Immersion • Service • Community
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The
VISIONS
Blog
Program Updates and Notes from the Field
Dig deeper into stories of friendships, community and projects.
LOCATION SPOTLIGHT: OUR NEW MONTANA FARM
As of September, we’ve purchased OUR VERY OWN VISIONS FARM, a sprawling historic property nestled at the base of Montana’s Bridger Mountains. This farm will be the base for all our Montana Gap programs and Teen Summer Farm programs moving forward
Upcoming Informational Webinars
Join us for an informational webinar about Gap and summer programs.
What is a Wilderness First Responder
Answer to the question, “What is a Wilderness First Responder?”
Program Highlights: Montana Summer 1
30 adventurous teens worked on sustainable farming and regenerative ranching activities, permaculture, volunteering at the Food Bank, packaging books for distribution to Montana reservations, and site preparations at a local cohousing neighborhood.
Growing the Nonprofit VISIONS Foundation
The VISIONS Foundation was established in 2016 and promotes cross cultural exchange by supporting service-learning opportunities for students around the world. The Foundation also partners with international organizations to respond to their community’s most pressing needs. Building on the Foundation’s past success, we are focusing additional effort in growing its capacity this summer.
Spotlight: Hilary Moses, VISIONS ALUM
VISIONS alum, Hilary Moses, reflects on the high school summer program that influenced her educational and professional tracks towards becoming a therapist of adolescents.
Spotlight: Emma Friedman, VISIONS ALUM
Read and watch a heartfelt interview with 2019 Montana Blackfeet participant, Emma Friedman, about her teen volunteer experience.
Spotlight: Arielle Ortega, VISIONS ALUM
Interview with 2019 Montana Blackfeet participant, Arielle Ortega, on what she is up to now, what she took away from the teen service trip, and where she is headed.
Spotlight: Leyri Garcia, PROGRAM LEADER
Leyri Garcia hails from the Dominican Republic and joined the VISIONS family in 2010. Back then, he was a young community member looking to help out and practice his English. He grew with VISIONS into a leadership role and has been a terrific member of our summer staff since 2015. Check out some of his amazing photography!
Spotlight: Summer Search (Partner Organization)
For the past 25 years individual students from Summer Search have joined our programs, but last year this relationship grew in a special way. We are proud of this connection. Here’s why . . .
Earthquake rocks Alaskan village but VISIONS-built center endures
In November 2002, a massive earthquake rocked a small Alaskan community, damaging nearly every structure—except for the community center built just 3 months prior by VISIONS Alaska volunteers.
Middle School Students to Volunteer and Experience Life on the Blackfeet Reservation
The Yellow Bird Woman Sanctuary is named in honor of the life and legacy of Elouise Cobell. Middle school participants this summer will learn how to care for the land and engage in local traditions from members of the Blackfeet Reservation community.
Wes Hedden Returns to VISIONS as Dominican Republic Program Director
“We are seeing generational shifts as young people step into their potential as leaders… We have a lot to learn from young people. I look forward to learning from the participants in our DR programs in the summer of 2020, and I hope to help them recognize leadership qualities within themselves.”
Reviews Contest 2020
Participate in our Reviews Contest before February 14th! Share a bit about your VISIONS experience and be entered to win a 2020 hoodie.
Where We Live
While service work is at the root of each teen service program, it’s in equal measure with cultural immersion that transcends the experience of an average tourist. In all of our homes away from home, we live very much as local people do, and we are part of the fabric of daily life.