It is a transformational bridge into college, independence, and an empowered adult life. Our LEAPYEAR programs run every fall and spring, beginning in September and January. Both semester start dates allow for the completion of a first or second year of college or a final year of high school. 

 

LEAPYEAR includes:

  • Nine weeks of group travel in Nepal & India or Central America
  • A three-month individual internship of your own choosing
  • Two months of intensive inner-directed retreats focused on navigating successfully into adulthood
  • An 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 supplemental LEAPYEAR grants

 

Travel during LEAPYEAR

LEAPYEAR is filled with many opportunities for travel and adventure. The year kicks off with group travel to Nepal & India or Central America where a small cohort of students, along with experienced leaders, spend nine 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 just about anything you can imagine.

 

LEAPYEAR Retreats

At LEAPNOW we believe that your journey of self-discovery is just as important as your physical journey into the world. This inner journey is facilitated through four residential retreats totaling seven weeks at our retreat campus in northern Colorado.

During retreats, 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:

 

Group Travel

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.