VISIONS Service Adventures

This was honestly one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. The program was amazing! We got to do so many cultural activities, like learning traditional dances (the community was so good and super patient with us lol) and playing dominos almost every day. Dominos got intense but in a fun way, and everyone in the community was really welcoming. My favorite part was definitely the service work. We taught English to kids, which I was kind of nervous about at first, but it ended up being really fun and I actually felt like I was helping. We also worked on building a classroom for a local school, and seeing it come together was seriously awesome. It made me feel proud to be part of something that will stay there after we left. I made great friends, learned a ton, and had so many moments I’ll never forget. I totally recommend this program if you want a mix of fun, culture, and real community service. It was honestly life-changing!

My Visions trip was a genuinely life-changing experience that never wanders far from my mind. My school afforded me the incredible privilege of multiple service trips over my four years, and although each were significant, Visions impacted me in a way that is difficult to put into words. I cannot recommend this program highly enough.

I attended VISION’s Dominican Republic trip in the summer of 2021 as a rising junior in high school. Now, three years later, and as a sophomore in college, it is with great certainty that I would not be even close to the person I am today without that trip. The Dominican Republic was my first time leaving the United States and flying alone! This taught me so much about navigating traveling alone and learning about international travel. Something that I have a great intention of filling my life with to this day. VISIONS does a wonderful job of keeping kids in the loop while traveling– travel agents keep in direct touch with their participants and family members, and even connect them with other kids who may be on the same flight! This helps ease the nervousness of international travel at a younger age. One of the most important things that VISIONS offers is a technology-free summer. Your phone is taken away after connecting with the VISIONS employees at the arrival airport, and after a call home assuring everyone made it there safely. The phones are given out at the departing airport at the end of the trip. This completely changes the way I view my well-being and how I gain a sense of place when traveling– being present. Inconsequentially, always being around fellow participants gives a greater sense of community and intentionality. Learning how to live closely with people, make meals, clean, and work together for times closer to a month, brought me an immeasurable amount of joy. The worksites are a very authentic experience of working without large machinery and get you in touch with your body and what you’re creating. In the DR, it is very hot, humid, and sunny. This is what gives your kid a chance to challenge themselves physically and to learn how to work alongside others. Depending on the duration of the trip (and I always recommend going on the longest trip!) most work days will be Monday-Friday and usually 5 or 6 hours (also depending on allocated volunteer hours). VISIONS makes sure that every day is jam-packed with work, good food, good sleep, activities, and community-bonding opportunities. In the Dominican Republic, every morning we would eat breakfast together, go to the worksite shortly thereafter, eat lunch at the worksite, and come back to “home base”. From there on, we would have an early afternoon activity that is usually paired with language immersion with the vecinos (neighbors). While dinner was getting ready, we usually had a later afternoon activity that also included community involvement like arts and crafts with the local kids! After dinner, we would either have circle, which provided a center for discussion and group growth. Overall, I couldn’t recommend this experience more!

My time with VISIONS in Peru was unforgettable! From the moment I arrived, I felt immersed in the culture, surrounded by breathtaking mountains and a welcoming local community. The service projects were both challenging and rewarding—I worked on projects that directly benefited the community, and it was amazing to see the impact of our efforts firsthand. Beyond the service work, I formed deep friendships with other participants and leaders. We shared laughs, conversations, and adventures—whether it was hiking, exploring local markets, or learning traditional customs. The experience pushed me outside my comfort zone and helped me grow in ways I never expected. I left Peru with a new perspective on the world, a stronger sense of purpose, and memories that will stay with me forever.

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I love Visions’ approach to teach kids about the value of community. It’s more than excursions and visiting a beautiful place. It’s the valuable experience of guiding a group of teens to work together to accomplish something significant together, and having fun along the way! Julia had an amazing experience! She made valuable friendships and came home with a renewed enthusiasm to set goals for her senior year and beyond. The program enforces a “can do” attitude, promoting a growth mindset all while having fun experiences with new friends.

I am a VISIONS student alum that was grateful to participate in three programs with VISIONS, the Northern Cheyenne Montana, British Virgin Islands and Peru. There is a reason why I kept wanting to spend my summers on VISIONS programs, they are the perfect combination of challenging service projects, fun activities and cultural events. My favorite part about these programs was the connections I made with the local partners in each place. I was welcomed into each community and by the end of each program it felt like I had formed meaningful friendships and family with the locals, VISIONS staff and other kids. I still keep in contact with some of the other participants and leaders that I met through VISIONS. These programs also have propelled me into the type of career I want and have been extremely beneficial to include on my resume.

I went to the Montana Blackfeet program and it was the most incredible experience of my life. I loved our leaders and they made everything so fun. I also felt super comfortable with them like I could talk to them. We got to help with a Sundance, which was my favorite part, I lvoed that they trusted us to help with something so sacred and it made me feel like I was part of something that other people don't get to see. I also made really good friends with some of the other kids that I'm gonna have for the rest of my life. I loved everything about it!

