Gap Pacific Islands Spring 2024

My name is Gillian and I am ecstatic to co-lead the Pacific Islands Gap Semester program. Originally from New Jersey, I attended Hobart and William Smith Colleges where I graduated with BAs in psychology and philosophy and a minor in child advocacy. Studying abroad in England was where I first found my passion for the outdoors. I now cherish all outdoor activities, but especially backpacking, skiing, trail running, and cycling. I maintain that travel is one of the single best things someone can do for reasons of gaining cultural exposure and humility, enduring and conquering hardships, and learning about oneself.

Upon graduation, I moved to Colorado and earned my Master of Social Work degree with certificates in Human-Animal-Environment Interactions and Global Social Work. During this time, I gained experience working with people of all identities individually and in groups in both therapeutic and recreational settings. In the past few years, my work has focused on enhancing the physical, cognitive, and emotional wellbeing of those with disabilities and those who are under-resourced. I feel incredibly lucky to have recently combined my passions and transfer this skillset to outdoor settings, holding roles as a trip leader, head of a trip program, and as an instructor leading ARCC’s Southeast Asia gap program last fall.

The places I’ve traveled and positions I’ve held are ones that have taught me new perspectives and ways of being. I’ve learned to always challenge my assumptions, communicate in all ways but verbally, implement restorative social and environmental practices, and live and travel more sustainably. My motto holds there is no growth in the comfort zone, and no comfort in the growth zone. This semester will be a gateway for us all to experience challenges, create lasting friendships, and establish a lifetime love of travel and new cultures. I am so excited to learn and grow together with you all in the Pacific Islands Gap Semester!

My name is John and I graduated from Claremont McKenna College with a BA in literature in 2017. During college, I studied abroad in Granada, Spain, taught empowerment to high school students in Japan, researched voluntourism in Cusco, Peru, and interned with a land trust in my hometown of Truckee, California.

I’ve lived abroad since graduating college, and some of my work experience includes guiding backpacking trips up volcanoes in Nicaragua, translating for a guiding service in the Andes in Bolivia, teaching English at a Brazilian university as part of the Fulbright Program, and conducting surveys on marine life and working in a coral nursery in Honduras. 

In addition to English, I speak Spanish and Portuguese. I’m also the president and co-founder of Full Belly Brasil, a 501c3 charitable organization helping solve world hunger and combating climate change. Our flagship programs are food recovery projects, but we also implement water projects, tree planting initiatives, and beach clean ups. So far, we’ve provided over 250,000 meals to families in need and decreased CO2 emissions by around half a million pounds. For more information, check out our Instagram @fullbellybrasil or our website http://fullbellybrasil.com.

This will be the sixth program I’ve led for ARCC. I can’t wait to get out to Indonesia and Fiji. I’ve worked two seasons in Bali and absolutely loved it. It’s been a dream to go to Sumatra, and the culture and national beauty of Fiji are supposed to be spectacular. I’ve wanted to lead this program for a long time, and I’m going to do everything I can to make it the most fun and impactful experience possible. I am a major believer in experiential education, and I can’t wait for the group to be together so we can get started. Let’s have a fun and meaningful semester.