Ben’s Lighthouse is gearing up to head to Montana next summer, and will take 20 teenagers to help a community impacted by tragedy, for the fourth year in a row. 

From July 23-30, 2016, the group will engage in community projects to help sustain the Blackfeet Reservation. Airfare, ground transportation and most other expenses will be funded by Ben’s Lighthouse. Students who will have completed grades 9-12 by the end of the current school year are invited to volunteer to participate. The group, including four chaperones, will stay and work on the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, Mont.

Anyone interested in participating on this trip is invited to attend an informational meeting and application session that will take place Tuesday, November 17, at 7 pm. It will take place at Trinity Episcopal Church, 36 Main Street in Newtown.

Volunteers who join the group in Montana in July can plan on participating in projects including both skilled and non-skilled labor. Primary volunteer service partners may include the Blackfeet Tribal Care Center, Blackfeet Child and Family Services, Eagle Shields Senior and Assisted Living Center.

Daily activities during the week could consist of painting, landscaping, preparation for the annual Indian Days Pow-Wow, mentoring youth, serving meals, assisting with recreational and youth program facilitation.

Lisa Johnson, a teacher who has taken students on similar trips, said her experience at the reservation “is always amazing.

“This past summer was my second year taking students,” she added. “Not only do the students benefit from the service aspect, but the cultural learning experiences are like no other.”

The July 2016 trip will include opportunities to learn, struggle, succeed, lots of hard work, and some time to play. On-site tasks will be assigned by the program operator, Global Volunteers, and will not be known until arrival.

The group will participate in nightly evening programs to connect with resident Native Americans to cultivate discussions about healing after tragedy. Past participant Jessica Thompson, who traveled with Ben’s Lighthouse to Colorado said, “I participated in the Colorado trip, it was a chance to help and heal, but also a chance to connect with everyone there.

“My mom and I are both very grateful for the opportunity provided to me by Ben’s Lighthouse — an experience I just could not have had on my own,” she added.

Ben’s Lighthouse is a non-profit organization dedicated to support the healing of Newtown area children and youth through empathy, self awareness and volunteerism.  The organization believes that reaching out to help others in need is an important part of recovering from tragedy, especially among older youth and adults.

For more information, contact Kelly Paredes at kparedes@benslighthouse.org or 203-426-9070 extension 15.  To make a contribution for this trip, visit www.benslighthouse.org.