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One of the Best Gap Year Programs for Young Adults—Especially If Your Kid Isn’t Ready for College

Is Your Young Adult Not Quite Ready for College?

They’re Not Alone—And There’s a Real Solution

If you’re here, chances are your young adult is in a bit of an in-between place.

Maybe they graduated high school and just… stalled. Or they tried college and burned out. Perhaps they’re floating—unmotivated, unsure, or overwhelmed—and you’re watching them slip deeper into their shell. You’ve been patient. You’ve tried encouragement. Maybe even some tough love. And now, you’re looking for something—anything—that might actually help.

You want something that will:

  • Move them forward
  • Build confidence and skills
  • Surround them with positive peers
  • Teach them to live more independently
  • And yeah… give them some joy, too

That’s exactly what Rooted Life Adventures was built for.

Not ready for college?
A Gap Semester Program for the “In Between” Years

We’re not a huge company offering dozens of travel programs in every corner of the world. We offer one program—because we poured everything we believe in into making it right.

Our New Zealand semester is designed specifically for young adults who:

  • Need a break from the pressure cooker of academics
  • Aren’t sure what’s next
  • Are struggling with motivation, confidence, or social connection
  • Might have ADHD, anxiety, or depression—but don’t need a therapeutic program
  • Need some support—but not too much

They’re capable. And smart. They just haven’t found their footing yet. And they need something structured, supportive, and forward-moving—but not rigid or overwhelming.

That’s us.

Consider a New Zealand Gap Year Program before, during or after college
Why Parents Keep Telling Us: “This Was Exactly What They Needed”
24/7 On-the-Ground Support

Our students are supported around the clock by trained staff who genuinely care. We also have a full-time wellness director in-country—someone your child can talk to about the little things and the big stuff.

Therapeutic Coaching (Without the Pressure of Therapy)

Every student has access to coaching. Think: someone who helps with life skills, social dynamics, emotional regulation, and decision-making. It’s a trusted adult in their corner—not a therapist, but a real guide. Someone who can help them in the moment to get through their stuck points.

Life Readiness Is Front and Center

They learn how to cook for themselves. Budget. Plan outings. Manage time. Navigate group living. Communicate better. Take time each week to plan their own futures and tangible next steps. We focus on the stuff school never really teaches—but life always demands.

Adventure That’s Actually Safe and Intentional

New Zealand is the backdrop, and yes—it’s epic. But it’s not a free-for-all. Our group-based program includes glacier hikes, mountain biking, exploring glowworm caves, and cruising through Milford Sound. It’s designed to push comfort zones in healthy ways.

A True Reset

Most students arrive tired—emotionally, mentally, socially. Many leave with a spark in their eyes again. They rediscover joy. Gain momentum. And finally feel proud of themselves. That’s what this is about.

New Zealand Gap Year hiking through National Park
This Isn’t Just “Time Off.”

It’s Time That Moves Them Forward.

Choosing a gap year program isn’t just about giving them something to do. It’s about investing in their growth. That’s why everything we do—every staff member, every activity, every moment—is designed to support real development.

“This program was a gift—not just for our son, but for our whole family. He found his confidence, he made friends, and for the first time in a long time, he felt proud of himself.” – Parent of Spring 2025 Participant

“This was exactly what our daughter needed. We didn’t want a therapeutic program—but she needed support, structure, and guidance. Rooted Life Adventures gave her all of that—and she came home more grounded, more confident, and ready for what’s next.” – Parent of Fall 2024 Participant

The Bottom Line

If your young adult isn’t ready to jump into college—or needs a break from college—they’re not broken. They don’t need fixing. They just need a new path forward.

Rooted Life Adventures is that path.
One unforgettable semester.
One beautiful country.
One tight-knit group of young adults figuring it out together.

Let’s help them reset. Regroup. Rebuild.
And move forward with confidence.

Want to Talk? We’d Love That.
 → Schedule a Call With Our Team
→ Explore the New Zealand Program

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Program highlights

Looking for a Summer That Supports Your Teen’s Mental Health?

