Serve and Learn on the Blackfeet Reservation, Montana

  United States

West Glacier

Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: May through September

Description: Team members have the opportunity to help advance a number of educational, recreational and social projects on the reservation. For instance, you might help construct and repair playgrounds, landscape common areas, help organize a library, or paint classrooms. Volunteers frequently interact and entertain elders at the Blackfeet Tribal Nursing Home and help serve meals at Eagle Shield assisted living. There are also growing opportunities to provide assistance in professional areas. Specialists in the following areas have sometimes been asked to share practices with local professionals and clients: Chemical and Mental Health: social workers; chemical dependency counselors; and professionals skilled in juvenile delinquency, grief and loss, marriage and family, and self-esteem. Health Care: nurses; emergency medical technicians; dieticians; physical therapists; occupational therapists; first-aid and CPR trainers. Business Development: marketing professionals and entrepeneurs who can provide instruction on designing a business plan, promoting your product or service and related topics. Internet Skills: website designers; internet trainers; web researchers. Regardless of your background, you have important skills to share! This is a great family volunteering opportunity.

Highlights: This is an unmatched opportunity to immerse yourself in Native American culture on the Blackfeet Reservation. You are immediately accepted into the community and can witness sacred rituals, participate in pow-wows, learn the Blackfeet language and hear stories and legends about the Blackfeet people. The hosts strive to give everyone the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the work project and the long-term development of the community. Browning is located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, immediately outside Glacier National Park. After finishing the work project, you can explore the area hiking trails, streams and lakes and enjoy numerous other free-time outdoor activities. See our award-winning website for details!

Qualifications: Everyone can offer an important service. This volunteer opportunity is open to any English speaker who enjoys working with children or seniors, or who can assist with general light construction and building repair, landscaping, painting, or who can offer professional skills such as youth counseling, chemical dependency counseling, marketing, computer research and the like. Volunteers must be willing to serve as a member of a team and take direction from local leaders.

Cost in US$: $795 with discount

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: USA volunteers are culturally curious and open-minded people looking to contribute to a community development project and to improve their understanding of different ways of life, and the social struggles in developing communities. They are all ages, from various ethnic backgrounds, and of all different professions, such as educators, students, laborers, medical professionals, full-time parents, computer professionals, artists, lawyers and the like.

Age Range: minor with parent through age 90

This Program is open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to United States Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 15-18

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Phone Interview
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit DebriefingAbroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Global Volunteers's Mission Statement: "Adventures in Service". Founded to help advance peace, racial reconciliation, and mutual international understanding between peoples of diverse cultures through short-term volunteer service on long-term community development programs. We maintain partnerships with local leaders and indigenous host organizations worldwide and mobilize up to 300 teams of volunteers annually to work alongside local people on work projects central to their advancement. We also raise funds to support our international and domestic partners and to provide child sponsorships for educational, social and medical assistance. Global Volunteers is in special consultative status with the United Nations.

Year Founded: 1984