FAQs

 

What other costs I should be aware of?  The cost above covers basically all the costs of the 9-month program. Students will be responsible for having basic outdoor gear and a list of required books. Donated gear or books may be available.

 

Can I earn college credit at Planted? Planted is not independently accredited nor accredited under the umbrella of a university. This allows us to keep our costs lower (since students are not paying the school's credit cost) and enables us to maintain more discretion over our program and curriculum. However, students who are interested in pursuing further schooling may receive credit for some of their classes at Planted from certain colleges and universities. Contact david@plantedgapyear.org for more information.

 

Can students at Planted receive federal financial aid or student loans? No, because Planted is not formally accredited either independently or through another institution, students are not eligible for federal financial aid.

 

Are there any scholarships available? Making a year at Planted affordable for students and families is very important to us, and we are even now at work building a scholarship fund. We believe that scholarships will be available even for this coming 2022-23 program year. Similar to staff at Planted, students may also raise support from friends and family to help cover Planted's cost or seek sponsorship from their local church for this year of training, equipping, and service.

 

Can I bring a vehicle to Planted? Yes, having a car is helpful for getting involved in the life and ministry of your local church as well as exploring the Wellsboro area during free time. Having a vehicle is not required.

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Can I bring an instrument? Please do! There are plenty of opportunities for students to worship together through music. 

 

How many hours a week will we be working? Students will work on the farm about 2 hours a day on average. When combined with classes, reading and assignments, trips, and ministry in their local church, students will not have time for additional work off campus.

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What about communication with friends and family during the program? Students can use their laptops (or good old fashioned letter writing!) to communicate with loved ones. In order to help the student be present and engaged in the program, personal cell phones are only available on weekends. 

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How long does the program last and what are the dates? The 9 month program runs from late August to mid-May. Contact David at david@plantedgapyear.org for specific dates.

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Are there any breaks? Yes, there are short breaks. Half a week for Thanksgiving and Easter and a longer break, about a month, for Christmas in between semesters. 

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Can students stay on-site during any of the breaks? Students are welcome to stay on-site for the shorter breaks, especially those who are traveling long distance. We encourage you to go home and spend time with your family over Christmas break. If this is especially challenging for some reason, we can discuss different options. 

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What makes Planted different from other Christian gap year/Bible school programs?

In many ways, we have similar goals to other Christian gap year / Bible school programs whose mission is primarily centered around discipleship. What sets us apart is our approach to integrate creation into discipleship as much as possible. We believe that God is a God who speaks, and therefore we must listen. He speaks and reveals Himself through creation (Romans 1, Psalm 119: general revelation) and through His Scripture (special revelation). Through experiential learning on the farm, through outdoor adventures and life-skill development opportunities we integrate discipleship in all areas of the program. Living in a context where students live, work, study and adventure together with trained staff who are eager to integrate Scripture into every moment of life creates rich opportunities for ongoing conversations about Christ and what it means to follow Him.