Explorations

Through immersion in a small healthy family atmosphere, our HomeBase program aims to arm its students with the tools to make healthy choices in their lives, long after they complete their stay in our home. Active participation in a supportive and healthy family environment and community gives students hands on experience dealing with the challenges of everyday life.

We cultivate a supportive family-like environment through creative and individualized opportunities for personal growth, authentic living, and positive change.

In 1990, after working at one of the nation's first therapeutic boarding schools and for various recreational and educational programs, Penny James and her partner created Explorations. With a vision that young people learn best by doing, a hands-on model was created which immersed students in real life settings where they could practice new, healthy life skills and spend time pursuing adventure activities and healing environments in the outdoors. In 2009, Penny became the sole Director of the program and continued with the vision, collaborating with professionals to strengthen the parent experience with the program and bolster the adventure component. The combination of realistic life experiences, adventure travel and the power of nature forged a unique experiential model for which Explorations has been known, for nearly 30 years.

Over the years, Explorations' students have traveled to over 20 states as well as international destinations such as Peru, Costa Rica, Mexico and Canada. Students have participated in cultural immersion trips and service work both domestically and abroad. Students and staff have performed service on the Blackfeet, Crow, and Flathead reservations, brought clothing and school supplies to orphanages in Costa Rica, built mud brick homes in Peru and helped build homes for Habitat for Humanity in Montana. Students have hiked, bicycled, rock-climbed, sea-kayaked, and rafted in the pristine Montana rivers and forests that surround us.

Admissions Contact Name: Carol Fisher
Email: carol@explorationsmt.com