Since 1989, VISIONS Service Adventures has provided life-changing summer programs for teenagers. Programs are carefully structured, well-supervised and include real service. VISIONS was founded with the idea of a Peace Corps experience for high school students and the mission has changed very little over the years. Teens live in the heart of a community and work side-by-side with local hosts. They get to know the people whose lives are impacted and friendships are mutual. VISIONS participants work hard, play hard and make a difference. They gain an appreciation for our multicultural world and return home more informed global citizens.

1. Media Kit 2014

2. Life-Changing Summer Experiences for Teens
Since 1989, VISIONS Service Adventures has provided life-changing summer programs for teenagers.
Programs are carefully structured, well-supervised and include real service. VISIONS was founded with the
idea of a Peace Corps experience for high school students and the mission has changed very little over the
years. Teens live in the heart of a community and work side-by-side with local hosts. They get to know the
people whose lives are impacted and friendships are mutual. VISIONS participants work hard, play hard and
make a difference. They gain an appreciation for our multicultural world and return home more informed
global citizens.

3. Meaningful Alternative to Traditional Summer Camps
VISIONS provides enriching experiences that are different than traditional summer camps. Teens have the
opportunity to travel to unique destinations around the world, contribute to robust projects and actively
engage in cultural and language immersion. Participants come back from a VISIONS service adventure with
memories that last a lifetime and having completed meaningful service work. Close attention is paid to
community-building, group discussions and activities designed to reflect on the volunteer and immersion
experience.

4. Work Hard | Play Hard | Make a Difference
VISIONS collaborates with local nonprofits and makes long-term commitments with host communities.
VISIONS has worked in most program locations for more than 15 years, and in some locations for more than
20 years. Projects are ambitious and gratifying. Students work until mid-afternoon on weekdays and choose
from three different worksites each day. In many ways, the service projects are a way to thank the community
for welcoming participants into their lives.

5. 11,000 Service Projects Completed By Teens
Since 1989, VISIONS teens have built more than 11,100 structures and done countless hours of social and
environmental service. Every VISIONS program undertakes at least one central construction project. Projects
address pressing needs in the communities and teach valuable skills: problem-solving, resilience and teamwork.
Confident in VISIONS’ high standards, community partners choose projects appropriate for teen volunteers'
capabilities. Programs also include non-construction service. Participants may volunteer with children, work on
environmental and agricultural projects or create irrigation and drinking water systems.

6. Cultural & Language Immersion
Cultural learning and friendship are core to the VISIONS experience. Teens and leaders live together in a
community center or home in a local neighborhood. They are involved in daily life and engage with people who
may have worked with VISIONS groups for a decade or more. Because participants are part of the community
and not just passing through, there are many opportunities to learn the language. In the French and Spanish
language immersion programs where local people do not speak English, teens work on foreign language skills
while socializing with neighborhood friends, doing service projects, shopping at markets and more.

7. Middle School Travel Programs
Many summer travel camps for middle school teens and tweens focus on recreation and adventure. In contrast,
VISIONS middle school programs in the British Islands and Montana include the same framework that defines all
VISIONS programs: ambitious service, cultural immersion and fun excursions. Activities and service projects are
age-appropriate and in a supportive, small group setting. As with high school programs, the leader to participant
ratio is 1-to-4.

8. Program Locations
English-Speaking:
Alaska
British Virgin Islands,
Cambodia
Mississippi
Montana Blackfeet Reservation
Montana Cheyenne Reservation
Spanish Immersion:
Dominican Republic
Ecuador & Galapagos
Nicaragua
Peru
French Immersion:
Guadeloupe

9. Motivated Millennials
Many VISIONS participants come from the best educations available. They have resources and information
available to them in spades. Yet, something is missing for many teenagers today. VISIONS offers an opportunity
to walk in someone else’s shoes and to contribute in ways that are gratifying and fun. Participants on VISIONS
programs learn about themselves and what they are capable of achieving. They also learn grit, determination,
independence, and how good it feels to do something for another person. VISIONS summers are an opportunity
to learn about one’s self, and how to apply those new lessons to the rest of life’s adventures, work and
relationships.

10. Reputable & Recommended Summer Program
For 25 years, VISIONS has set the standard for domestic and international community service programs for high
school and middle school students. Collaborative service work and cross-cultural living help teen volunteers
understand a complicated world and learn meaningful ways to contribute in a productive way.
"I helped build a school in a foreign country, with tools I had never used before, and with people I had not known
one month ago.“ - Francis Biere – Indianapolis, Indiana

11. VISIONS Leaders
VISIONS programs are exceptional because of the people. The key role of program leaders is to encourage
students to be open to the learning what awaits them in their community service program. Summer leaders are
the backbone of a safe and dynamic summer. Each program is led by a director and up to five leaders to maintain
a leader-to-student ratio of 1-to-4. In addition to intensive training, leaders have experience working with teens, go
through background and reference checks and are part of a highly competitive hiring process. VISIONS’ leaders
include teachers, outdoor educators, Masters and PhD students, returned Peace Corps volunteers, carpenters
and other professionals.

12. Custom Programs for Groups
In addition to summer programs, VISIONS runs high quality, customized volunteer travel programs for schools,
clubs and other groups of people who want to travel with the spirit of community service, cultural immersion and
adventure. Custom Programs are open to all ages and are available year-round. Groups are invited to plan a
customized adult or youth volunteer travel program with VISIONS, knowing the experience will be intimate,
dynamic, meaningful and memorable.

13. Media Contacts
Stephanie Parnell
Account Manager
Adventure Media
stephanie@adventuremedianews.com
832-755-7661
Katherine Dayton
Director
Visions Service Adventures
katherine@visions-service.com
406-551-4423