You are not currently logged in

[sign-up for an account] [login]

VISIONS Service Adventures

Ambitious service work, cultural immersion, adventurous exploration

Since 1989 VISIONS has set the standard for volunteer summer programs for high school students abroad. Programs blend community service work, cross-cultural living and learning, adventurous exploration, and, at some sites, language immersion. We live and work in communities around the world in North, Central, and South America, the Caribbean West Indies, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

Summer Volunteer Programs for High School Students - Typical group size is 16 to 25 students and 4 to 6 staff leaders. Each program undertakes a central construction project and other service such as work with young children, environmental, wilderness or agricultural initiatives, renovation of homes and community buildings, mural painting, and more. Some programs offer internships with social development or environmental organizations, micro-businesses, artisans, farmers, fishermen, health workers.

Students learn construction skills from staff carpenters, local masons or maestros. Service work comprises roughly 60% of the program time. 

Our program sites include:

• Blackfeet Indian reservation, Montana
• Athabascan native village, Alaska
• Mississippi Gulf Coast
• Indigenous communities in Peru, Ecuador/Galapagos Islands, and Nicaragua
  
• Carib Indian Reserve in Dominica, West Indies
• Caribbean Island communities in Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda
• Cambodia
• Ghana
  
• Middle School Programs on Montana Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation and in the British Virgin Islands
  

Adventure and exploration activities vary depending on the program site. They include everything from ice or rock climbing to backpacking, sea-kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, hiking.

Our home base is a central community building such as a school, community center, church hall, or hostel. We work alongside and socialize with community members, participate in festivities and ceremonies, join in cultural customs, relax and enjoy time with local families with whom we have long-standing ties.

Spanish- and French-speaking sites usually include day visits to families.

We spend about 60% of our time engaging in various service projects with and for our host community. We also actively explore where we live, all the natural beauty and cultural discovery it offers. We spend quality time with local community members building friendships and learning from them about their lives.

Through service, authentic experience, and active exploration, VISIONS encourages new perspectives and dynamic learning.  We provide participants with broad opportunities and ample resources to create for themselves a transformative, perhaps life-changing summer.

Participants must be aged 11–18. The only qualification is a desire to participate, a flexible team-player attitude, a willingness to push one's comfort zone and to embrace new experiences.

VISIONS offers 4-week sessions in June/July and 3-week sessions in August.

For more information ...

Visit VISIONS Service Adventures at summer volunteer programs for high school students.

If you are 13 or older, you can also fill out this form to send them email.

Subject
Your Email
Do you want them to send you a brochure?

First Name
Last Name
Address
City
State/Prov	Select Outside USA/CanadaOther USAAlabamaAlaska Arizona ArkansasCalifornia Colorado ConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFlorida GeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinois IndianaIowaKansasKentucky LouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusetts MichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouri MontanaNebraskaNevadaNew Hampshire New JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth Carolina North DakotaOhioOklahomaOregon PennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth Carolina South DakotaTennesseeTexasUtah VermontVirginia WashingtonWest Virginia WisconsinWyomingAlbertaBritish Columbia ManitobaNew BrunswickNewfoundlandNova Scotia Northwest TerritoriesOntarioPrince Edward IslandQuebec SaskatchewanYukon
zip code
Country
Phone

Comments/ Questions
Security Code