Overview:
LEAPYEAR includes:
- Ten weeks of group travel in India or Latin America,
- A three-month individual internship of your own choosing
- Two months of intensive inner-directed retreats focused on navigating successfully into adulthood
- Experiential college curriculum of Life Skills Learning fully accredited through Naropa University
- Formal and informal Rites of Passage
- Full access to federal financial aid through FAFSA plus generous private grants through LEAPNOW
LEAPYEAR is filled with many opportunities for travel and adventure. The year kicks off with group travel to India or Latin America where a small cohort of students, along with experienced leaders, spend ten weeks exploring these rich cultural landscapes.
The second semester holds a three-month solo adventure designed to empower students to step fully into the realm of adulthood and personal responsibility. We encourage each student to dream big, because with our huge internship database there are possibilities to go anywhere and do anything.
At LEAPNOW we believe that the journey of self-discovery is just as important as the physical journey out into the world. This inner journey is facilitated through four residential retreats totaling eight weeks at our campus in northern California.
During retreat, students put aside their digital media (phones, computers, mp3 players, headphones, etc.) to minimize distraction and virtual engagement, and focus on hearing their unique and guiding inner voice as well as connecting with their peers in a new and profound way.
These retreats, ranging in length from eight to twenty-one days, form the backbone of the LEAPYEAR program. They bracket three distinctive journeys:
Retreats are designed to provide pre-departure support for the travel periods, as well as to provide a home base for post trip reflection on the experiences and lessons of each adventure. Each day is packed with engaged, experiential workshops and activities to help support students in getting the most out of their LEAPYEAR.
The daily schedule for each retreat includes three to five hours of workshops and discussion in our studio, one hour of a physical discipline (such as yoga, martial arts, or dance), four hours of outdoor work or cooking and baking in our community kitchen, and some free time to swim in the creek, take a walk, make music, or tackle a creative project. Learn more about our Living Skills Curriculum.
Details:
- Length: 9 months, September – May or February – August
- Apply: August or January
Spud’s Thoughts:
I don’t know of folks who have gone through this program, but I have a bit of connection to Naropa University. They are a fairly unique university model based in Boulder, CO and is grounded a lot in mindfulness and whole body learning. For the right person, this program could be a really good fit and give you the opportunity to learn through doing.
