We believe that as parents you will be on your own journey as your son or daughter walks through theirs. Our goal is to work with you in partnership, knowing God is going to do amazing things in your life as well. On this page you will find answers to most of your questions, if you don’t find the answers you’re looking for, feel free to reach out to one of our leaders by emailing info@e4life.org and we will be glad to answer any questions you may still have.
WHAT IS A GAP YEAR?
A gap year is an intentional break between highschool and college, college years, post undergrad or even just a year to refresh. A gap year can be used for work, travel, volunteering, exploring, and self discovery
WHY DO A GAP YEAR?
There are many studies that show the benefits of taking a gap year. According to a study done in 2005 and 2013, most gap year participants choose to do a gap year due to burnout and self discovery. Gap year students are exposed to culture and people groups that broaden their world view. Many colleges actually encourage gap years as gap year students have shown to have higher GPAs, change majors less often, and have greater life experiences. Fewer than 1% of incoming college freshmen have taken gap years in the U.S, taking a gap year gives most students an advantage in the job market down the road as well.
At E4Life, we have 3 core values. First is equipping, equipping a generation with deep biblical teachings, biblical identity, leadership skills, helping students to understand who God is and who he calls them to be. Second is experience, we want our students to experience intentional biblical community by living together, worshipping together, serving together and growing together. The goal is to allow the team to challenge each other daily to look more like Jesus. And third is encounter. We want students to encounter God through adventure, cultural immersion, and challenges. These experiences are designed to get students out of their comfort zone and into a place where they rely on God and discover the unique giftings He has given them.
WHAT ARE THE DATES AND RATES?
The program starts in August and ends in June including Christmas break in December. The cost is $13,450 which will cover housing, food, classes, monthly adventure excursions, a trip to Peru and a mission venture.The cost of the program is tax deductible per IRS regulations and a support raising option to pay for the program is available as well.
WHO WILL BE LEADING THIS JOURNEY?
Our thoroughly vetted staff is a diverse group of pastors, teachers, missionaries, and adventurers. Many of our teachers and staff are from our partner church Rocky Mountain Calvary. They all have a heart to serve the next generation and see them come into their purpose and calling. Please check out the staff page for more detailed info.
The classroom teachers are all part of our network of pastors, missionaries, industry leaders, educators, and teachers. We’ve hand picked each teacher because we personally know their character and expertise.
You will be able to meet most of the staff in person on an open house, move in weekend, or even over a phone call that can be set up through your student’s admissions advisor
WHAT WILL BE THEIR ACCOMMODATIONS AND WHAT WILL THEY EAT?
All participants will be living on campus in Colorado Springs. The RA’s will be responsible for shepherding participants to mature in interpersonal relationships and everyday living responsibilities that new adults may not know. Depending on the size of each class, participants will likely share rooms and bathrooms (men and women will be kept separate). The group will be given a food budget that they will use at their own discretion, most food will be provided on campus. They will be responsible for cooking all of their meals when not provided.
HOW SAFE WILL THE “ADVENTURES” BE?
We understand that whenever you adventure or travel there is risk involved. However we have put in place safety protocols for most situations, but there are always situations you cannot plan for. People get sick and accidents happen. Each student will walk through a safety briefing and will be with experienced leaders who are well educated and traveled. We access each and every country’s political, weather and all other risks before sending anyone to a region. We are flexible and ask that you are as well when it comes to expectations, because things can change quick.
WHILE ABROAD, WHAT SHOULD MY STUDENT DO IF THEY NEED HELP?
Participants will be accompanied by staff while abroad. Each location abroad has been picked due to our personal relationship there and an understanding of their environment. We do our best to stay up to date on the environmental, social, and political climate of our international locales. Our partners on the ground take a great priority on participant safety and assist us in preparing for safety measures.
In case of an emergency, our primary concern will be the participants’ health and safety. In an emergency, our first steps will be to partner with local authorities to stabilize any situation. We will be in contact with the local US embassy and be prepared to evacuate if necessary. Students WILL have access to their phones and the internet. There is always a risk while doing anything abroad but our staff prioritizes limiting any unnecessary risks and are very comfortable with the safety of our international trips. Our staff has personal experience in navigating emergency situations while overseas, and all situations were handled with wisdom successfully.
Please feel free to email us at info@e4life.org with any more questions or concerns.