Costa Rica Summer Program with mental health support
Know That You’re Not Alone

If you’ve found yourself Googling “summer camp for teen girls with anxiety or depression” or “mental health summer camps for teen girls,” you’re not alone. What’s more, you’ve found yourself in the right place. Many of the parents we work with are looking for a program that strikes the perfect balance: something that supports their daughter’s mental health without being a full-on clinical program. For example, maybe your teen struggles with:

  • Anxiety or depression
  • Low self-esteem or social isolation
  • Technology or phone addiction
  • A recent life disruption — like changing schools, friendship shifts, or a tough year
  • ADHD or executive functioning challenges
  • General mental health imbalance

What you want is a short-term, structured program that’s emotionally safe, uplifting, growth-oriented, and — let’s be honest — actually fun. Understandably, you want her to gain confidence, find community, and come home with more direction and more joy. Welcome to Rooted Life Adventures.

Costa Rica Summer Program, supporting mental health
How We Build Confidence Through Experiential Learning

Our 6-week Costa Rica Summer Program for Teen Girls (Ages 14–17) is designed to create real, lasting growth. Not through lectures or worksheets, but through immersive, hands-on, confidence-building experiences that fosters overall positive mental wellbeing. Therefore every week is built around a purposeful structure:

  • Internship Experience: Students teach English as a Second Language at a local elementary school, play soccer with kids, and receive a certificate of completion — real experience, real impact.
  • Spanish Language Immersion: 30+ hours of casual, conversational Spanish with local staff and during cultural outings — no prior experience required.
  • Life Skills in Action: Shared living means learning to plan meals, cook, clean, grocery shop, budget, and manage roommate dynamics.
  • Volunteer Project: 30 hours of service toward a meaningful legacy project in the local community.

Moreover, we don’t just “talk about” life skills — we live them. Most importantly, our students go home with stories, skills, and self-worth.

Costa Rica Summer Program, ESL supporting mental health
Therapeutic Support That’s Built Into Every Day

This is not a clinical program — and we don’t want it to be. But we do provide robust wellness and coaching support that supports mental health, including:

  • A live-in therapeutic coach onsite 24/7 for in-the-moment guidance and group dynamics
  • A personalized coaching and care plan developed in collaboration with your teen’s at-home therapist
  • Weekly 1:1 coaching sessions for each participant
  • Wellness and psychoeducational workshops throughout the program
  • Optional telehealth sessions with home therapists
  • A weekly parent support call to help you stay involved and supported
  • An end-of-program summary written for each student’s home team
  • We ensure every student feels seen, supported, and celebrated — not pathologized. After all, this is a strengths-based, growth-focused experience.
RLA waterfall climbing! Physical exercise is proven to support positive mental health
Our Model: Take the Tools That Work and Make Them FUN

We’re not here to fix your teen. In fact, we’re here to remind her how powerful, capable, and joyful she can be. Therefore, we take the therapeutic tools that work — routine, connection, reflection, responsibility, structure — and we infuse them with summer camp energy and slumber party vibes. For instance:

  • 🌊 Surf lessons & white-water rafting
  • 🎪 Flying trapeze & jungle hikes with monkeys
  • 💃 Paint fights & dance parties
  • 🍿 Pajama karaoke nights & movie marathons
  • 💅 Spa nights & bracelet making
  • 🌺 Cultural excursions to chocolate, dairy, and coffee farms
  • 🌴 National Park hikes to see sloths, toucans, and monkeys
  • 💦 Glow-in-the-dark pool parties

Lastly, this is a summer camp where mental health support is woven in — not stuck on. SPecifically, where teens grow because they’re having fun, not in spite of it.

Learn more or enroll now at rootedlifeadventures.com or email us directly at info@rootedlifeadventures.com.

Let’s make this the summer your daughter finally feels like herself again — with confidence and community. In particular, with just the right amount of support.

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Program highlights

A Solutions Focused Program for Your Child

As a parent, you’ve likely spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to best support your child. Maybe they have struggled with anxiety, have low motivation or experienced social challenges. Perhaps your child feels stuck, or maybe they have just been through some tough stuff. And, frankly, so have you. You’re looking for a new, solutions focused approach.

Thankfully, we take a solutions focused approach on our Rooted Life Adventures’ New Zealand and Costa Rica programs. We support adolescents and young adults in gaining confidence, independence, and problem-solving skills that they can apply in the real world. Instead of dwelling on what’s wrong or allowing a diagnosis to define them, we focus on what they want in life and how to help them get there. We focus on solutions.

Our programs don’t promise instant transformation, as lasting growth takes time. But in six or ten weeks, your child will gain hands-on experience and learn new tools. Furthermore, they will have a fresh perspective on their own strengths and capabilities.

