Turn your passion for the environment into action with the Environmental Leadership Gap Semester on Hawaiʻi Island.
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A changing climate. A changing world. A changing society.
And the need for more environmental leadership.
The Gap Semester in Environmental Leadership is an opportunity to immerse yourself in a master class in environmental science, environmental action, and leadership training. Held on the amazing island of Hawaiʻi, you will join other like-minded young people on a 70-day adventure like no other.
Environmental Science.
Environmental Leadership.
Environmental Action.
Home for this semester is a house located in the Kaʻū district of Hawaiʻi island. You and your housemates will eat, shop, explore, learn, and care for each other throughout the semester, along with, and led by, your instructors. Each day you will embark on new explorations, engaging in scientific field work, performing community service, and much, much more.
And, of course, plenty of hiking, biking, swimming, snorkeling, stargazing, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, reading, and, if you are into it, surfing, ziplining, and learning to SCUBA dive.
Community Service is an important part of the Gap Semester in Environmental Leadership program:
Making a difference includes preparing yourself for a leadership role in environmentalism. This means possession of a reasonable understanding of environmental science paired with the personal skills needed to ensure your voice is heard. The Gap Semester in Environmental Leadership gap year program will help provide skills, knowledge, experience, and self-knowledge to help you reach your personal goals.
Explore Hawaiʻi Island to study the environmental challenges that are faced by each unique ecosystem, including coral reefs, shorelines, dryland forests, rainforests, lava fields, and alpine mountains.
Field trips to the various ecosystems provide opportunities to learn and study field science techniques and procedures as you gather data for group and individual projects, some of your own design.
Conduct beach cleanups, remove invasive species, restore native plants, and more, making a difference through your actions, and giving back to our host community.
Hawai'i Island reaches from the ocean to 13,803 feet above sea level,
home to most of the different ecosystems found around the globe.
Coral reefs, shorelines, dry forests, rainforests, lava fields, and alpine ecosystems
are all found here.
Welcome to the world's greatest outdoor laboratory!
Plants and animals quickly repopulate lava flows
Highly endangered, the Mauna Kea silversword lives up to 40 years, blossoms then dies
The islands are famous for their beautiful and abundant waterfalls
The crater floor environment is always changing
Beautiful red blossom of the magnificent ʻOhiʻa Lehua tree
Hawaiʻi's native forests are critical to the islands
Witnessing the nature of volcanoes and oceans
Sitting atop a volcano, watching the sun set behind another
Lava tubes present an underground world to explore
Coral reefs are the most efficient ecosystem on Earth
Nene are recovering from near extinction on Hawaiʻi Island
Clear, dark skies make stargazing spectacular on Hawaiʻi Island
Program details:
Location: Hawaiʻi Island
Duration: 70 Days
Dates: Monday, February 3 - Sunday, April 13, 2025
Cost: $12,800
Spaces: 12
Ages: 17-22
Arrival/Departure: Hilo, Hawaiʻi
International study abroad students welcome!
Note: An $800 deposit is required at the time of application. The deposit is refundable if application is cancelled 60 days prior to the start of the session. Enrollment is subject to confirmation of high school graduation and an acceptable background check.
Next session: Monday, September 8 - Sunday, November 16, 2025
Complete this form to receive a more detailed overview of the program curriculum.
Schedule a meeting with the director or call +1 (808)235-3612 today!
Curriculum:
Hawaiʻi Gap and the Gap Semester in Environmental Leadership are an outgrowth of the work the non-profit Science Camps of America has been carrying out since its founding in 2012, creating Hawaiʻi-based science camps for middle and high school students that focus on outdoor, interactive, educational science activities.
Hawaiʻi Gap is a subsidiary organization of Science Camps of America, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, and is led by a team of science educators, engineers, and entrepreneurs that are dedicated to helping future generations grow their interest in and understanding of science, engineering, science education, and environmental stewardship, enabling a better future for all.
While the Gap Semester in Environmental Leadership is a new program, our organization has been providing outdoor science experiences for teens at our summer camps for over a decade.
Following are some of the reviews for our summer Science Camps.
"I want to thank you for a fun filled exciting week of exploration and learning for my son! He came back happy, fulfilled, smarter and more motivated in school! He learned a lot (while having fun) about science and the natural world, gained confidence and independence, made new friends from around the country, and just grew up a little by doing something totally new for him. Thank you for providing such a fun and unique experience. My son mentioned how the counselors were mind blowingly smart, how he made friends, got off his junk food addiction, and proved he didn’t need his phone. Success!"
- Karen C.
"I went to Land & Sea camp in July 2024 and it was amazing! I absolutely loved my time there and would definitely go back. I learned so much about Hawaii and science, and the counselors and people there were awesome too. I would definitely recommend this camp to anyone who is interested in science - we talked and learned about biology, climate change, geology, volcanology, and more! This camp was one of the best weeks of my life!"
- Acacia F.
"I loved my experience at Science camp and have forged friendships that I count on today. I didn't know what to expect, but I was hopeful that I would make friends, learn something, and make great memories. Although, I was familiar with going to camp, I was worried about going to a science camp because I didn't think I was good enough in science to go to this camp. I was reluctant to go and told my mom my concerns, but her response was "maybe this camp will teach you science in different way and help your confidence. It did exactly that! I'm more confident in myself and have a great desire to try new things, and ask questions."
- Sarai S.
"My daughter is the third child we sent to camp. My sons have so much great stories about their experiences and shared them with their siblings. My daughter enjoyed her learning experiences and all the people she got to meet. A unique student experience! She cannot wait to come back next year."
- Desiree H.
"My 17 year old had a wonderful learning experience! The first thing he told us, "Mom, dad, I wish I can bring you here and show you some of the most beautiful places I've seen!" The team runs an excellent program! From beginning to end my every question and concern was answered expeditiously. I am very happy I found this amazing place!"
- Evelyn H.
"I thoroughly enjoyed my time at camp! I learned so much and did many extraordinary events! I would definitely recommend to someone who is very passionate about doing new things at a high level!"
- Christian H.
Complete this form to receive a more detailed overview of the program curriculum.
