GAP year in Central Florida- any suggestions?

[MOREMICKEYFORME]

My daughter is a Junior in high school and is being encouraged by her Guidance Counselor to take a GAP year. This is where you take a year off to do community service, work for room an board, etc.
We attended a GAP year fair a few weeks ago and there were some programs that charge you $35,000 per SEMESTER to attend-granted this was in another country, but pahleeese...
There were also some agencies there who would charge you a $2200.00 fee to assist you in looking for opportunities and match your child with the best fit. I don't have $2200.00, and figured I could try and do some research myself.
She wants to be in Central Florida and be in a Social Work field. I figured I would call the United Way in Central Florida as a start...any other suggestions?
-Does anyone else know of a student who has done this?
Thanks Dis Friends

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

Whaaa? $35,000/semester? That is ridiculous. The idea of gap years scare me, though. I'd be afraid of the person getting used to their life and not willing to go to college after this gap year. Luckily your daughter has an interest so I don't think that would be a worry for you. Anyways, I found this website http://www.gapyear.com that might give you some ideas. I imagine volunteering at orphanages and whatnot would be great experience for the social work field. And since this a Disney board, I thought I'd point out that Disney has a Career Start program which is essentially their College Program but for recent high school graduates.

 

[LisaR]

I highly recommend you read the book, "The New Global Student." Granted, it isn't going to help your DD with something in FL but it might point you in the right direction. It is an excellent read.

http://www.amazon.com/New-Global-St...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259361419&sr=1-1

 

[MOREMICKEYFORME]

Thank you.
I will certainly check out those sites and read up on the book.
I never even thought of an orphanage...I was thinking about a Boys & Girls club, but this is why I posted here. I knew my Dis friends would have other ideas!