Environment Leadership

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.

Removing marine debris from remote shorelines

The Program

  • Explore and gain first-hand knowledge of the different ecosystems of Hawaiʻi Island.
  • Examine the island through the scientific lenses of geology, biology, marine science, botany, and climatology.
  • Examine the island through the social and political lenses relevant to today’s changing climate.
  • Learn first-hand the environmental challenges faced by the Hawaiian Islands and the rest of the world, including sea level rise, rising temperatures, and habitat loss.
  • Learn how environmental information can be shared with the general public using traditional and social media.
  • Learn how social media environmental influencers can effectively communicate scientific ideas to the public.
  • Examine how environmental legislation is initiated and supported as it works its way through the political process, and see how your actions can influence this process.

Exploring underground: inside a lava tube

Island Life

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.

Enjoying one of our outdoor classrooms

Make a Difference

Community Service is an important part of the Gap Semester in Environmental Leadership program:

  • Organize and participate in beach cleanups
  • Remove invasive species while
  • Restore ecological habitats by planting Native Hawaiian plants
  • Utilize social media and creative ecology (art, music, film, photography, liturature) to raise public awareness of environmental topics

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 program will help provide skills, knowledge, experience, and self-knowledge to help you reach your personal goals.

Planting Native Hawaiian plants

Program Highlights

Honu is the Hawaiian word for sea turtle

Ecosystems

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.

Collecting information about lava flows using the molds in the lava left by the fallen trees

Fieldwork

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.

A beach cleanup is a team effort

Community

Conduct beach cleanups, remove invasive species, restore native plants, and more, making a difference through our actions, and giving back to our host community.

An Amazing Environment

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!

A plant grows out of the lava

New Life

Plants and animals quickly repopulate lava flows

Mauna Kea Silversword

Mauana Kea Silversword

Highly endangered, the Mauna Kea silversword lives up to 40 years, blossoms then dies

Hawaiʻi waterfall

Hawaiʻi Waterfall

The islands are famous for their beautiful and abundant waterfalls

Kīlauea ʻIki

Kīlauea ʻIki

The crater floor environment is always changing

ʻOhiʻa Lehua

ʻOhiʻa Lehua

Beautiful red blossom of the magnificent ʻOhiʻa Lehua tree

Hawaiʻi Rainforest

Hawaiʻi Rainforest

Hawaiʻi's native forests are critical to the islands

The power of the sea

Nature's Power

Witnessing the nature of volcanoes and oceans

Sunset over a volcano

Volcanic Sunset

Sitting atop a volcano, watching the sun set behind another

Lava tubes

Lava Tubes

Lava tubes present an underground world to explore

Coral reefs

Coral Reefs

Coral reefs are the most efficient ecosystem on Earth

Nene goose

Nene

Nene are recovering from near extinction on Hawaiʻi Island

Stargazing in Hawaiʻi

Stargazing

Clear, dark skies make stargazing spectacular on Hawaiʻi Island

  

Gap Semester in Environmental Leadership

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

Note: An $800 deposit is required for enrollment. The deposit is refundable if enrollment is cancelled 90 days prior to the start of the session.

Atop Mauna Kea

At the Gap Semester for Environmental Learning you will learn to

  • Effectively communicate environmental ideas
  • Promote environmental ideas through the creative arts
  • Understand how science is conducted and evaluated
  • Use informal education to promote environmentalism
  • Consider the role of indigenous cultures through learning about history and culture of Hawaiʻi
  • Understand how sustainable development can affect the future
  • Recognize and emulate effective environmental leadership
Conducting water quality testing

Have more questions or want to learn more?

Schedule a meeting with the director, Michael Richards or call +1 (808)235-3612 today!

Gap Semester in Environmental Leadership

Curriculum:

  • Science:
    • Volcanoes: island formation and erosion
    • Ecology: ecosystems and human actiity
    • Biology: marine science, island flora and fuana
    • Climate: atmospheric science, carbon cycle
  • Leadership:
    • Effective communications
    • Empathy and leadership
    • Understanding Environmental Economics
  • Activism:
    • Creating environmental content
    • Promoting environmental causes
    • Environmental legislation
Practicing to conduct fish diversity surveys

About Us

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.

Science Camps of America 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.

Taking time for reflection

Leadership

Michael Richards

Michael Richards

Executive Director
Mr. Richards is the Founder and Executive Director of Hawaii Gap and of Science Camps of America. Mr. Richards is a former software entrepreneur and most recently earned a Certificate in Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management from the University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu.
Dr. Floyd McCoy

Dr. Floyd McCoy

Education Director
Dr. McCoy is Professor Emeritus and Afiliate Graduate Faculty for Geoscience and Oceanography at the University of Hawaiʻi. Dr. McCoy earned his PhD in Geological Sciences from Harvard University.
Curriculum Vitae
Denisse Aranda

Denisse Aranda

Program Director
Ms. Aranda, formerly with NASA, is currently the Senior Contamination Control Engineer for Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket.
Curriculum Vitae
Dr. Michael Walker

Dr. Michael Walker

Director
Dr. Walker teaches High School Science and earned a PhD in Evolutionary Ecology from the University of Kansas.
Anna Downey

Anna Downey

Director
Ms. Downey teaches Middle School Science and earned a Masters of Science in Geology degree from Kansas State University.
Sheri Richards

Sheri Richards

Health Director
Ms. Richards, R.N., M.S.N., is the Directory of Nursing for Lunalilo Home.
Laura Bailes

Laura Bailes

Advisory Council
Ms. Bailes is the Education and Outreach Coordinator for Mālama Maunaloa and earned her Masters of Science in Conservation Biology from the Miami University of Ohio.
Carissa Cabrera

Carissa Cabrera

Advisory Council
Ms. Cabrera is a marine biologist for ocean conservation programs in Hawaiʻi. Her expertise spans protected species, restoration, and ocean climate education, and she has worked as an outreach manager for numerous organizations. Ms. Cabrera earned her Masters in Science from Hawaiʻi Pacific University.

Are you ready for the experience of a lifetime?

Need more information? Contact us today!

To receive a more detailed overview of the program curriculum, complete this form and we will send it to you right away.