Abernethy Gap Academy
What's it like?
Join our 6-month full-time residential program to grow in faith, develop your character, practice your soft skills and gain valuable life skills – all whilst living in Christian Community in the Cairngorms. Following the 6-month program there will be the opportunity for some students to stay on for an extra 6 months, putting what you have learnt into practice in one of our centres. We run two programs each year, starting in August and in March.
Weekly Program
Each week there will be 5 and a half action-packed days doing a mixture of timetabled adventure, service, and discipleship. Your time will be spent serving on the hospitality team (house, kitchen and maintenance), participating in our ‘Life and Faith Development’ programme and doing outdoor activities, both with our guests and with our Gap Year Outdoor Adventure Tutor. You will also have the opportunity to go on overnight expeditions.
Every Wednesday night you will join in with the Abernethy Team Fellowship program. This is an evening where the whole team meets together to enjoy external speakers (challenging and encouraging us with scripture), worship and other activities. You will also have the opportunity to plan and deliver a couple of sessions throughout your time with us.
Sometimes our groups have an evening program which you will be involved with. This will include helping to run wide games, supervising people around the bonfire, and assisting in the delivery of a Christian message to our guests who come to Abernethy.
Each Sunday morning will be spent joining the local community by going to the village church (Abernethy Parish Church).
Dates
We are currently accepting applications for our Abernethy Academy courses starting on the following dates (subject to final confirmation). Please specify which course you would like to join on your application form.
Monday 10th March 2025 – Sunday 31st August 2025
Monday 25th August 2025 – Sunday 1st March 2026
Monday 23rd February 2026 – Sunday 30th August 2026
Activities
The activities that you will take part in will include: adventure course; archery; canoeing; coasteering; gorge walking; hiking; kayaking; mountain biking; paddleboarding; raft building; rock climbing; skiing; team challenges and zip wire (to name a few).
Service
The serving element at Abernethy will include helping in the house and the kitchen (setting up and clearing away before and after meals; serving food; cleaning the house and making beds) and delivering games and activities to guests in the evening.
Life & Faith Development
You will also participate in our ‘Life and Faith Development’ programme of Bible studies, seminars and practical sessions to help you grow in your discipleship.
Academy Cost
The Gap Year is a voluntary position. This means that you do not get paid, but you will get your food and accommodation (including bills) free of charge.
