101 Things to do during a COVID Gap Year

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!

1. Participate in a sustainability program in Costa Rica
2. Intern at a Washington DC think tank
3. Teach tennis
4. Earn Red Cross First Aid certification
5. Learn woodworking skills
6. Help get a real estate property ready to sell
7. Participate in a leadership program in Ireland
8. Explore culture through the food we eat
9. Learn sign language
10. Participate in an ecology program to understand local biodiversity
11. Intern remotely with an organization supporting LGBTQ rights in Morocco
12. Work at a local thrift store
13. Complete the college application process started during high school
14. Explore how to relate to different cultures through what we wear
15. Intern with a financial services company
16. Volunteer with NCCC or with another Americorps opportunity
17. Intern with a research institute and write a paper for publication
18. Make a list of books to read and finish at least two
19. Train with your sports team
20. Work at your local YMCA as a lifeguard
21. Babysit for local families
22. Work at a local farm stand
23. Provide companionship and assistance with daily activities for elderly neighbors
24. Focus on personal well-being and strengthening mental health
25. Enroll in esthetician courses
26. Work at a local ice cream shop
27. Earn Wilderness First Responder certification
28. Shadow a local business owner
29. Create a smartphone app
30. Become certified to teach yoga classes
31. Plant and tend a vegetable garden
32. Take care of a family member with special needs
33. Earn PSIA Ski Instructor certification
34. Intern with a non-profit focused on clean water in underdeveloped areas
35. Volunteer with an afterschool sports program
36. Start a dog walking business
37. Intern at a neuropsychologist office
38. Volunteer as an assistant coach for a school sports team
39. Assist parents with learning needs of remote students
40. Travel to Thailand to learn about history and local culture
41. Earn Red Cross Lifeguard certification
42. Take community college classes
43. Pursue service-learning projects in the U.S. with a structured program
44. Complete and submit college transfer applications
45. Learn to make an Excel spreadsheet
46. Teach dance classes
47. Learn to cook including shopping for the food
48. Work at a local hardware store
49. Learn how to plan an extended wilderness backpacking trip
50. Learn to play guitar
51. Live and work on an organic farm in the U.S.
52. Participate in an arts program in Ireland
53. Overcome your fear of flying
54. Work at a local auto body shop
55. Practice rock climbing and surfing with a Hawaii-based program
56. Intern for your U.S. Congress Representative or Senator
57. Teach swimming lessons
58. Help perform trail maintenance with local volunteer groups
59. Spend time immersing in the history and diversity of the U.S.
60. Learn to create an effective resume
61. Explore landmarks, history and cultural attractions of your local city
62. Teach cross-country skiing
63. Volunteer to work with patients at a local physical rehabilitation facility
64. Tutor students in a subject you know well
65. Build a mini-motorcycle
66. Make wine in your basement
67. Earn an EMT certification
68. Live away from home and work on a construction site
69. Become an entrepreneur and start a new business
70. Work with a local landscaping company
71. Teach barre classes
72. Dive into your drawing, painting or photography
73. Move in with relatives or friends in a new location for period of time
74. Learn how to cold email or cold call companies to find an internship
75. Develop communal living skills with a U.S. place-based program
76. Begin the college application process
77. Volunteer as a mentor for young teens
78. Become a social media influencer
79. Volunteer at an archeological site in Israel
80. Study a foreign language
81. Sample the thousands of online courses offered by leading universities
82. Learn to code
83. Help a business with its social media
84. Earn PADI scuba certification
85. Road trip across the U.S.
86. Organize a multi-day hike in a national or state park
87. Learn about and practice furniture restoration
88. Film a short documentary
89. Write in your journal each day
90. Volunteer with an organization that works on immigration issues
91. Teach English as a Second Language
92. Study fashion design
93. Build up your art portfolio
94. Intern as an online research assistant
95. Work at a local coffee shop or bakery
96. Train for a half marathon or triathlon
97. Teach soccer to neighborhood kids
98. Raise money for a cause that is important to you 
99. Volunteer on a political campaign
100. Take long walks in the woods, on the beach or wherever you can get close to nature
101. 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.