Reflections on Gap at Glen Brook

Choosing to spend the fall semester of my gap year at Gap at Glen Brook was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. During my senior year, I felt confused about what I wanted my future to look like and what I was truly passionate about. I often doubted myself and my ability to persevere through hard experiences, but here, I gained the confidence to step up into leadership positions and try new things. I was constantly surrounded by a community of people who helped me grow my independence while still giving me the proper support to feel safe outside my comfort zone. At Glen Brook, they strive to push students and campers out of their comfort zone and into their growth zone, and this was exactly what I needed. I’m so thankful to Gap at Glen Brook because their emphasis on intentional community allowed me to create such deep bonds with my fellow gappers and our instructors. From cooking dinner together in the Hill House or wrangling escaped farm animals to portaging canoes 1.7 miles in the pouring rain, our group always found joy and laughter together. 

Before Gap at Glen Brook, I had never been backpacking or summited a mountain, but after the first week, that quickly changed. Throughout the three-month program, we went on four trips: three backpacking trips and one canoeing trip. Spending days trekking through the backcountry, soaking up nature’s beauty changed my perspective on life forever because I realized that I could do anything I put my mind to. There were times when everyone felt beaten down from the day, but we kept going because we were a team, and everyone had a role in keeping trips running smoothly. Gap at Glen brook teaches you to look beyond yourself and think of the group as a whole. In the backcountry, we were each other’s support systems, and we had to look out for one another. I have so many amazing memories and stories from these trips, and I will forever be grateful for that time I spent in the backcountry. 

If I had to describe Glen Brook in just three words, they would be growth, connection, and adventure. At Gap at Glen Brook, essential life skills such as farming, communication, future planning, carpentry, self-reflection, cooking, and wilderness first aid are taught. Overall, my experience there was fantastic, and I highly recommend it.

– Izzy Smith-Ritchie, Current Summer and Winter Camp Counselor and Past Gap at Glen Brook Participant