Keen to hear more? Read on. Here’s how our solutions focused approach helps your child take ownership of their own life. How they will develop real-world skills and build the confidence they need to move forward.

Solutions Focused Program - Costa Rica dinner

What Does “Solutions Focused” Actually Mean?

Many therapeutic models focus on identifying problems—why your child struggles, what’s causing their anxiety, or how their diagnosis explains their behavior. While that can be helpful, it often leaves kids feeling stuck in their challenges rather than learning how to move forward.

A solutions-focused approach flips the script.

Instead of focusing only on what’s working, we ask, “What do you want in life? What do you want to do? How do we get there?” They might not know – yet, but we can support them in discovering these answers.

Instead of letting struggles become excuses, we teach students skills to overcome them. Instead of keeping kids in a cycle of frustration, we give them experiences that build confidence. Your child will learn how to problem-solve, take responsibility, and gain real-world experience figuring things out for themselves. All within a structured, supportive, and fun environment.

Rooted Life Adventures summer camp paint fight - solutions focused fun!

How Rooted Life Adventures Helps Your Child Thrive

Strengths-Based Coaching: Building Confidence Through Action

One of the biggest reasons kids struggle is that they don’t feel capable. They may avoid challenges, give up easily, or believe they just “can’t” do certain things because of anxiety, ADHD, or past failures.

At Rooted Life Adventures, we show them they CAN.

  • Our live-in therapeutic coaches provide 24/7 support. They help students recognize their strengths and use them to solve challenges.
  • We help students take small steps toward success—whether that’s navigating a new country, trying a new adventure, or managing daily tasks like cooking and cleaning.
  • Every success, big or small, is reinforced. Oue experienced team support your child in realizing that they are far more capable than they thought.
  • We shif the focus from what they can’t do to what they can figure out. Our team supports the student in building confidence and resilience that lasts beyond the program.
Learning by Doing: Real-World Experiences, Not Just
Talk

Most kids are tired of being talked at. Whether in therapy, school, or at home. Honestly? They’ve heard all the advice before. The problem? Talking about change isn’t the same as experiencing it. That’s why Rooted Life Adventures is 100% experiential. Instead of just discussing independence, responsibility, and resilience, we put it into action.

We provide:

  • Exciting outdoor adventures like hiking, surfing, and white water rafting. These experiences push students outside their comfort zones. It shows them that they can accomplish hard things.
  • Internships and volunteer work that give them real responsibilities, helping them develop work ethic, accountability, and social skills.
  • Chores: Taking on the responsibility of independent living—cooking, cleaning, meal planning, and managing household tasks
  • Group living which teaches them to manage conflict and take ownership of their space. Together they plan meals, budget, and contribute to their team.

Each of these experiences encourages students to problem-solve in real time. It helps them practice decision-making, adaptability, and follow-through. All whilst being supported by our staff.

The Power of Experience: Changing Beliefs Through Action

Your child’s beliefs about themselves are shaped by their experiences. If they’ve faced too many failures, disappointments, or too much negative reinforcement, they may believe they’re incapable of success.
At Rooted Life Adventures, we flood students with new experiences—ones that help them redefine what they believe about themselves.

  • Students will see firsthand that they are wildly capable.
  • They’ll push past fears and discover that they can do far more than they expected.
  • As a result, they’ll develop confidence through action. Not just encouragement.

By giving them opportunities to succeed in real, tangible ways, we help them build new beliefs. Beliefs that they can take on challenges, solve problems, and navigate life with confidence.

What This Means for You as a Parent

You want to see your child succeed, but you also know they need to learn to do things for themselves. Rooted Life Adventures is designed to bridge that gap. We give them the tools, experiences, and support to gain independence without feeling like they’re being pushed off a cliff.

  • As a parent you’ll get weekly updates and parent coaching. This will empower you to support your child’s progress – without stepping in to fix things for them.
  • Your child will return home more confident, capable, and prepared—because they’ve actually practiced the skills they need, not just talked about them.
  • Instead of another “quick fix,” this program gives students real experiences that create lasting change.
Is Rooted Life Adventures Right for Your Child?

If your child is struggling with motivation, independence, or direction—and you want them to gain real experience moving forward in life—our program could be a great fit.

We take them out of their comfort zone.
Our team support them in identifying what they want in life.
We give them the tools and experiences to start making it happen.


Learn more on our website and see how our solutions focused approach can help your child build confidence, independence, and a stronger sense of purpose.