Parents FAQs
Flights back to the United States at the end of the second semester are generally not booked until 2-3 months before the end of the semester. Students will be responsible for their travel home after the final debrief in Colorado. Before making definite arrangements, please talk to your student about his/her preferences. Some may want to roadtrip home with friends or go to a teammate’s house for a few days before heading on home. As hard as that is for some parents, sometimes it’s an important thing to do, if possible, since the goodbyes can be very hard.
Students are provided with a packing list in their E4 Passport. Keep in mind that there are personal preferences. What one student may consider essential, another student may have a “wish I’d left at home” list. We ask that all students keep to one bag weighing less than 50 pounds.
Yes, but it will be his/her responsibility to do this. It is best to sign up ahead of time and while exact airlines and flights won’t be known, almost all airlines belong to one of the 3 major partnerships: Star Alliance, Oneworld and Sky Team. Some airlines may allow you to add fights retroactively, but there are often time limits on doing that. It is a good idea for students to take pictures of boarding passes, ticket info, etc. in case information for retroactive credit is needed. Enrolling in these partnerships ahead of time requires knowing frequent flyer numbers when checking in for flights.
What we recommend is that students leave their phones in airplane mode to avoid overuse and accidentally incurring large roaming charges, especially when we are overseas. With their phones in airplane mode, they can still use wifi based communication tools. Most families have found these to be the most helpful: Facetime, FB Messenger, WhatsApp. We recommend that parents and students coordinate these apps before departure so that you can communicate.
Venmo can also be a helpful app. Although we have never heard of any problems using it with students, their terms of service do say you have to be physically in the U.S. to access it. In any event, it can help facilitate getting money to your student quickly if a debit card isn’t able to be used or if it gets lost.
Most students do take their phones on national/international travel; however, international phone/data plans are typically not necessary. When deciding, keep in mind that we encourage minimal use of phones and social media while completing the gap year, in hopes of curbing unhealthy use of them. Instead, we encourage being fully present while on ministry days or when studying.
Some students suspend their account which allows them to keep their number but not have access to phone or data, except through wifi. Because plans are always changing and because cell phone providers vary in terms of what they offer, it is best to talk to your provider for how long a plan can be suspended and for details regarding data used overseas.
Many carriers now offer an national/international plan that does not cost anything until it is used, and then it is $10 for 24 hours; however, this is not a good option for students who plan to call home every day (activating a $10 charge each 24 hour period). For a “just in case I have a bad day and want to call home” use, a lot of parents find this provides a nice middle ground.
First, talk to your provider to see what the options are. If you plan to drop, suspend, or lower your student’s coverage while away, check with your insurer about what documentation is needed. If an out-of-country letter is needed, we can provide that before departure.
Typically, students have the option to opt out of jury duty one time as a student. If local authorities require proof of being out of the country, we can provide needed documentation on E4 letterhead.
Students need spending money for things such as extra food or drinks, souvenirs, or free day experiences (hiking Machu Picchu, safaris in Africa, white water rafting on the Nile). Most students find $100-$200 per month is adequate. Some months more is spent on adventures than others depending on the location and what is nearby. For unplanned adventure opportunities, it is helpful for students to have access to a joint account/ATM card (not just an authorized user account) that waives or refunds international transaction fees and that gives parents the ability to add cash and/or solve problems as necessary while their student is out of the country.
We do NOT recommend that students travel with large amounts of cash or that they try to get foreign currency before departure. Local ATM withdrawals are the primary way to access cash. Look for a checking account with a debit card that does not charge international transaction or ATM fees. We recommend Charles Schwab but also know that USAA, Capital One Venture, and others have good reputations for overseas use as well. Also, it is a good idea for students to have a credit card in their name for emergencies, such as medical situations. Apply for these cards early to avoid last minute stress or complications, cards not arriving, cards not working, etc., and make sure they work in the U.S. before departure. If using existing cards rather than getting new ones, check expiration dates and renew them before departure if needed. Lastly, as departure dates near, notify banks of travel plans so that cards do not get frozen for potential fraudulent use.
If your student is comfortable sharing passwords, it can help if your assistance is needed while overseas. There are locations where students will not have reliable wifi and may be unable to comply with instructions to change passwords, etc.
