PARTICIPANT REVIEWS OF HDC GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

Gap Year Testimonials

CORI SHOOTER

Belfast, ME

When I first arrived at the High Desert Center I could never have imagined how much I would grow to love and value all those unfamiliar faces I met in the airport. I wouldn’t have even dreamed of all the laugh-till-you-can’t-breathe moments, the sense of support and excitement every time we accomplished something together, and the tears both of sadness and of joy we would all share.

If someone had told me on that first day the sense of achievement I would gain from summiting the peaks towering off in the distance, or the warm fuzzy feeling I would get every time I saw my community all together whether for a meeting or a meal, or how I would look back on who I was then and not feel embarrassed but rather proud of how hard I worked to be who I am now, I would have said “No, that’s impossible.”

With the subtle, rock-solid support of the incredible staff, and the love and lessons I received from my peers, I was able to grow into the empowered, inspired, and capable person I am now. The community we built was what made my Gap Year experience what it was—challenging, fulfilling, joyful, and real.

I recommend this Gap Year to any young person with the desire to build strong relationships, grow as a person, and be themselves.

Young man with long curly hair smiling with ocean behind him

OSCAR WOLFENSTEIN

Seattle, WA

At the High Desert Center, I felt for the first time in my life that I had a place and a purpose entirely to myself. The environment provides a hands-on education in sustainable living and community building, and the staff engages each participant earnestly, asking participants to discover what we truly care about and to explore the numerous options presented by our ambitions.

Gap year student at the bottom of the Black Canyon

JUNIPER NIELSEN

Madison, WI

This program holds many surprises. Whether climbing a mountain, learning about local ecology, playing a city wide game of hide + seek, or planning a community celebration, every day brought new adventure. The passion of staff and energy of my peers continually inspired and encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and dive into new experiences.

Young man smiling wearing floral shirt in Colorado desert

KIERAN SMITH

Nevada City, CA

If you are looking for a Gap Year program where you expect the unexpected, this is it. Be prepared for something that will change you in ways you never anticipated. This program is an amazing combination of outdoor leadership skills, emotional growth, and community building, which makes for an amazing Gap Year that could never be repeated.

AUGUST BRAATEN

Middleton, WI

The High Desert Center has been one of the greatest surprises of my life. I went into it knowing very little but came out feeling good about community, life skills, and myself. Here I pushed myself and challenged myself day to day. I also found that my sense of community pushed me in many areas as well. I made friends with people from around the US and created deep meaningful connections with them in just a matter of a few weeks.

TOWNER SCHUNK

Atlanta, GA

I don’t think any amount of reviews could accurately capture the magic that is the High Desert Center. I applied to the program unsure of who I was as a person or what I wanted in life, and found a community that not only accepted me, but celebrated me for everything that I am. From day one, it felt like everyone wanted to tear down their walls and be as authentically themselves as possible.

I had formed stronger connections with people I’d known for a couple of weeks than I had with people I’d known my whole life. I grew emotionally by learning to get more in tune with my feelings, physically as we interacted with nature through biking or backpacking trips, and mentally as I overcame the doubts I had about myself. I laughed till my stomach hurt, learned survival skills, created pots out of clay I made myself, biked 50 miles in a day, learned how to farm/live sustainably, and literally so much more. I truly believe anybody could gain something from coming to the High Desert Center.

WILLY CLEMETSON

Belfast, ME

I didn't realize how much I had growth and change that I underwent on the High Desert Center gap year until I went back four years later. As soon as I stepped onto the land and looked around at the buildings, many of which I helped build on my gap year, I realized how much of myself still lives and thrives here. I spent a moment soaking up the warm sun and mountain air, remembering.

It is hard to tell when you are fully immersed, roughing it in the back country through canyons and along rivers. It is hard to see the internal changes that are happening constantly on this program, but when I sat in with this year's students during a check-in, I looked around the circle, listening, and saw within them the self-knowledge, authenticity and dedication to clear, kind communication that this year has helped them realize for themselves. This is what I got from this program as well. It will always be a second home for me, a place that I will come back to to mark my growth as a human.

young woman in the mountains wearing a tutu

ELIZABETH CURRY

Severna Park, MD

The High Desert Center helped me to grow in the best way possible! By doing this program, you will become a part of a loving and supportive community learning and growing together. I leaned so much during this year from backpacking and orienting skills to the basics of fusion dance. I have also learned so much about myself and how to communicate with others.

high school graduated woman smiling in a field

ELLA RABINO

Miami, FL

If you want a life-changing experience that broadens your perspective, expands your skills, and teaches you how to more deeply love the world around you the HDC is the place for you. It is hard to put into words how much I grew over this year. This is a place where you can challenge yourself in an unexpected ways with the support of a community at your side. This allowed me to explore myself and how I want to exist in the world.

LILY AMBERSON

Rye, NH

My experience at the HDC has been one of the most formative experiences of my life. I went into it thinking I knew what I was getting myself into- a gap year program centered around community, sustainability, and adventure. In reality, it is so much more. The people you meet here become your family and the adventures you'll go on are unforgettable and out of the ordinary.

