High school service Location
Montana Blackfeet
Programs
Live on a conservation ranch amidst the rolling grasslands of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in northwestern Montana with a backdrop of glacial peaks. Engage in diverse volunteer projects as a way to show gratitude to this honorable community for sharing their lives with us. Attend cultural events, connect with the land, and open yourself to a powerful experience that will resonate with you for a lifetime.
- Deep Immersion, Cultural Events & Ceremonies
- Rocky Mountains, Short Hikes & Swimming Holes
- Carpentry, Conservation, Animal Care & Human Services
montana blackfeet 1
Dates
June 16 - June 23
Length
8 Days
Service hours
30 - 35
Tuition
$3,190
montana blackfeet 2
Dates
June 27 - July 17
Length
21 Days
Service hours
75 - 90
Tuition
$6,490
montana blackfeet 3
Dates
July 22 - August 11
Length
21 Days
Service hours
75 - 90
Tuition
$6,490
We were like one big family. I felt comfortable with everyone there. I tried new things, met new people, and learned about myself. 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 groups have forged before your arrival. You’ll live and work 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, sharing stories and leading activities.
The atmosphere is family-like, beginning with gorgeous mornings and continuing throughout the day—whether at project sites, 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 short hikes, spend a night camping, ride horses and do an introductory rock climb in true Montana style. There will also be 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 Short Hikes & Cool Off In Mountain Streams
- Camp 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 rewarding every day of the program. We were able to personally interact with those who would benefit from the work. I loved working, and I’m so glad that I was able to contribute to such a wonderful cause.
Montana Blackfeet, 2024
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%.
Tiger Song, 2023 & 2024 VISIONS Alum
Meet Tiger, a two-time Montana Blackfeet VISIONS alum whose teenage volunteering experience changed his goals for his future. After two teen service trips, he is now refocusing on travel and minority language preservation.
Montana Blackfeet Reservation: 2024 Service Projects
Discover the impactful community service projects completed by high school students in Montana Blackfeet during VISIONS Service Adventures 2024 summer programs. These volunteer experiences not only challenge teens but also foster empathy, resilience, and a deeper sense of purpose.
Nolan & Barry, A VISIONS Love Story
Nolan & Barry met during Leader Training in Bozeman before heading out to separate summer program locations. They were married just two years later. Now with two kids in Austin, they reflect on their journey with VISIONS, sharing insights on love, leadership and the impact of meaningful experiences.