Gap Year at SOAR

Gateway Adventure Program for Young Adults with ADHD and LD. Specializing in a unique combination of adventure, travel, and independence.

soarnc.org

soarnc.org

The Gateway to Your Future The GAP Year at SOAR is specially designed to empower young adults ages 18–24 with ADHD or other Learning Disabilities through adventure, travel, and independent living. Developed directly from parent feedback, this program meets the needs of those who have graduated from high school but are not quite ready to step into a university or work-force setting. Participants are provided a structured environment in which they may pursue areas of interest and strengths while taking a step back to clearly consider their future and the steps to get there.

Gappers will alternate between living at SOAR’s Eagle View Ranch in Dubois, Wyoming and exploring the western United States.

This combination provides the opportunity to develop and experience: • • • • • • •

I ndependent Living Skills Community Involvement High Adventure Activities Expedition Planning College Coursework International Travel Volunteer Opportunities

Expeditions

Participants decide and plan where their expeditions will take them. This gives them ownership of the experience and makes each year new and unique.

Activities may include rock climbing, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, and hiking. Expedition locales may include Yellowstone and Grand Teton N.P., Grand Canyon, Yosemite N.P, Big Sur California, Big Bend, and Guadalupe Mountains N.P. Expedition planning taps into the whole world of Executive Functioning. Students research several travel destinations and activity options. They then make phone calls, set up reservations, work with a budget, and provide the gear and food needed for the trips.

“We believe that my son’s experience in your program fundamentally changed him—he likes and believes in himself!

And this has influenced his whole outlook on life. He is calm, reflective, doing his work [previously NEVER done without one-on-one assistance], taking care of his personal space and body. You gave our son a level of confidence he never had before—our lives are truly changed!”

Life Skills Development

The GAP Year at SOAR’s residential component takes place at our Eagle View Ranch in Dubois, WY. Situated on 22 acres at an elevation of 8,000 feet, Eagle View Ranch is tucked into the mountainside of the Wind River Range, boardering the Shoshone National Forest. Participants live together while on base and share common living areas.

This setting allows Gappers to experience real-life responsibilities in a real-life setting—interacting with peers, cooking meals, doing laundry, and organizing their space. Participants will also have the opportunity to volunteer at a location of their choice and enroll in college courses at Central Wyoming College.

The volunteer experiences give participants the chance to develop new skills, provide them with on the job experience, and encourage them to grow both personally and professionally. The courses through Central Wyoming College will focus on Workforce Readiness, Orientation to College, and Personal Financing. In addition, during each expedition, Gappers will visit a college admissions office to learn about available accommodations and how to apply.

In addition, all participants will be responsible for: • • • • • •

Menu Planning, Purchasing and Preparation Budgeting / Fiscal Responsibility Organization / Responsibility of Personal Items Laundry / Personal Hygiene Community Involvement Goal Setting and Orientation

Want to Learn More?

Contact our Admissions Office: 828-456-3435 admissions@soarnc.org You can also visit us at soarnc.org

soarnc.org

GAP Year at SOAR P.O. Box 388 Balsam, NC 28707 828-456-3435 Fax: 828-456-3449

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BALSAM, NC PERMIT #1

www.soarnc.org

About SOAR

SOAR is a non profit boarding school, summer camp, and GAP year program dedicated to providing e xperiential education, life skills development, and adventure programs to youth and young adults diagnosed with ADHD and LD. SOAR was founded in 1977, by an adult with a learning disability, who believed that focusing on an individual’s strengths, rather than their deficits, was critical in ensuring success. Throughout the past 40 years, our programs have been adapted around the specific needs of the LD and ADHD youth we serve.

connect with us! @soaradhd