Guatemala
Bolivia
Senegal
China
Nepal
Cambodia
Indonesia
Program Overview
Group travel is a great way to access new cultures, build community with other students, and develop important travel skills. But after months spent in the close company of peers, you may be feeling the need to spread your wings...
…and yet, it can be hard to know where to even start!
How can I break out of the backpacker tourist traps and questionable “voluntourism” industry? How do I build authentic connections with individuals and communities without the benefit of trusted contacts on the ground? Who do I call for support in times of need?
The Independent Spring Experience (ISE) provides opportunities for meaningful cross-cultural engagement outside the structure of a group semester, but still with the support of Dragons resources and mentorship. We work with individual students to co-create a personalized and self-directed experience. Utilizing our decades of expertise in cross-cultural education, international risk management and emergency response, and ethical community engagement, an ISE program is an empowering next step in your Gap Year progression.
Why choose a Dragons…
…and yet, it can be hard to know where to even start!
How can I break out of the backpacker tourist traps and questionable “voluntourism” industry? How do I build authentic connections with individuals and communities without the benefit of trusted contacts on the ground? Who do I call for support in times of need?
The Independent Spring Experience (ISE) provides opportunities for meaningful cross-cultural engagement outside the structure of a group semester, but still with the support of Dragons resources and mentorship. We work with individual students to co-create a personalized and self-directed experience. Utilizing our decades of expertise in cross-cultural education, international risk management and emergency response, and ethical community engagement, an ISE program is an empowering next step in your Gap Year progression.
Why choose a Dragons Independent Spring Experience (ISE)?
We have heard from past students that their independent spring travels lacked adequate intention and guidance, which left them feeling lost or even conflicted about the ethics and efficacy of a volunteer placement; and accordingly, we heard a desire for more on-the-ground mentorship and support in order to thrive. Based on feedback from students and partner organizations, we created ISE programs to meet the need for a more intentionally supported, independent cross-cultural experience in your Gap Year progression.
What does a ISE program consist of?
ISE programs are offered in places where Dragons has long-established and active community networks. We are currently offering ISE options in Guatemala, Bolivia, Senegal, Nepal, Cambodia, and Indonesia. Each program site is staffed by a Dragons On-Site Coordinator: a veteran Dragons instructor with expertise in the country and extensive experience working with Dragons Gap Year students and our standards of excellence. The On-Site Coordinator has weekly face-to-face meetings with each student, conducts a multi-day orientation focused on safety, cultural norms, and strategies for engagement, and acts as a cultural facilitator and mentor throughout. ISE programs have a strong emphasis on cultural and language immersion and in-depth exploration of critical issues. Participants are placed with a trusted homestay family for the duration of the program, receive intensive language instruction (if desired), and are paired with local mentors for an Independent Study Project (ISP). In addition, participants have 24/7 access to our in-country and international emergency response resources. ISE programs have two start dates (January 15 and February 15) with a 6-week minimum length and the option for weekly extensions up until May 1st.