NOAH HOSHINO

Lexington, MA

While I recently finished my one and only semester at HDC, reflecting back on it almost feels like a dream to me. I can still vividly remember the first day being there and how I already felt so comfortable. I loved how personal and open everyone was. From the participants to the staff, everyone got along on a personal level in some way.

You get treated like an adult while still being allowed to be yourself. The communal living aspect is foreign to many at first but soon becomes you’re favorite part of the program. While there is a solid itinerary in place, there are many times when you get to make your own schedule. While your not living fancy, you are living in the moment. Everything feels real and it is amazing how connected to nature you are when you are there. Making dinner with everyone and waking up every morning to see the mountains speaks for itself. Nature is more than abundant and is definitely a big part of your time there. Whether it is the nature you see around you on campus or the nature you find on the many adventures we went on, there no shortage of natural beauty. Even if being one with nature is not your cup of tea, there is something for everyone at this program. Constantly being around a small group for so long will definitely bring you long term friendships. Whether it is emotional growth or working on social skills; there is a plethora of unique opportunities to grow yourself. This program definitely attracts the best kind of people. To not make this too long, I will wrap this up on this note; whether it was backpacking in the mountains, dumpster diving, or making ramen at 10:30 at night, everything we did, small or big, will always stick with you and put a smile on your face months or even years later.

Incredible program, beautiful place, amazing people.

VICTORIA VALLE REMOND

Belmont, CA

My time at the High Desert Center was life-changing. Even though I was only there a semester, the friends I made and the perspective I gained will definitely stay with me. I’ve gained a new appreciation for the simpler things in life, for what it means to live life to the fullest and create a community with like-minded people.

woman in yellow fleece smiling in a red rock canyon

HERO KLIMEK-BROOKS

Seattle, WA

My gap year at the High Desert Center was easily one of the most transformative, rich, and important experiences I’ve ever had. That year spent in the red canyons and tall mountains and juniper forests and small farms of Southwest Colorado brought me more growth, learning, joy and challenge than I ever imagined.

Creating a strong, intentional community with the other participants and staff was a challenging and incredibly rewarding experience. The staff at the High Desert Center were inspiring, knowledgeable and kind adults who strove to create an environment that fostered growth, community, and connection. They were there to guide us through the challenges of living in a community, and I learned so much about myself and how I interact and communicate with other people. We built something really incredible together. I didn’t know it was possible to feel such a sense of belonging and purpose and empowerment in a community. I didn’t think I’d ever feel so at home and so much like myself. Having the opportunity to live and learn at the High Desert Center taught me so many useful, practical skills, but the most important thing I learned is that I have a place in this world that is important, and I have the power to affect my community and my life. I am so much more empowered and confident than I was. I know that I can go out into the world and create the beautiful and meaningful life that I want for myself.

young person with short hair and glasses smiling

RACHEL GOVETTE

Suisun City, CA

I was tired of going to college and being surrounded by students and professors who didn’t want to be there. When I found out about the HDC gap year I read everything I could on the website. I was so excited. It seemed to provide the community and meaning that I felt I was missing in my life. And it turned out to be true.

My group had it’s challenges, but we became a second family because of it. At first, it was difficult to make decisions when everyone wanted something different, but after a lot of practice we started to get the hang of consensus. Even when things were hard, I always felt like I had support and love from everyone. I realized while I was there that I always want to live in a large group. While on the program I got the support to go out and try new things, from traveling on my own with a small budget and the faintest outline of a plan, to backpacking the canyons of the southwest. I love this place and these people so much and I just keep coming back. I’m forever grateful for the friends I’ve made here and the experiences I’ve had. I think it’s even safe to say the High Desert Center has made a bigger impact on my life than anything else I’ve ever been a part of.

young person with short, blue hair smiling

MILLA VON TAUBER

Savannah, GA

Living among a group of people for a year is an experience unmatched, and taught me so much about myself and my interactions with others. The staff encouraged me to leave my comfort zone behind and strive to find the parts of life that truly inspired me. I left with the skills and experiences necessary to be a happy and confident member of the world.

RUBY JUNG

Milwaukee, WI

This program strengthened and developed my passions! I fell in love with dancing every day, community meals, late night conversations, sleeping under the stars, and the adrenaline rush of exploring and backpacking the gorgeous backcountry of Colorado I would highly recommend to anyone who wants to dive deep into the next step of life in an off the beaten path kind of way.

CHRIS

New Jersey

Meeting the directors Dev and Marian for the first time was a breath of fresh air. They were so welcoming, and I could tell they would take such good care of everyone. Over the course of the year, they proved to be incredible mentors! I had so many first time experiences, like climbing a mountain, backpacking, traveling the southwest in a van, and going to Mexico!

