GAP year
GAP (Gap Adventure Plus) is the A+ training year designed to equip you for adventure activity leadership with young people and adults in the beauty of the great outdoors.
Our Gap year is extraordinary as it will help you with four key elements of experience and personal growth:
- Discipleship: Grow in your relationship with God and develop skills in encouraging others
- Training: Gain nationally recognised Adventure Training Qualifications
- Instructor: Help coach adventure activities to over 7,000 children and young people each year
- Leadership: Grow in self-confidence as you become aware of your strengths and qualities
All set against the background of our ‘SELL’ theme:
Serve: Serving each other on the team as we work together to serve the children and youth in our care.
Excellence: Aiming to be the best in all we do within the team, with guests and in our private lives.
Leadership: Qualities of a Leader and a team member are similar and central.
Love: Be part of a culture of Love: for God, all people, His created world… and know we are greatly loved.
Practical Details
The year runs from September to the end of August or January to the end of August.
The primary focus is on team building and skill development. Get ready to immerse yourself in extensive training during the initial months, covering a wide range of activities such as Fencing, Archery, Canoeing, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Climbing, Circus Skills, Team Building, Low Ropes, Safeguarding, and First Aid.
These activities encompass a mix of A+ in-house awards and nationally recognised qualifications.
You will commence your journey by assisting our trained instructors in conducting sessions at local schools and our A+ Adventure Club. As you progress and enhance your skills, you will gradually assume more significant responsibilities and actively participate in larger-scale events alongside the team.
Click here for a more detailed rundown of an Adventure Plus Gap year.
Spiritual Development
Our weekly discipleship training workshops cover issues including:
- What we believe and why
- Biblical models of leadership and how we can learn from them
- How the majesty & beauty of the world around us speaks to us of the Creator God
- The power of adventure youth-work to encourage those that need it most
- How to keep our faith alive, fresh and real
These times will help you grow in knowledge, and your Christian walk through discussions, presentations and opportunities for the practical application of your skills at work, at home and in local churches.
You will receive continuous encouragement to nurture your personal and spiritual development throughout your journey. As a valued team member, you will actively contribute to the daily mission of A+, fostering a sense of purpose and fulfilment.
This year has changed me so much and to anyone else looking to do a gap year in the future, I definitely would recommend Adventure Plus 100% and just go for it !!
Adventure skills
Apply your adventure skills by engaging in GAP trips and expeditions and taking on leadership roles during our Total Adventure holidays throughout the year.
As a Gap team, you will collaborate on developing themes and creative ideas for our Easter and Summer Total Adventure weeks. It is always great to see how plans made in the winter months shape up when the campers are with us. The encouragement comes full circle as all that creative energy and hard work comes to life from earlier in the year, seeing young people encouraged by the Good News we are here to celebrate.
Accommodation
You will live in the community with other GAP team members and interns in our staff houses. You receive a monthly contribution to food costs, which works better if you team up and cook together.
Why is GAP the Adventure Gap year for you?
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- You’ll love being part of a dynamic Christian team
- You’ll get qualified to lead a range of adventure activities
- Those skills will be with you for the rest of your life
- It’s a great team environment in which to grow in your Christian faith and your walk with God
- Be a valued team member and part of the daily mission of A+ and all that is developing here.
- We are taking applications for September 2024
- Places are limited to six at each intake, so apply soon.
Embrace the invaluable training, the wealth of experience you’ll accumulate, the friendships you’ll make, and the lasting memories you’ll create. This opportunity has the potential to transform your life, and it’s one you won’t want to let slip away!
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Gap Year Pricing
The base price is £3,100. This includes the following:
- Accommodation – a year spent in our Cotswold stone cottages
- Training – gain qualification in numerous activities, as well as weekly discipleship sessions
- Food allowance – £160 pcm will be reimbursed back to you to cover food and other expenses
- Gear allowance – £120 to spend on protective clothing or gear in any relevant activity of your choice
GAP Plus
Many choose to stay for a second year and enrol in GAP Plus (and at no additional cost)!
The price of your 1st Gap Year covers Gap Plus!
GAP Plus offers the chance to remain an integral part of the A+ team for an additional year at a reduced rate while receiving advanced training for higher outdoor leadership qualifications and experiential growth. You will earn the organisation’s trust, taking on greater responsibilities during sessions and contributing to the day-to-day operations of A+. For an increasing number of participants, completing this second year has paved the way for full-time employment opportunities with Adventure Plus.
Internships
Do you already have a relevant degree or have you completed an adventure training programme with another organisation? We can design a bespoke Internship year for you!
- Accommodation – a year spent in our Cotswold stone cottages
- Training – gain qualification in numerous activities, as well as weekly discipleship sessions, and internship specific training too
- Food allowance – £160 pcm will be reimbursed back to you to cover food and other expenses
- Gear allowance – £120 to spend on protective clothing or gear in any relevant activity of your choice
For a further £995, we provide a week of skiing in the beautiful Swiss Alps!
Examples of A+ Internships include:
- Adventure Education & Conservation
- Conservation and Land Management
- Adventure Education and Specialist Youth-work
- Event Management & Marketing
- Hospitality & Catering
- Hospitality & Marketing
- Office skills & Administration
Work with our GAP years to learn valuable skills and develop your spiritual gifts this year!
How to join the Gap year
Please contact Siôn, our GAP Coordinator
My gap year with Adventure Plus solidified my faith, challenging my views to understand WHY I believe the things I do. This enabled God through me to be able to answer deep questions from the children on the activities, whilst also learning to encourage the kids to ask these questions and to understand what and why they believe. To deepen the faith of some and to awaken the curiosity of others.
