High school never gave you the opportunity to really think about who you are, why you’re here, and what you want to bring to the world around you.
Instead, you were thrown into standardized tests, overwhelming amounts of homework, and knowledge that is of course helpful for your career, but not really that handy when it comes to everyday life.
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Trigonometry didn’t teach you how to pay off student loans.
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English didn’t encourage you to form your own opinions about the world around you.
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Biology didn’t teach you social skills or allow you to think deeper about how you connect and relate to others.
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And History definitely didn’t teach you more about what you see in Canadian and World news.
Yes, formal education is valuable, but it’s not the only thing you need to lead a purposeful life.
Your education is supposed to help you land a career - but what about all the other parts of you that make you, well, YOU?
As a gap year student, you’ve already identified that you need time away to get clear on some of those parts, that includes discovering your likes, dislikes, your interests, your passions, and what you want to dedicate more years of your life to studying.
Gap Year GPS helps you discover how and why you belong, and what you need to thrive.
Your Journey with
Gap Year GPS
So, what does this really look like within the program?
Well, it’s your journey to lead!
🚀Phase One: Launch🚀🔎
September/October
Transitioning out of summer mode and learning to be something other than a student can take a bit. We want you to feel excited instead of overwhelmed so we have built out the tools you need to establish yourself.
Key Themes: Gap Year Planning, Connecting with other Gappers, Managing Your Time, Finding a Job
🔎Phase Two: Self-Discovery🔍
November/December
As cheesy as it sounds, there is always an element of “finding yourself” when you intentionally push pause. We want you to discover who you are when the noise around you settles. Knowing who you really are sets a strong foundation for confidence, happiness and aligned choices about your future.
Key Themes: Who am I? Health & Wellness, Career Discovery, Mentorship
⚡Phase Three: Level Up⚡
January/February
A new year brings so many new opportunities - dive into challenging yourself, learning new things and following curiosity instead of curriculum.
Key Themes: Adulting Skills, Money Moves, Learning to Learn Without a Classroom
🌎Phase Four: Explore🌎
March/April/May/June
Building upon your gap year experience so far, it’s time to really explore what’s out there. It’s time to create, travel, discover, adventure, take calculated risks, give back and grow as a person.
Phase Four has 3 potential capstone activities:
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Head to the Yukon: Join other gappers on a 9-day trip to Canada’s North - dive into sustainability, Indigenous ways of Knowing, northern living and make memories on this trip of a lifetime. (Extra cost - Budget approximately $5,000 - we will help you with fundraising too!)
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Design & Execute a Service Project: If you are passionate about social change or environmental justice, this is your chance to tackle an issue near and dear to your heart. Working with our amazing coaches, see a project through from start to finish.
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Independent Activities: You’ve got other plans? No worries! Stay connected as you chart your own path through the second half of your gap time with the support of your coach and peers.
The program ends with support for capturing all of the learning and growth you experienced. We share tools for reintergating back into non-gapping life with ease - with memories, experiences, skills and a whole community that will forever be a part of who you are!
So, what does GPS really look like?
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Gappers kick off the year with a GPS Bootcamp (virtual or in-person in Toronto)
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We then all meet up in our dedicated server, HeartBeat where everyone can connect, share, learn and ask questions.
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Each gapper is matched with an incredible gap year coach. The coach will meet with each gapper once a month for a 1:1 conversation (30 minutes) to troubleshoot, explore new topics or keep you moving forward towards your goals.
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Throughout the year the Coaches offer virtual workshops on all of our key themes. Workshops are more frequent at the start of the year (usually on Thursday evenings) and help gappers develop independence as the year progresses.
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Don’t forget! You’ll also have a custom Gap Year GPS Handbook that will arrive in the mail shortly after you register! This guidebook (with stickers!!!) will help you keep track of your goals and progress.
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At the end of the program, we will celebrate your growth and provide you with an Official Gap Year Certificate that you can proudly put on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
Time Commitment: 1 hour/week - this program is designed to be done alongside whatever else you have going on - work, travel, volunteering, learning to juggle - we won’t get in the way, we will be here to support you.
Who benefits the most from this program?