Of course there were were challenges, and I was often encouraged to step a little outside of my comfort zone (like being a total city boy and then told that I would be using a composting toilet for the majority of the time), but I always felt really supported and listened to when I had any concerns. I felt very safe with Dev and Marian and the rest of their staff. They taught us a lot about open and honest communication, and I think that learning those skills with them in such a safe space changed my life!

young womangives enthusiastic thumbs up in front of a canyon

ANNA BUTCHER

Stamford, VT

The program’s combination of adventure, challenge, and support made for an amazing year with strong friendships and connections between other participants and staff members alike. The group was able to bond over things like hiking in the back country or cooking food in the outdoor kitchen. I wouldn’t have traded this experience for any other.

young man with long hair ad a beard smiling

CLAYTON CLEMETSON

Belfast, ME

Let me tell you about the mountains that we wake up to every morning, surrounded by sun-kissed peaks that offered weeks of back country exploration. Let me tell you about the delicious smell of bacon calling me from my bed just before the breakfast bell rings, bacon from a small organic farm down the road where we visited and worked with our hands in the dirt.

Let me tell you about how I learned to thrive with less, how to live simply and cheaply, and minimize my impact on this environment. Let me tell you about the triumphs and tribulations of living in close community as I learned how to communicate and navigate conflicts. Let me tell you how I became empowered to notice and shift inner patterns and habits that didn’t serve me, learning tools to liberate myself from myself. Let me tell you how I was guided by staff that supported me and made space to truly hear and see me. This gap year changed my life. If it calls to you, I encourage you to take the leap.

young man sitting on the edge of a boulder

CONNOR MCWARD

Chicago, IL

The High Desert Center taught me so much about myself, all while pushing me in new directions and encouraging me to follow whatever path that might lead to. By the end of it, I had climbed mountains, gone backpacking through canyons, and experienced community living to a refreshing degree. This place and its people forced me to confront myself as I was, and though it was hard to contend with that, I had support from every direction.

young woman smiling with her hand in the air standing on a hole in the snow

SOPHIA WAHANIK

Rohnert Park, CA

During this gap year I have grown into myself. I first joined the High Desert Center (HDC) feeling unsure about the future and nervous about my responsibilities in it. Throughout this year I have become grounded in my sense of self and excited to go out into the world. I attribute this to the spaciousness of the program.

BEN HOLLENSTEIN

Santa Clara, CA

The HDC writing retreat is a fantastic experience for people who are looking to broaden their horizons, spend some time living a rustic life up in the mountains, build a close community of supportive, open minded people and writers, and of course, write as much as you want. There's strong support for emotional wellbeing, creative goals, and personal development.

This a great place to hit writing goals, build confidence, and expand your comfort zone.People will be most comfortable here if they are open to new experiences and not distressed by sometimes spotty internet and lots of bugs. If you want to meet fellow writers from all over the country, get familiar with a small Colorado town and its community, and write as much as you can in a month, I can't recommend this retreat enough.

Rachel Gorman-Cooper

New Rochelle, NY

The High Desert Center writing retreat equipped me with SO many skills, such as: concrete and employable writing/creative skills, communication and interpersonal relationships skills, independent living skills such as cooking/cleaning, games and dancing, and general evolution as a person.

Wakarusa, IN

The writing retreat with HDC allowed me to disconnect from the distractions and stresses of my life, which help me to fall in love with writing again. I learned a lot of things and overall improved my confidence as a writer. I also made amazing connections with all types of people, and got to explore the beautiful town of Paonia.

HALEY STEVENS

GREEN BAY, WI

I came to the High Desert Center as a part of my gap summer before starting my graduate program (MA in Creative Writing). Working alongside other writers around my age was an absolute blast, compared to other writing retreats that only cater to older adults, and I would highly recommend this retreat to any writer.

STELLA HARRISON

Franklin, TN

During my writing retreat I was able to pursue a hobby of creative writing without feeling pressured for it to be perfect or complete. it was a great environment to spend time doing anything. The staff was very supportive and I always felt welcomed to join in with others during free time. Some nights I spent laying in the field looking at stars while others I wrote into the night.

LINDA CANFIELD

LAKE HUGHES, CA

The High Desert Center Writing Retreat 2022 was a great experience. I had a really fun time and I will never forget my time there and the people I stayed with. The staff were very welcoming and accommodating and very helpful. I learned a lot of valuable skills. Gorgeous view!

PARTICIPANT REVIEWS OF HDC GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

Gap Year Testimonials

CORI SHOOTER

OSCAR WOLFENSTEIN

JUNIPER NIELSEN

KIERAN SMITH

AUGUST BRAATEN

TOWNER SCHUNK

WILLY CLEMETSON

ELIZABETH CURRY

ELLA RABINO

LILY AMBERSON

NOAH HOSHINO

VICTORIA VALLE REMOND

HERO KLIMEK-BROOKS

RACHEL GOVETTE

MILLA VON TAUBER

RUBY JUNG

CHRIS

ANNA BUTCHER

CLAYTON CLEMETSON

CONNOR MCWARD

SOPHIA WAHANIK

Writing Retreat Testimonials

BEN HOLLENSTEIN

Santa Clara, CA

Rachel Gorman-Cooper

CHLOE CRONKRIGHT

Wakarusa, IN

HALEY STEVENS

GREEN BAY, WI

STELLA HARRISON

LINDA CANFIELD

Video Testimonials