Program Reviews

My trip to Nicaragua was incredible. I can't think of a better word to describe this life changing experience. My group bonded so closely together, and we all still regularly talk, despite being a very diverse group. That's one of my favorite things about this trip. You not only get culture shock from your roommates and close friends but are totally immersed into the life of a Nicaraguan citizen. The leaders trust the participants so much and it really makes the experience because they allow you to have large boundaries that only add to your adventure. Speaking of adventures, embrace everything during the weekend excursions. Whether it be relaxing at a beautiful coffee finca or jumping off a huge rock into a natural spring take it in and appreciate your life for a month. Aside from the activities the not having activities all the time is so vital to your time. When you get up and go to work in the morning and get to comeback in the afternoon and enjoy a cold fresca and a chat in Spanish with your new local friends is the best.

I couldn't think of a better way to spend my July. I loved the wire beds sticking into my side and the kind plumbers always having to fix our rooms plumbing. I don't say this sarcastically either, the living conditions reflect the town and the town of Jinotega is one of the most amazing i have had the pleasure of staying in. I recommend this trip if you want to get the most out of your summer and work hard with the best people.

I've done the three week program to the British Virgin Islands, and it is a lifetime accomplishment that i will always look back at to admire. At first I was hesitant about going and stepping out of my comfort zone, but my parents pushed me and I left there thankful they did so. You experience a new culture of living, food and friends. To me the biggest one was friends, because you develop such a strong bond. Leaving the place broke my heart because we came so far from strangers to best friends, and it was a challenge letting go. This program is most definitely worth it, but be prepared to say goodbye because its difficult. If your worried about safety, the leaders they have there are some of the most trained and profound individuals i've ever met. They're some of the finest role models I've ever worked with. All in all, this is the best summer program out there!

Two of my daughters, in different years, have traveled with Visions Volunteer Program in Nicaragua as when they were starting High School. This program is unique because service is the primary focus and the group lives within the village and becomes very close with the warm and friendly residents and families of the village. There are fun weekend excursions as well, but the goal is immersion within this village. My daughters spent memorable time with the residents, playing with the village kids, learning how to cook the local food favorites and learning everything about the challenges of daily life and the gracious ways of these residents. Visions creates a safe, comfortable environment for these unique trips and the Group Leaders are well equipped to handle the challenges that arise in the group. The personal growth that takes place through a Visions Trip surpasses any other program because of the rewarding close knit relationships that develop between villagers and teens. They still stay in touch years later! Highly recommended if you want to change your entire perspective for the better!

My daughter went to Montana the Summer of 2011 (summer of her freshman year in HS) -- and though she was pretty well traveled by that point -- she was not ever a solo traveler (or someone who liked 'camp' for that matter ) -- So i have to say i was wondering how this experience would go..... There were some minor blips getting TO Montana (flights got cancelled/weather delays/ the kids were split up -- )but the Visions staff handled it admirably (in spite of the airlines ) -- keeping me (and the other parents) in the loop at all times -- and even going so far as to say they would drive to Salt Lake City and pick up the kids if they didn't make it to Montana-- Once they got to Montana...and they did... I am not entirely sure what precisely happened on a day to day basis -- i know there was a lot of work in the local community, a lot of work with in the group, some fabulous hiking and camping, rodeos and a sweat lodge -- but the Girl who came home.... well lets just say that she was sobbing at the airport as she wasn't ready for it all to end (this is a girl who is a real home body )-- the bonds forged, the lessons learned, the growth experienced-- it was a life changing experience for her and those friendships have endured-- and she honestly felt she had made a difference and learned something on the way -- We chose Visions because of their commitment to a true community service program--truly it is what they do (not a travel program with a small community service component), their reputation as a stellar program and their deep roots in many of the communities they work in. Our daughter went back the next year (to Cambodia-- will review that later- but FABULOUS) and i do not hesitate to recommend Visions to anyone who is looking for a summer service adventure that is so much more...

I am writing this review from the parent perspective. My daughter, age 17 at the time, participated in the Alaska program with VISIONS. I was of course a bit nervous to have her go off as she had never done anything similar and went by herself, not with friends. She just really really wanted to do some genuine service work in an exotic (for her) location, with opportunities to see a bit of the world and have outdoor adventures. She had a *fabulous* time, and came back happier than I've ever seen her, excited about new friends, ice climbing on Glacier, her new carpentry skills, and just thrilled with the whole thing, which she called "the best experience of her life". Highly highly recommended! Staff was helpful and personal despite my worries before we signed up about safety, etc, and they always called immediately and did what they said they'd do to reassure. Staff is highly trained and really committed to this program, many veterans. You will not be disappointed!

