Latitudes & Group Semesters
From 1998 through June of 2007, LEAPNOW ran guided three-month-long group semesters in Central & South America, India, and Australia/New Zealand/Fiji. These adventures abroad are designed to give student travelers a broad-based, intense introduction to a country or region, within the security provided by a group of peers and two adult leaders. Homestays are integrated, and group size is kept small to maximize cultural exposure. These sojourns in another culture blend service work, language study, environmental and community work, outdoor adventure, and optional college credit.
These group semesters can also be done as part of the Latitudes Program which is described below - where they are combined with college credit and a 3-month individual internship.
Since June 2007, Group Semesters and Latitudes Programs have been run by Carpe Diem International Education, based in Portland, Oregon. Carpe Diem is owned and operated by Ethan Knight, who worked at LEAPNOW in multiple capacities between 1999 and 2007. In the years prior to purchasing the semester programs and founding Carpe Diem, he was one of four LEAPNOW executive staff members and was directly responsible for all facets of running our Group and LEAPYEAR semesters. Prior to directing LEAPNOW Semester Operations, he led four semesters – two in Central America, one in India, and a semester to Bali & India. Ethan has dedicated his professional life to international study and travel, and has lived, worked and run programs in Africa, Latin America and throughout Asia.
LEAPNOW had planned to phase out the group semesters and focus exclusively on our year-long programs, but felt that the group semesters were a vital program offering. The ability to maintain seamless continuity and our high quality standard made it a no-brainer to continue these programs under the capable direction of Ethan Knight and the ownership of Carpe Diem. You can contact Carpe Diem at 503-285-1800 or through their website at www.carpediemeducation.org/.
Here are short descriptions of Carpe Diem's programs. Detailed information and application forms can be found at the Carpe Diem website (www.carpediemeducation.org).
AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND & FIJI
A blend of volunteer work, cultural exploration and adventure.
Three months of outdoor adventure and volunteer work in Fiji,
Australia and New Zealand. Our group of 10-12 (+2 leaders) starts by
doing labor for low-income families and community projects in Fiji.
We then do conservation work with Maori villages and on a penguin
sanctuary, followed by an outdoor leadership course in New Zealand.
Then we spend a month in Australia doing conservation work in the
outback, learning about Aboriginal culture, spending time at a
Buddhist retreat center or Yoga retreat center, and getting SCUBA
certified on the Great Barrier Reef.
(One may also do the South Pacific Semester within the Latitudes Program.)
South Pacific Information and Application
CENTRAL AMERICA:
Costa Rica, Guatemala & Honduras
Language, Culture & Service. A 3-month broad introduction to Central America. Students split
their one month of intensive language study and homestays between
the Peten region and the western region of Guatemala. The group will
also get a chance to give back to this country by helping in service
projects for low-income families and communities. Some time will be
spent exploring important cultural sites in Guatemala before heading
to Costa Rica, where participants will track & protect endangered
sea turtles on either the Caribbean coast or the Nicoya Peninsula.
The program ends as the group gets SCUBA certified on the
spectacular Bay Islands off Honduras.
(One can also do a Central America Semester within the Latitudes Program.)
Central America Information and Application
Journey to INDIA
Carpe Diem takes a group of 4-8 people to India to expose them to
the major spiritual traditions and practices of India. While
traveling throughout northern India, our group spends two weeks with
Indian families while studying Hindi and doing internships and
service work in Varanasi such as with the Mother Theresa Home for
the Destitute. The group will also learn Buddhist meditation in
Dharamsala and Bodh Gaya, treks in the Himalayas, visits places of
pilgrimage such as the Taj Mahal and Golden Temple, and does service
work with orphanages. This program is for people who have an
interest in Eastern spirituality, and gives direct experience of
Buddhism, Hinduism, and the Sikh religion.
(One can also do the India Semester within a LEAPYEAR Program or the Latitudes Program.)
India Information and Application
EAST AFRICA
A cultural and environmental semester to introduce you to the
people, land and culture of Sub-Saharan East Africa. Students will
travel through Tanzania, Uganda, and Zanzibar. In Tanzania, students
will spend their days volunteering in rural communities on school
construction projects while living with homestays and learning
Kiswahili. Students will take part in an environmental conservation
project in Uganda, before traveling to Zanzibar and getting SCUBA
certified. The program gives you unique insight into the meeting of
the modern world and rural tribal cultures. There is an optional
addition at the end of the trip to continue your stay in Tanzania to
acclimatize and attempt to ascend to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
This is offered at an additional cost.
(One can also do the East Africa Semester within the Latitudes Program.)
East Africa Information and Application
SOUTH AMERICA
Language, Culture, Service, and Adventure. This program is an
exploration of the highlands, jungles, forests, and coasts of Peru
and Ecuador. Students split their one month of intensive
language study and home stays between the volcanic highlands of
Arequipa, Peru and Otavalo, Ecuador. The groups cultural
immersion explores the ways of life of the native Matsiguenka jungle
tribe to the cultural traditions of the Quechua descendants of the
Incas. Learn sustainable living practices while giving back to
the beautiful people and land of Peru and Ecuador with volunteer
projects of environmental conservation and ecotourism. The
grand finale of this program ends in Darwin's living museum-the
famous Galapagos Islands.
(One can also do the South America Semester within a LEAPYEAR Program or the Latitudes Program.)
South America Information and Application
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Environment,
Culture, Service, language, and of course, Adventure. This program
is an exploration of the many spheres of life throughout Southeast
Asia. Starting in Laos volunteering with orangutans, then to
the capital of Ventiane for some volunteer work with street
children. Then we travel overland to Cambodia, take in the
vistas of Phnom Penh and relax a bit before traveling by boat up
river to Siem Reap and Angkor Wat for a few days of sightseeing.
Traveling a short bus ride to Battambang we volunteer for a week
teaching kids and working on a construction project to benefit the
poorest of the poor. Flying then to Thailand and up to Chiang
Rai we start in on Thai language classes, and then living/working
with a local Karen tribe in the highlands. We'll take an
introduction to Thai Buddhism course, and finish our time in the
north with a trek. From the north we travel down south by
train - taking in the sites and beautiful Thai vistas - and start a
week of SCUBA certification to cap off the semester. You can
expect to be pushed in a lot of realms - heat being one, but also
the basic living standards of Cambodia, Laos, and the Karen tribe in
Thailand. We balance our time in those basic environs with
time in cities for the occasional dose of a shower and internet.
(One can also do the Southeast Asia Semester within the Latitudes Program.)