Save Your Space for Summer
Teen Summer Programs
“So much experience and personal growth can be packed in when the leaders, the sites, and program structures are as wisely crafted, tried and true, as VISIONS. As a past VISIONS summer program director, I know that VISIONS combines high ideals with high standards. The result is an extraordinary program.”
Joby Taylor, Ph.D.
Director, Shriver Peaceworker Program
The Shriver Center, University of Maryland
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Gabon, Africa
| Destination | Language | Dates (2023) | Duration | Service Hours | Tuition | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Virgin Islands 1 | English | 06/22 - 07/12 | 21 Days | 80 | $6250 | APPLY |
| British Virgin Islands 2 | English | 07/18 - 07/29 | 12 Days | 40 | $3950 | APPLY |
| Dominican Republic 1 | Spanish | 06/22 - 07/03 | 12 Days | 40 | $3750 | APPLY |
| Dominican Republic 2 | Spanish | 07/09 - 07/27 | 19 Days | 65 | $5550 | APPLY |
| Montana Blackfeet 1 | English | 06/22 - 07/12 | 21 Days | 80 | $6250 | APPLY |
| Montana Blackfeet 2 | English | 07/18 - 08/01 | 15 Days | 50 | $4750 | APPLY |
| Montana Blackfeet 3 | English | 08/06 - 08/14 | 9 Days | 30 | $2950 | APPLY |
| Peru 1 | Spanish | 06/22 - 07/16 | 25 Days | 90 | $6950 | APPLY |
| Peru 2 | Spanish | 07/22 - 08/02 | 12 Days | 40 | $3950 | APPLY |
 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Carpentry with lumber and power tools. Home renovations, build community structures, and also run a small day camp for local kids. | Live in a school in small Athabascan village. Traditional steam baths, local lore from elders, fishing with community friends, beading, and native crafts. | Overnight backpacking, ice climbing, hikes, Alaskan wildlife, canoeing, visit to popular tourist town of McCarthy. |
| British Virgin Islands | Carpentry with lumber and power tools. Build community structures and do home renovations, along with environmental projects and some work with kids. | Live in a community center in neighborhood overlooking the sea. Carnival festivities, Caribbean cooking lessons, Rasta guest speaker, steel drum lessons. | SCUBA diving, snorkeling, swimming, hiking, exploring Road Town & island of Virgin Gorda. |
| Dominican Republic | Masonry construction with cinder-block and mortar. Build schools, community centers, and homes in urban neighborhoods. Run day camp for local children. | Live in a rented home in lively Dominican neighborhood. Colonial Zone history tour, artisan markets, dance lessons, baseball games, daily Spanish speaking. | Weekend in Dominican Alps, beach time, swimming, cave tour, city excursions, discotheque night. |
| Galapagos | Permaculture farming and carpentry. Plant fruit trees and other crops and build tent platforms. Clean up plastic from local beaches and volunteer at a nearby school. | Live on a permaculture farm in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. Artisan workshops, dance lessons, daily Spanish speaking. | Excursions to Floreana and North Seymour Islands, hikes on Santa Cruz, Quito Colonial Zone, snorkeling. |
| Guadeloupe | Carpentry with lumber and power tools. Improve school facilities and community parks, environmental projects, trail work, and run day camp for local children. | Live in a community center in island town. Day stays with families, island history tour, Zouk and Gwoka dancing and drumming, cooking lessons, daily French speaking. | Day trip on Basse-Terre island, volcano hike, visit Grand Marché, snorkeling, swimming, island hikes, ferry rides. |
| Montana Blackfeet | Carpentry with lumber and power tools. Build playgrounds and community structures, major home renovations for elders, some environmental projects. | Live at a ranch outside town of Browning. Pow wow with dancing and drumming, sweat lodge, guest speakers, teepees at the Sundance, native crafts with artisans. | Overnight backpacking trip, Glacier Park visits, horseback riding, lake swimming, Rocky Mountain wildlife. |
| Montana Northern Cheyenne | Carpentry with lumber and power tools. Build community structures, playgrounds, handicap ramps, serve meals at Senior Center, and run day camp for kids. | Live in a school in reservation town of Lame Deer. Pow wow with dancing and drumming, sweat lodge, interviews with elders, buffalo herds, visit Big Horn Battlefield. | Overnight camping trip, horseback riding, day hikes, native plants, river swimming, rural county fair, mining town of Colstrip. |
| Peru | Masonry construction with cinder-block or adobe and mortar. Build new schools and additions to existing schools, along with large irrigation projects with rural farmers. | Live in a rented home in a small town in Sacred Valley. Day stays with families, outdoor food markets, artisan workshops, cooking lessons, daily Spanish speaking. | Weekend at Machu Picchu, scenic hikes to ruins and sites, visits to Cuzco, Plaza de Armas, Maras salt mines. |
—Details—
- Read more about the application process.
- “No stress” enrollment through January 15th, with fully refundable tuition.
- One leader to every four or five participants sets VISIONS apart among service summer programs for teens.
- Maximum group size is 25 and programs rarely have more than 15 of either gender.
- Programs are for ages 14 through the summer of graduation, and generally with “bell curve” age distribution.
- Most participants attend on their own, and no more than two friends can attend the same program together.
- Language immersion programs longer than 15 days require two years of language study or the equivalent in life experience.
- Financial Aid is available for families who need some assistance.
- While it is okay to apply before you have reviewed all VISIONS materials, please do not accept a space (register) until carefully reading the website, including the FAQ page. Families who are new to VISIONS should also attend one of our ~ 30 minute informational webinars.
VISIONS in The New York Times