach soccer to neighborhood kids
- Raise money for a cause that is important to youÂ
- Volunteer on a political campaign
- Take long walks in the woods, on the beach or wherever you can get close to nature
- Do anything to step outside of your comfort zone!
Note: countries mentioned here are generally now open to travelers on educational programs, with appropriate COVID testing and quarantine requirements. Please make sure to check current CDC travel guidelines and individual country requirements before planning any travel outside the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic.