Taking Off is a service for high school students, gap year students, college students and adults that are looking to take a gap year or more away from their current situation, be it: an alternative off-campus semester that provides credit, graduates who have no definite plans or are wanting to defer college, students choosing to take a leave of absence or looking for international experiences, and for those looking to change careers or wanting to take a break.

Founder and Director of Taking Off is Gail Reardon, who previously worked as a licensed independent social worker both at home and abroad in addition to designing, developing, and implementing various educational programs. Her partner Maureen Lavin-Arcand, M Ed, previously worked as a Speech Pathologist in schools and medical settings and has always had a love of traveling.

Taking Off helps individuals clarify their interests and goals and puts into action a safe plan. Through a personally tailored experience, Taking Off helps individuals formulate an individualized plan of action for their gap year. The service uses a highly specific and detailed questionnaire to obtain information on individual goals, preferences, interests, and situation. These responses are used to establish a unique experience for each individual in countries and environments around the globe. Individuals who participate in this program can obtain real life experience in diverse locations as well as gaining independence, maturity, confidence and self esteem, and clarity about future goals and choices.

Each Taking Off experience is unique in both location and activities. Participants have the opportunity to travel to multiple locations around the globe including Central and South America, North America, Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific, and more.

[This information came from Taking Off-Gap Year Consultants website]