Visions Peru was a wonderful opportunity for my teenage children and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants their teen to have a real community service experience in Latin America. What appealed to us was the fact that Visions advertised itself as "not a teen tour" and this was definitely true! The kids really worked hard and felt themselves to be part of the Urubamba community and made a real contribution in the form of an addition to a pre-school. In addition to the daily building projects, there were interesting afternoon programs that ran the gamut from pick up soccer to beekeeping to jewelry making and more. There were also lots of amazing trips in the Sacred Valley that gave them a broader sense of Peru. As a parent, I think Visions did a great job of balancing work and fun and safety and independence. The staff was young, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable about Latin America and were great role models of young people making unusual choices in their career and life paths. All in all, I have no complaints and am really glad that my children had the opportunity to participate in this valuable program.

This program is one that has impacted me in a number of ways. First, I had the chance to develop my carpentry skills, which have already begun to bear fruit back home. Second, and more reflectively, I was shown that work is often its own reward. I have, for much of my life, focused simply on the goal-- working until it is done, getting a score on it, and moving on to the next task; at VISIONS, I was made to understand the difference between work, the process, and the goal, the destination. This mentality is one that I will have for the rest of my life, and one that will serve me well. But lastly, and most importantly, I saw an America that looked nothing like the America I know. To see what has happened to Native Americans on reservations is an experience I will never forget. They are some of the most amazing people I have ever met and they welcomed us to Browning despite the numerous struggles that they encounter everyday. Browning is a town that changed my life. I had some serious moments of self-reflection and I walked away a better person. This program is fantastic in more ways than one, and I urge rhe reader of this to consider applying.

This has been an amazing experience for me, and has made me grow in various different aspects of life. I learnt how to make my self useful in everyday life, starting from the tiniest things like making meals and mopping floors, up to restoring houses that were literally fallimg apart. Obviously all of this was just thanks to the help of our staff members who accompanied us throughout our long and hard-working journeys. In addition to all these jobs and hard-working activities I also enjoyed all the other fun stuff that we were offered to do, like canoeing in a nearby river, going into a "wild immersion", which involved us passing through a river in an extremely fun journey, straight into the wild! And last but not least, the awesome journey in New Orleans passed together with all the team and the staff members! It was a really memorable service trip, it really was!

The best part of VISIONS is that it doesn't just benefit the communities it serves, it benefits all who come in contact with the program. Namely, it has a huge impact on its participants.
Before VISIONS, I was living inside a bubble of modern society. It seemed like everyone else in the world was exactly like me, pushing to do well in school to get into a good college, and then rushing around in life to do as much as possible and get a job and hopefully do some good along the way.
This world I'd imagined was too stressful, too competitive, and too alienating.
So I am so so thankful that VISIONS came and smashed down the walls that were starting to close in on me.
Through the physically difficult (but oddly soothing) community service we did, spending time with some of the Reservation's seniors, and participating in Circle with my friends, I realized that the world I'd lived in for the first sixteen years of my life was fake.
What was real was the cold water we'd filtered during our hike, the green plastic tub a friend and I heaved onto its side to dump out its soapy content, and the chocolate fur of an excited "Rez" puppy. What was real was the pink and blue sky of a sunset, the grey chunks of tile we fought every inch to take off the floor of the community college library, and the dust that billowed around us like fog as we drove on a dirt road.
During my trip with VISIONS, nothing else mattered, nothing else existed except those things. That feeling, of knowing a world that is wholly itself, has stayed with me ever since. For that, I am so, so grateful that I chose to participate in this program.

The month I spent with Visions in Peru flew by in a flash. Every day was action packed and we never had nothing to do. Whether it was hiking through ruins, hiking to magnificent sights(Machu Picchu, Puto Cusi), working at los canales(the canals) or el pronoi(the preschool), participating in los talleres(workshops), or simply spending time with the great company I had with be on the trip. This experience would not have been nearly as memorable had I not had such wholesome, and multidimensional people there with me. The group dynamic I shared with the fifteen other students on the trip was incredible and amplified the memorability of my experience. However, the visions leaders on the Peru trip also played an instrumental part in ensuring everyone on the trip had the best experience possible. I remember how in the first couple of weeks following our arrival, a large number of students got sick due to the drastic change in environment. The leaders did an excellent job of quickly healing the sick, and making sure they could still fully experience the fun activities they had worked so painstakingly in the weeks prior to our arrival to organize. Additionally, the time I spent without technology was beautiful. Without technology, more interaction occurred and as a result I got to know everybody fairly quickly and form wonderful lifelong friendships. Another effect of the absence of technology, was the appreciation I was able to obtain for the beauty that surrounded me. I was in the middle of beautiful mountains, touching a sky unblemished by pollution, a sky so clear that one could so clearly see the stars every night, a sky so clear that you could see the edge of the Milky Way Galaxy, a sky so clear that if you stargazed for long enough, you were sure to be greeted by a shooting star. The poignant Peruvian sky is something that I deeply missed upon my return to New Jersey. Overall, this experience has taught me appreciation for my surroundings, the value of teamwork, leadership and has left me with unforgettable memories for me to carry with me and share with others for the rest of my life. I thank Visions from the bottom of my heart for making such an experience possible for me.