Boulder, CO
A gap year with purpose — not a vacation. Leadership, academics, and adventure in the shadow of the Rockies.
Outdoor leadership, gap year structure, and university town setting.
Daily academic classes, weekly expeditions, and monthly service projects — this is a program, not a pause.
Students earn wilderness leadership certifications through rock climbing, backcountry skiing, and multi-day expeditions.
Boulder is home to CU Boulder — gap year students attend university lectures, use campus facilities, and experience college life firsthand.
Rocky Mountain Gap Year partners with Global Link Advisors on these specific placement tracks.
A full academic year of structured learning, outdoor education, and personal development for students between high school and university.
Wilderness First Responder, Leave No Trace Trainer, and Rock Climbing Instructor certifications available.
Spring semester includes intensive college counseling, essay workshops, and campus visits to top Colorado and national universities.
A college-prep gap year curriculum blending academics with outdoor leadership.
Environmental Science, Leadership Studies, Adventure Education, and College Prep Writing.
Spanish offered with conversational and academic tracks.
Academic English courses with outdoor vocabulary integration.
What you need to know before applying.
Life at Rocky Mountain Gap Year goes far beyond the classroom.
Monthly community service projects, leadership workshops, peer mentoring, and collaboration with local nonprofits and environmental organizations.
Rock climbing, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, multi-day backpacking expeditions, and whitewater rafting in the Colorado Rockies.
Access to CU Boulder campus events, guest lectures, athletic facilities, and cultural programming. Experience college life before committing to a university.
Getting here and getting around.
Tell us about your student. We'll let you know if Rocky Mountain Gap Year is a fit — and if not, we'll suggest the school that is.