Program Spotlight: Farming on Maui
The variety of gap year opportunities can be overwhelming. On a recent trip to Maui, Hawaii that included two site visits, I had the opportunity to see two very different programs in action. Both gap year programs were located on farms in the hills leading up to Haleakala volcano. Both were organic farms focusing on permaculture.
One location was a WWOOFing site (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms). In this location WWOOFers live on-site in sleeping porches, share a communal outdoor kitchen, and bathroom with a flush toilet and running water. WWOOFers as young as 18 are welcomed, but an interest in permaculture is preferred. The host, John, has a true passion for permaculture and teaching a new generation about permaculture farming on Maui. Although there are certain farm tasks that need to be completed daily (care of two flocks of chickens, harvesting of fruits and vegetables), WWOOFers are encouraged to explore their own project ideas with John.
In this location, WWOOFers have a very independent experience, sometimes as solo volunteers. This is not a cohort model, and although John is there running the farm, it is not his job to lead activities, or supervise WWOOFers.
WWOOFers have access to public transportation and wifi at the farm, but at this particular location, WWOOFers should be comfortable with a much slower pace of life, and working in smaller groups, or on their own.
I also had the opportunity to visit a Carpe Diem Education program. The students and staff I spent the morning with were on the semester-long Hawaii, Mountains to Sea program. The students, who travel as a cohort, were mid-way through their time, and had spent the previous week camping. On the farm, they were also camping, but in a more communal set up. They had a covered area for group meetings, kitchen preparation, and classes about permaculture and bee keeping. The day that I visited we learned about and harvested honey to be sold at a farmer’s market. There were 10 students, and two leaders who were spending the entire semester together. The leaders had done an excellent job of creating a positive group dynamic, and the students had an ease and comfort with each other that comes from shared experiences. The students were planning a trip into town for wifi access and shopping at local markets the following day. All of the students were between 18 and 20 years old. The students shared with me that they were looking forward to the following week when they would be traveling to the Big Island staying in a hostel and learning about preservation and protection of the coral reef. The leaders were clearly in command of the group, but there was an obvious spirit of collaboration and positive group dynamics.
Although located close to each other, and with the same basic theme, these two opportunities were very different, and they will appeal to different people. Navigating the nuances of the gap year space can be overwhelming. Because of the incredible variety of gap year options, working with a gap year consultant can increase the chance of finding the program that is a perfect fit for you.
