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    High Mountain Institute Gap Programs

    High Mountain Institute Gap Programs CalenderRecently Updated

    Details

    • Listing Type: Gap Year Programs
    • Program Delivery: Residential
    • Destinations: Chile, United States
    • Credit Awarded: College
    • Program Length: Academic Year, Semester
    • Start Month: February
    • Category: Outdoor Adventure
    • Selective: No
    • Gender: Coed
    • Ages: 17, 18, 19+, 19
    • Housing: Tents
    • Accreditation: Gap Year Association - Program
    • Affiliation: Gap Year Association
    • Financial Aid: Grants/Scholarships, Payment Terms
    • Minimum Cost: $10,000 - $20,000
    • Call: (719)-486-8200 ext. 103
    • Last Updated:December 2024
    • Meeting: Schedule a Meeting
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    Overview

    HMI’s Gap Semesters unite outdoor adventure, environmental service, and leadership development on an uninterrupted journey to some of the world’s most awe-inspiring places. Our students realize their full potential to thrive as engaged citizens of the world by exploring with intention. 

    Since 1998, HMI has offered empowering experiences in inspiring surroundings, boldly uniting place-based and hands-on learning with the natural world. For two decades, this foundation has enabled us to create a meaningful impact that transcends the boundaries of our campus. Students return from HMI transformed, carrying with them the confidence, passion, and readiness to excel in college, graduate school, and beyond. Our alumni stand out in the increasingly competitive environment, as colleges and employers view HMI alumni as risk-takers in the best sense who have the skills to work effectively on a team and emerge as leaders in their community. 

    HMI Gap’s unique integration of outdoor education, environmental studies, and service presents rich opportunities to gain important life and professional skills. Outdoor rock climbing and wilderness travel offer a powerful venue to confront physical, emotional, and intellectual challenges with focus, creativity, and resolve. Students must interact with the natural environment and think critically about their own impact. Finally, they must work closely with others to evaluate risk and achieve goals, developing important judgment and decision-making skills along the way. Through our authentic service opportunities, students develop an understanding and awareness of their impact on the environment while working to affect positive change, pushing them to become more scientifically literate, environmentally aware, and civically involved.

    Please visit our website to learn more!

    Cost and Session Information

    We have limited financial aid available at this time for 2024/2025 programs. Families who qualify for aid should reach out to the admissions team directly: gap@hminet.org

    The High Mountain Institute recognizes that the cost of excellent programs is difficult for some families to afford. HMI strives to make our programs affordable to families of all income levels by offering generous need-based financial aid packages.

    Financial Aid applications for HMI Gap are accepted on a rolling basis and must be completed with an application to the program. International student financial aid may be available on a case by case basis.

    All of our financial aid awards are need-based. We do not offer merit-based scholarships or financial aid, except for local students who attend Lake County High School

    Testimonials(7)

    • We hiked everyday and saw amazing views! I met so many people and built lifelong friendships with people here. I learned how to be apart of a healthy community and got to travel to many places! I am able to communicate in healthy ways with people around me and learned how to support myself and people around me. I had lots of time to realize what my passions were and what makes me happy.

      - Abigail - December 8, 2023
    • HMI challenged me and helped me grow outside of an academic setting. It helped me learn more about my self and my interests to now take into my four years of college!

      - Stella - June 11, 2024
    • I chose to embark on the fall trek 2023 program. I went backpacking in Colorado mountains, Utah canyons, and Patagonian valleys. I had tons of fun getting to know my group on trail and making special moments together. We grew so much as a community and learned a lot about the environment which strengthened our connection with nature. Baking in the field has been a really cool thing to learn. During our trip in the canyons, we decided we wanted to learn how to bake delicious food. Alex one of our instructors taught me and a friend how to make cinnamon rolls! After long, intensive (but fun) work prepping the dough and baking the rolls, we bit into the delicious pastries. And they were so worth the effort and time.

      - Evelyn - November 1, 2024
    • My favorite day on the semester was my 18th birthday where we were lounging about and one of our instructors gave us the idea to dunk in Lago Verde in Patagonia and so our entire group ran into the lake holding hands.

      - Franklin - December 3, 2023
    • I've come out of this experience with a matured sense of self. My time at HMI has allowed me to better my understanding of who I am, how my experiences leading up to the present have shaped me, and how I can grow into the person I want to become. My confidence in myself has grown exponentially, and I find myself with an increased ambition to seek out experiences that will force me to think differently. Learning about environmental ethics while in the backcountry allowed me to better understand the readings and curriculum, putting myself in the author's shoes.

      - Anton - December 9, 2023
    • I learn much better in an outdoor environment. My love of learning absolutely flourished as I got excited about learning the ins and outs of the environments I was getting to live in and be a part of. For instance I was so excited about learning about the geology of the canyons and felt my curiosity about the world expand.

      - Ari - January 22, 2024
    • I’m not usually a very active person, so HMI was a massive change for me. I learned I was capable of things I’d never thought I could do. I learned how I react in tough situations, and got better at i

      - Madeleine - December 1, 2023