High school service Location
Montana Blackfeet
Programs
Live on an iconic conservation ranch amidst the rolling hills of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in northwestern Montana with a Rocky Mountain backdrop. Engage in diverse volunteer projects as a way to show gratitude to this honorable community for sharing their lives with us. Attend cultural ceremonies, connect with the landscape, and prepare for a powerful experience that will resonate for a lifetime.
- True Immersion, Cultural Events & Ceremonies
- Glacier National Park, Swimming Holes & Scenic Hikes
- Carpentry, Conservation, Animal Care & Social Services
Program dates
montana blackfeet 1
Dates
June 17 - June 30
Length
14 Days
Service hours
40 - 50
Tuition
$4,590
montana blackfeet 2
Dates
July 5 - July 21
Length
17 Days
Service hours
60 - 75
Tuition
$5,390
montana blackfeet 3
Dates
July 26 - August 11
Length
17 Days
Service hours
60 - 75
Tuition
$5,390
montana blackfeet 1
Dates
June 17 - June 30
Length
14 Days
Service hours
40 - 50
Tuition
$4,590
montana blackfeet 2
Dates
July 5 - July 21
Length
17 Days
Service hours
60 - 75
Tuition
$5,390
montana blackfeet 3
Dates
July 26 - August 11
Length
17 Days
Service hours
60 - 75
Tuition
$5,390
We were like one big family. I did new things, made new friends, learned about myself, and had so much fun. I have grown a lot and I brought that home with me.
Connect deeply
Living and working with Blackfeet tribal members offers unforgettable insights into the generosity, wisdom and 10,000 year-old culture of the Plains Indians.
friends become family
Your experience with the Blackfeet Nation is enriched by three decades of partnerships that VISIONS teens have forged before your arrival. You’ll live on Blackfeet ancestral lands, where connections to each other and the land are inseparable. Respect for sacred cultural practices is an inherent part of each day and you’ll spend time with local people who warmly welcome you.
The atmosphere is family-like, beginning with gorgeous mornings and continuing throughout the day—whether at project sites, fun excursions, cookouts or campfires.
EXPLORE ADVENTUROUSLY
Under a famously big sky, Montana’s prairies, mountains, streams and glacial lakes provide an awesome launching point for adventurous fun.
Going beyond
With one of the most spectacular wilderness areas in our backyard, we take scenic hikes, spend a night camping, ride horses and do an introductory rock climb in true Montana style. There are also constant opportunities to learn about Plains Indians culture. We learn crafts from local artisans, explore the town of Browning, and spend time with tribal members who are native speakers, historians and healers.
Depending on the program session, you can attend the early-July or August Indian Days powwow, where dancing and drumming competitions, ornate regalia and teepees are a reminder of the power of resilience and tradition.
Activities & excursions
- Take Scenic Hikes & Cool Off in Mountain Streams
- Camp For a Night Under Thousands of Stars
- Attend a Powwow with Traditional Dancing & Drumming
- Horseback Ride with Blackfeet Outfitters
- Tour historic sites & Museum of the Plains Indian
- Rock Climb with Professional Guides
I loved getting out of my city lifestyle and living a simpler life that was more carefree.
Julianna Ross
WORK HARD
Service matters
With the highest percentage of Americans living below the poverty line, Indian reservations often lack adequate infrastructure and resources. Our work meets some of these needs in collaboration with local partners.
VISIONS teen volunteers use power and hand tools to build wheelchair ramps and other structures. We provide meals and interact with local kids at the Child Nutrition Program, and take on environmental initiatives ranging from removing invasive weeds to biological surveys for Glacier Volunteers.
Projects also include setting up teepee lodges for ceremonies, caretaking the conservation ranch, fostering puppies, and more.
The community service was so incredibly rewarding. We were able to personally interact with those who would benefit from the work. I loved the work, and I’m so glad that I was able to contribute to such a wonderful cause.
Reviews
I gained a perspective about what is important, it is not landscape or architecture that make life and journeys special, it is the people you form bonds with and help. This trip will always be memorable not because of the places I saw but the people I met.
Katelyn W.
I made great friendships on my trip. I remember during circle we always talked about how quickly our group bonded, and how we didn’t expect to bond so fast. I just wanted to commend the counselors and teens for working so well together and creating bonds that will hopefully last a long time.
Maria R.
This summer was absolutely the best summer of my life. I made amazing friends and learned so much about myself and others. This trip was much more than just community service.
Jesi L.
Local spotlight
where you’ll live in montana
Local spotlight
where you’ll live in montana
Our homebase is the Yellow Bird Woman Sanctuary, a conservation ranch owned by the Blackfeet Indian Land Trust, located a few miles outside the main reservation town of Browning. Unobstructed views of Glacier National Park absorb us and we are mindful of our stewardship of the ranch’s rare ecosystem that includes one of the only glacial fen wetlands in the country.
Accommodations are basic but comfortable, and as part of our environmental responsibilities we are mindful of resources to minimize our impact. Read more about our Blackfeet home away from home.
VISIONS was originally invited to live at the ranch in the early 2000s by the late Elouise Cobell, a modern warrior for Indigenous justice whose impact lives on. We continue to live and work here in her honor, and in partnership with the Land Trust.
“With Elouise at the helm, they would bring the land back and by the following year accomplish something that had never been done before; formulate the first Land Trust in the country on an Indian Reservation.”
Local team spotlight
Elouise Cobell
Elouise Cobell, also known by her Blackfeet name Yellow Bird Woman, left an indelible impact on communities far and wide. Her story stands out in history as that of what President Obama called, “A Champion of Native American rights.” For VISIONS, she represents the model of an engaged citizen and she connected us to the land, history and community of the Blackfeet Nation in a profound way.
Want to know more?
Our Know Before You Go page has FAQs, packing lists, and more to help answer all your questions and help you prepare!
Related blog posts
Animal Welfare, Environmental Integrity & What We Eat on VISIONS Programs
VISIONS is taking a careful look at the food we serve during our community service programs for high school students, and we aim to reduce our dependence on factory farm-based animal products by 75%.
You’ve Been Adopted!
Animal welfare is an important aspect of VISIONS volunteer opportunities for high schoolers. On the Montana Blackfeet Indian Reservation, teens help foster these wonderful puppies and sometimes adopt them, bringing them to their new forever home!
Spotlight: Anni Lindenberg Knox, VISIONS Leader Alum
Anni Lindenberg Knox led VISIONS programs in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Montana and The Dominican Republic from 2003 through 2006. Her experience as a summer leader inspired her to continue her education and make it into her career.
Spotlight: Torin Young, 2024 VISIONS Montana Blackfeet Alum
Torin, a recent alum, reflects back on his community service program for high school students on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana, and how it has influenced his decision to explore a career in public policy.