Description:
VISIONS is a coed residential program for teens aged 14-18. Programs blend ambitious community service work, cross-cultural living and learning, adventurous exploration, and, at some sites, language immersion. We live and work in communities around the world in North, Central, and South America, Asia, and the Caribbean islands.
Typical group size is 16 - 25 students and 4- 6 staff leaders. Each program undertakes a central construction project and other service options such as work with young children, environmental, wilderness or agricultural initiatives, renovation of homes and community buildings, mural design and painting, and more. Some programs offer internships with social development or environmental organizations, micro-businesses, artisans, farmers, fishermen, health workers. Students learn construction skills from staff carpenters, local masons or maestros.
Service work comprises roughly 60% of the program time. Adventure and exploration activities vary depending on the program site. They include everything from ice or rock climbing to backpacking, sea-kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, hiking. Our home base is a central community building such as a school, community center, church hall, or hostel. We work alongside and socialize with community members, participate in festivities and ceremonies, join in cultural customs, relax and enjoy time with local families with whom we have long-standing ties. Spanish- and French-speaking sites usually have a short-term home stay component.
We offer programs in Alaska and Montana indigenous communities, Mississippi Gulf Coast, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Peru, Ecuador/Galapagos Islands, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Vietnam. We spend about 60% of our time engaging in various service projects with and for our host community. We also actively explore where we live, all the natural beauty and cultural discovery it offers. We spend quality time with local community members building friendships and learning from them about their lives.
Participants must be aged 14 - 18. We offer 4-week sessions in July and 3-week sessions in August. The only qualification is a desire to participate, a flexible team-player attitude, a willingness to push one's comfort zone and to embrace new experiences.
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