While the ultimate decision about granting parents the power of attorney rests with the student, it can be a helpful document to have if the student plans to turn to parents for help in the case of an emergency or when filing taxes. A joint checking account or credit card also makes it easier for parents to resolve issues, obtain replacement cards, etc. Please be aware that there is a significant difference between being a joint account holder and an authorized person on an account. In addition, many banks require you to use their own form, and they will not honor a general POA. Note: Some parents typically have no problems with the authorized user/bank-specific POA approach while others have had major problems. However you decide, be aware that being a joint account holder does affect a parent’s “assets” on FAFSA forms and could change the Expected Family Contribution calculation for the student or their siblings. The fact that parent assets are considered to be approximately 12% available for EFC, combined with the small amounts in most student accounts and the other parts of the EFC formula, the impact is often minimal.
If your student will be enrolling in or returning to school after the gap year, you may need a school-specific POA in order to handle deposits, course selection, etc. Check with that school for more information.
Regarding medical POA: While you can certainly consult an attorney if you feel the need to do so, in practical terms, emergency medical decisions will need to be made by people in the closest proximity to the situation on the field. We have been advised that HIPPA releases apply to U.S. laws and are ineffective internationally.
Due to legal reasons, we cannot send medicine to the field via staff; therefore, students with ongoing prescription needs should have a 3-4 month supply on their person and also carry a copy of the prescription allowing for refills. If it needs to be refilled overseas, the best procedure is generally to visit a doctor while in country so that the prescription can be filled locally. If you have any concerns about your student’s particular situation or medication, please contact us.
As an organization, we do not require participants to have any specific vaccinations; however, we recommend talking to your doctor and reviewing traveler’s health recommendations for what is best for your student while abroad. (See the Malaria and Yellow Fever section below for the exception to this.) Due to the nature of work students may be doing on the field, students should know before departure the date of their most recent tetanus booster or if one is/will be needed. Because some vaccines require multiple doses given a month or more apart and to allow enough time to get those, students will be made aware of their excursion country while on Christmas break. E4Life does not cover the cost of any vaccine or medication your student needs and cannot control what countries mandate which vaccine.
Malaria and Yellow Fever: Students need to be prepared to be anywhere in the country they are assigned, and this may include a mandatory Yellow Fever vaccine and/or Malaria medication. Keep in mind that malaria medication can be purchased reliably overseas, often more cheaply than in the U.S.; however, Yellow Fever vaccines must be administered prior to arrival in country.
CoVid – 19: Because mandates are constantly changing in the world, we do not have specific or long standing instructions regarding this virus. The most up to date responses will be given when possible, and travel to countries mandating the CoVid vaccine will be avoided by E4Life.
E4Life requires all international participants to be covered through a group plan administered by Seven Corners. The Seven Corners plan provides care and support in the event of injury or illness internationally. It also includes medical evacuation if the insurance company believes the insured cannot receive adequate care abroad. E4Life will purchase the coverage on behalf of the participant, and the cost is covered by student fees. Please keep in mind that E4 is not the insurance company, and specific decisions reside solely with the insurance company.
While students are informed on how the policy works and the ultimate responsibility for paperwork rests with them, leaders are available to help students navigate the medical care system overseas.
Due to standard practices for overseas medical expenses and because international hospitals are unable to directly bill a stateside insurance company, students do need to be prepared to pay medical costs out of pocket and then submit them to the insurance company for reimbursement. This means students should have access to a credit or debit card in their name that is able to handle a major expense. In some cases, where the expense is very high, our insurance broker may be able to arrange a guarantee of payment that will eliminate the need for out of pocket payment, but parents should not rely on that possibility. Also, in some areas, passports may be held by a hospital until payment is made or other arrangements are approved.
If your student is covered under a domestic insurance policy they should carry a copy of that card with them. They will need to simultaneously file with that insurance company and the travel insurance company. This must be done even if you know your insurance company will not pay anything. In order to prevent insurance fraud, the travel policy cannot make a payment until it has been denied/partially approved by your insurer.
The international policy terminates as soon as they return to the states at the end of their semester. For students who do not already have domestic coverage in place or who need a bridge policy while they look for a longer term solution, we advise them to go to www.healthcare.gov and find a policy there.
Please keep in mind that while in the US, all students will be required to have their OWN COVERAGE. E4Life does not provide insurance while students are state side.