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You did really well in high school and are not sure how to use a gap year to do anything other then study and prepare for post-secondary
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You struggle in finding meaningful programs and opportunities that are accessible, inclusive, and affirming
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You are looking for new friends, mentors and coaches who have similar lived experiences
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You really want to learn more about yourself and discover your potential, but are not sure where to start
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You’d benefit from 1:1 support from a gap year expert or mentor with similar lived experiences to guide you through your gap year
If any of this resonates with you, this is your safe space to explore alongside a crew that gets it.
Neurodivergent? We’ve got you covered! We know that most programs are built for neurotypical brains so we have stepped up our support by hiring coaches who are neurodivergent themselves and have added additional support to make sure you get the most out of this experience.
What Gappers are saying about spending their gap year with CanGap
Melissa
"Gap years are a test of guiding yourself and paving your own path. GPS is the perfect amount of structure and support that will help you do what you want to do on your gap year. I don't think you could regret it, truly. You can only gain from it! Everyone is so kind, energetic, and enthusiastic not only about life, but about your success. I went in nervous, shy, and not really knowing what to expect. I came out on the other side so much more confident, assured, and excited about my future!"
Nada
"[The name] GPS is so perfectly fitting for where it can take you, because while many of us are excited at the prospect of having a whole year to do whatever we want, we are also just as lost when it comes to where we want that year to take us and who we will be when we get there. Whether you want to go all the way and complete all the modules, or only do the modules you want like the career or personal identity modules, you can!"
Eisa
"It was good to have someone I could talk about everything on my mind at that moment with, and it helped me with realizations on my own personal character."
Embrace YOU, discover what you stand for, and fuel up on clean energy that accelerates you into adulthood, post-secondary, and beyond.
Here's what comes next:
Step 1: Choose your level of support
GPS Core
FREE
Funded by RBC
Applications are now open! Fill out this form to get your application form by email.
Exclusive Neurodivergent
Coaching & Resources Add-On ($1,000+HST)
GPS Core +
1:1 Coaching with a ND specialist
Access to a community of ND gappers
Additional workshops
Step 2 : Start your onboarding
Fill out a brief application.
We want to know a little about you! Fill out the form for your stream choice and we'll send you your application with a few questions.
Our team will review your application.
This usually takes around 3 - 5 business days.
Upon acceptance into GPS, you'll be asked to sign a program agreement committed to workshops and coaching,
Get access to GPS Onboarding & Resources
Join our Virtual Onboarding session, meet your coach and get access to our community platform!
LET'S GO!
Got questions?
We got answers!
Q: Do I need to pay to be in this program?
A: No! Thanks to RBC and the Cooperators, this program is covered for Canadian gap year students. Fees are only applied to streams that require specialized or additional coaching.
Q: How much freedom is there to do what I want within the framework of the program?
A: Tons! The GPS isn’t about telling you what to do – it’s about opening your eyes to what’s possible and providing the framework and support for YOU to decide which direction to go.
Q: Is this program for me if I don’t want to travel or need/plan to work on my gap year?
A: Absolutely. Whether you plan to travel, volunteer, work – or some combo of these, the GPS is ideal for you.
Q: How much time do I need to commit to this program?
A: Around 1 hours a week, or as many more as you'd like! GPS is here to support your gap year. You can still do all the things you have planned (or plan throughout the year) while participating.
Q: Is the Program for Canadians only?
A: No! Though we are a Canadian non-profit, we welcome participants from around the globe for a fee.
Q: I have more questions. Who should I speak to?
A: Please email our team: info@cangap.ca
Q: Do I need to know what I’m going to do on my gap year before enrolling?
A: No! In fact, the first step inside the program is to help you understand your options and create your gap year plan (so it’s almost BETTER if you’re not sure what you want to do yet!).
Q: What measures are in place to keep participants on track?
A: There are lots of ways we keep participants motivated and moving forward including scheduled live (online) events, check-ins and encouragement through our online community and celebrations when moving from one phase to the next.
Q: Are there any age restrictions?
A: Nope! We welcome gappers at all ages and stages. About 70% of our gappers come right out of high school but 30% have completed some (or all) post-secondary. The content is very mature and relevant to anyone getting ready to 'adult.'
Q: My parent is going to sign me up. How do I provide you my information once they do?
A: It’s often parents who do the actual enrolling – which is just fine. We will collect parent and gapper information and send the right person, the right information.