The High Desert Center - Paonia, Colorado

Carmen B.

My time at HDC was the most transformative experiences of my life. The first 2 1/2 months in Colorado were amazing. I did things that I never thought I would do like hike a mountain, backpack through the most beautiful places I have ever seen, and meet the best people. While in Colorado I learnt what it meant to communicate better, not only with others as living in a community isn't always the easiest but I also learnt how to better communicate my needs with myself and for that I am so incredibly grateful. The last semester when the program went abroad was also a very special time for me. I was able to strengthen my relationships with the friends I had made in Colorado, go out of my comfort zone and talk to interesting strangers, and experience an entirely different culture that I fell in love with. Overall this program has taught me so much about myself and who I want to be in the future and I was able to make some of the most special relationships that I will cherish forever. If you're thinking of joining this program you won't regret it, you're in for the adventure of your life.

Haley S.

I came to the High Desert Center (HDC) for the 2022 Writing Retreat! It was a month-long get-away and a writing challenge as a part of my gap summer before starting my graduate program (MA in Creative Writing) in the fall. Working alongside other writers around my age was an absolute blast, compared to other writing retreats that only cater to older adults, and I would highly recommend this retreat to any writer between the ages of 18 and 24 who wants to challenge themselves not only to write a 50k word book by the end of the month but those who also want to experience what it would be like to live a sustainable lifestyle, composting toilets and solar shower included.

Cori S.

If someone had told me on that first day the sense of achievement I would gain from summiting the peaks towering off in the distance, or the warm fuzzy feeling I would get every time I saw my community all together whether for a meeting or a meal, or how I would look back on who I was then and not feel embarrassed but rather proud of how hard I worked to be who I am now, I would have said “No, that’s impossible.”

With the rock-solid support of the incredible staff, and the love and lessons I received from my peers, I was able to grow into the empowered, inspired, and capable person I am now. The community we built was what made my Gap Year experience what it was—challenging, fulfilling, joyful, and real.

I recommend this Gap Year to any young person with the desire to build strong relationships, grow as a person, and be themselves.

Seraya T.

The High Desert Center regularly opens their arms to young adults, and releases them into the world with both the spirit, curiosity, and unabashed love of a child, as well as the reverence, resilience, and introspection of someone much older. I have never encountered an organization so dedicated to authenticity and creativity, where the teachers respect the students as much as the students respect the teachers, where spontaneity and adventure is met with enthusiasm rather than restriction, and where all opinions and identities are not only welcomed, but cherished. It’s difficult to do this experience justice, but there is one word that comes to mind; delight. At HDC, we learn to delight in the things that had before gone unnoticed, in the company and warmth of other people, in the silence and the sadness, in the pleasure of listening, and in the anger and the joy. I believe this leads all participants to walk away with a rare skill - to create a good life whomever they’re with and wherever they go. It has been the greatest pleasure of my life to spend a year here. I know I’m not the only one.

Milla V.

I can't begin to express how incredible and valuable my experience with the High Desert Center was. I highly recommend their programs for any young people seeking a life changing, eye opening experience!

Jillian

The High Desert Center was one of the most magical and beautiful times of my life! It was for the first time in my life I really felt I belonged somewhere. I discovered all these new and wonderful things. The people I met are forever going to be family to me. They are what made this experience so special. I now feel I can follow where my heart desires and I know I will be okay. I developed so much trust in myself and in the world during my time at HDC. Much love 🙂 ♥️

Kathryn E.

My gap year with the High Desert Center was a truly mystical experience that always left me thinking, “how is my life this wonderful?” Through doing fanatical outdoor adventures, making lifelong connections, and having the ability to learn about what makes me most passionate, I found myself growing and changing into a person I can admire. I have gained confidence in myself, and my ability to enter into the world as a more developed and passionate person. I would recommend this program to anyone and everyone looking for an amazing adventure and the chance to meet and connect with truly wonderful people.

Samuel L.

I am not the same person I was when I started at the High Desert Center. None of my friends there are either. I have experienced us all grow together in so many ways: physically, emotionally, spiritually, socially, and energetically.

Whether it be cuddling in the van late at night, having group check-ins, engaging in vulnerable conversations, working together, or playing games together, this gap year provides an abundance of opportunities to bond and grow with people. This was the first time in my life that I had found so many people that all shared the same interests I did. This made it easy for me to get along and open myself up.

One of my biggest takeaways from the year is having a cultivated mindset of POSSIBILITY. Having gone to the High Desert Center I feel so much more confidence in myself and in my ability to tackle the world.

If you want growth, connection, adventure, and community, then sign up for this amazing gap year. Period.