VISIONS roots go back to the early 1970s, when a few New York friends and educators relocated to a Pennsylvania farm to establish an experiential summer camp for teens. The kids excelled at the construction projections and farm work, and loved the camaraderie of living and working together with a shared sense of purpose.
In 1988, we created VISIONS to carry these ideas beyond the farm into the larger world—taking experiential learning to another level and tapping into teenagers’ abilities, with the goal of helping others. Our oldest ongoing programs launched 27 years ago in Montana on the Blackfeet and Northern Cheyenne Reservations and in the Dominican Republic. Our newest addition began six years ago in Cambodia.
When we develop new programs, we do so with long-term partnerships in mind. These enduring relationships translate into exceptional opportunities for deep cultural learning. Teens interact with local people who know and care for them, and leave with a greater understanding of what life is like in other parts of the world.