the gap year experience

The Wy’East Mountain Academy Gap Year Experience is designed for high school graduates, ages 17-19, seeking a highly supportive and engaging academic and action sports adventure culture. It is for skiers, snowboarders, skateboarders, mountain bikers, and adventurers of all levels. While taking first year college courses online, Gap Year Experience students live on campus at Wy’East’s private 28-acre campus, nestled between famed Mt. Hood, and vibrant Portland, Oregon. This is an opportunity for academic & athletic refinement immersed in a supportive environment filled with people of shared passions and aspirations.

Whether or not you have been accepted to the college or university of your choice, our academic faculty and advisors will guide and support you during your Gap Year to prepare you for that next step. Upon enrollment, we’ll schedule an initial academic advisory meeting to identify goals and individualized needs and devise a unique academic plan. While on campus, Wy’East academic advisors will shepherd your academic journey with daily and weekly student, parent, and coach communications to ensure academic success.

Regardless of your ability, you’ll be guided by some of the best coaches in action sports with programs designed and directed by our multi-Olympic medal coaches. Whether you ski, snowboard, skateboard, mountain bike, surf, or just love adventures, you will travel the west, the nation, and even the world in as you refine your skills while exploring the outdoors. Your home base for all these adventures will be Wy’East’s incredible 28-acre campus featuring an all-weather indoor skate park, airbags for skate / bike & and snow, dry slope jumps, miles of mountain bike trails, a brand new fitness center Olympic trampolines and more.

Right place. Right time. Right coaches. 

If English is not your first language, the Gap Year Experience provides an additional year to master the language while being immersed in American culture. International Gap Year students benefit immensely from this extra year of preparation in advance of attending any university.

Wy’East is host to students from around the world, making it an ideal experience for cultural exchange, providing a greater understanding of the world community. In order to attend, International Gap Year participants must obtain a 6 month B-1 or B-2 visa. These visas are extendable for another 6 months after the initial period.