Any plans for a gap year? Looking for ideas...

[Paz]

Dd and I have a few of our own. She would like to go overseas for part of the year but not sure about her going it alone. Any good programs that you would recommend? She is also thinking about working on an organic farm and doing a missions trip.

[Jen3boys]

I worked (volunteered) as a Community Service Volunteer in London many years ago. It was a great experience and I see they are still active-
www.csv.org.uk/Volunteer/Full-time/

[Laura Corin]

Just so you know: every time the question of a gap year for US students comes up, the issue of health insurance seems very hard to surmount. Once the child is no longer in full time education, they are not usually insurable on the parents' policy.

Apart from that: my friend and I went round Europe by train when we were eighteen. We just had guidebooks, a train ticket, and a small amount of money. It was great.

Best wishes

Laura

[plansrme]

Just so you know: every time the question of a gap year for US students comes up, the issue of health insurance seems very hard to surmount. Once the child is no longer in full time education, they are not usually insurable on the parents' policy.

If your employer is subject to COBRA, the child can elect COBRA for up to 18 months, by which time she will likely be a full-time student again.

My plan (I have some time to persuade her that it is her plan) for a gap year or semester is for my oldest to go to China and enroll in high school or a ballet school. I hope she will be sufficiently fluent by then that she can spend 3-6 months immersed in Mandarin and come back truly fluent. The plan is to do this near the end of high school if not as a true gap year.

Terri

[Colleen in NS]

Any good programs that you would recommend? ...doing a missions trip.

Youth With A Mission, anywhere in the world. She could do a short term trip, or go through a 5 month Discipleship Training School (which includes a short term missions trip).

[Paz]

We have talked about Youth With a Mission. It looks like a great program with lots of options.

[Colleen in NS]

We have talked about Youth With a Mission. It looks like a great program with lots of options.

I worked with YWAM for about 6 1/2 years, and really enjoyed it. If you have any questions, feel free to pm me. I have lots of YWAMer friends around the world, too! Also, Dayle in Guatemala works with YWAM.

[Rosie_0801]

Dd and I have a few of our own. She would like to go overseas for part of the year but not sure about her going it alone. Any good programs that you would recommend? .

Lol, yeah. My sister's, hehehe. Her and her partner are running a volunteer placement organisation in Kenya. I can assure you she's not a crook, or I'd have surely noticed. I did share a room with her for 15 years :D

Rosie

[Veronica in VA]

My son is working for a year before going to college. He doesn't have benefits through work, so we found a policy through one of the big insurance carriers. Anthem, Aetna, etc all have policies for teens/young adults who aren't covered on family's policy anymore. There were all sorts of different plans, but we went for one that was fairly comprehensive, and included dental. It is under $100/month.