Don't get me wrong, I loved the time I spent in the Dominican Republic, however, the way Visions ran the trip left a lot to be desired. I spent my time with 23 other teens, who behaved increasingly poorly and vulgarly, which was not addressed by the leaders on the trip whatsoever. There was constant homophobic, transphobic, racist, and misogynistic sentiments expressed by the students on the trip, along with talk of sex, drugs, and alcohol. These issues were bought up to the leaders multiple times by multiple people, including the fact it was making students feel unsafe and sexualized, and instead of doing anything to quell these conversations or punish the students appropriately, the leaders told us to ignore it or to attempt to fix it ourselves. The leaders were not well versed on mental health and thus could not help students when in crisis. At one point, a student faked sickness, attempted to buy drugs and alcohol, went on a hunger strike, said racial slurs, objectified the girls on the trip and threatened other students with violence (including sexual violence) among other things, and was allowed to remain for the duration of the trip. One leader in particular called our generation "weak" and expressed that we were making "no big change" with our service project. She told us multiple times that we had to "grow up" and that we were "too sensitive" and that we didn't understand what the world was really like. I felt very unsafe within the group and was unable to appreciate my trip fully because of it. Alternatively, all the time I spent outside the homestead and with the locals was amazing. The teens at the worksites and our neighbors were all incredibly kind and understanding. As a LGBT teen, I felt much more comfortable with them than I ever did with Visions. Personally, my experience with Visions was poor, and though the service portion of the trip was enjoyable and the Dominican was wonderful, I would not recommend Visions or ever consider going on a trip with them again.

Everything was great from the home exchange day working on a local farm to playing soccer at the park with local kids we’ve never met before. Everyone was great and visions truly gave us a taste of perspective. We were able to dissconect from life back home and unlock a new normal. I’d say everyone should do visions, it was a challenging rewarding experience that has given me a knee perspective on travel and the world we live.

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Visions is an amazing company that everyone should do. I did the Peru trip and it was amazing. They throw you right into a traditional Peruvian way of life that does not have any of the simplicities we have in the US. They challenge you yet every day was a fun experience. I say everyone should go to Peru and learn a new way of life. Some highlight were playing with local kids at the school. And playing some soccer with local kids at the public park. Those are the things that stuck out the most.

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I had a great time in Alaska last summer thanks to VISIONS. Not only did I have the chance to get familiar with building and meet amazing people, both locals and volunteers, but I also grew as a person. Meeting with the local population and getting to know their culture/lifestyle was definitely a highlight of my trip. I still remember the ice climbing, canoeing, and camping trip, and now have many amazing memories to look back on. Would definitely recommend it.

I spent 17 days in Peru with VISIONS. It was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever experienced. I loved working in the canals and I loved helping to build a building for school. But mostly I loved working with the locals and getting to know them. I could definitely see that we were second family to them. I love how VISIONS built a strong connection with these people we worked with. I made the trip feel more safe and more fun. I’ll never forget my experience with VISIONS in Peru.

I spent my summer with VISIONS on BVI in 2017. It was a great experience, I get to interact with the locals on a daily basis, learning about their cultural, making new friends, trying new food, and most importantly, helping out the community. I also learned ways to eliminate the use of plastic while I was on the Island. Overall it was a great experience and I recommend it.

Meeting new friends some even from towns next to mine. I had an amazing time not only experiencing the culture of the Dominican Republic but also how my fellow volunteers live in their respective states.

My summer at Peru was incredible! The trip was life changing such that it exposed me to meaningful service and introduced me to new ways of life. Visions is a great balance between working, exploring, socializing, and stepping outside of one's comfort zone. I could not have asked for a better experience. I strongly recommend Visions to anyone who loves the outdoors and is looking for a down-to-earth experience. Peru in particular was very special because I got to practice my Spanish and dig deep into the culture. Also... the food was amazing!!

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I had the most amazing experience at visions last summer in which I both helped those in the village of Tetlin Alaska, and myself. I really owe most of the good things that have happened to me recently to this program so I very highly recommend it to everyone. Thank you visions.

I went with visions to Montana and Cambodia it was two of the best experiences I have ever had from the learning about a new culture and see how daily life works for many around the world the work was hard but it was very rewarding doing something for a community in need.

My trip to Montana was 15 days long. It was a good experience to learn about the Blackfeet culture. I am glad that I was able to experience this trip because I learn so much and I was able to learn so much from other people without being attached to my phone.

Visions was an absolutely amazing experience for me! I met the most wonderful people. The immersion into the Peruvian culture was incredible, my world has been opened in so many ways because of it. I think about my 2 week trip every day. The connections Visions has with the community are so deep. I finally felt like my true authentic self.

I had some of the best 17 days of my life on this trip and would 100% recommend it to anyone who has the option to go! Virgin Gorda is beautiful and so are it's people and it was an honor to help the community rebuild.