Enrichment
‘Hope on the Hill’ students get to experience field trips geared towards rewarding their hard work, providing fantastic life experiences, and having plenty of fun! Some of our favorite destinations for these trips have included The Insectarium and Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, LSU football games, and art and culture events.
Adventure Crew
‘Adventure Crew’ consists of the student leadership of HFO—some of our high school students who are up for a little challenge!
Backpacking and canoeing sets the stage for intense team building, mentoring and leadership training, while students learn about their own ability to succeed in surprising situations. Previous trips have seen the heights of Tracy City, Tennessee and Durango, Colorado, as well a hike from rim-to-rim of the Grand Canyon.
“Because of HFO, my children work well with others, make smart choices & have become self motivators! HFO has also provided many first experiences such as summer camp, college athletic games, church lock-ins & live performances. ”
Hope House
In 2019 Hope House was purchased by HFO for use as a destination for mission teams, retreats, sports teams and nonprofit groups wanting to work in Opelousas and the surrounding area. It is a beautiful historic home that boasts 1799 sq ft. of original wood floors, an oversized kitchen, and triple-decker bunk beds that accommodates 20 comfortably. HFO would like to welcome your group or team for hours or weeks-long stays.
Availability
For Rent | Rates Vary | Nonprofit Rates Available
Location
433 S. Main Street Opelousas 70570
Mission Teams
What good can come from Opelousas? Well, we aren’t the only ones who believe there is something special going on in our city. Our Mission Teams and visitors from throughout the country provide the opportunity for people to come and experience how “Love Changes Everything” firsthand. HFO has had the honor of regularly hosting mission teams from local churches and colleges around the country. Visiting teams of up to 20 stay at ‘Hope House,’ this resource makes serving with us a very inexpensive domestic mission opportunity.
Agents of Hope
HFO’s creative way to provide consistent staffing while impacting High School students is called “Agents of Hope.” Each year, at least 10 high school students are hired as paid interns. The Agents tutor and mentor younger students, and one day a week they participate in college and life skills preparation.
Our approach increases the skills students’ acquire through simultaneous practical work experience and education in becoming a marketable employee. These young people become mentors for our younger students and in many cases- the students become the teachers. Our HFO kids, ‘graduate’ into a new role as an Agent of Hope after years in the program.
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Summer & Kids Across America
Each summer, HFO students and staff create programming to keep busy, continue learning and go on adventures. This usually includes a combination of educational and enrichment programming at HFO and a trip to Kids Across American in Branson Missouri.
The adventure camp called Kids Across America is a week-long experience that provides opportunities for swimming, hiking, climbing and Christian fellowship. KAA is a Christian Sports Camp for urban youth where our kids are led by college counselors hand -picked to love and lead our kids during their stay at camp. During camp the message of “God is first, others second, and I’m third” is brought home to the campers.
we subsidize the cost for camp and summer programming by selling art and seeking sponsorships. get more information here:
Ministry
Hope for Opelousas believes Love Changes Everything. And that means Love that is unconditional for many people in our community. Most of our work centers around the kids that we tutor and work with each day. However, we do not discount the fact that these kids live in a community with adults who deserve love as well. They also have parents, grandparents, teachers and other adults in their lives that benefit from love as well. The ministries of Hope for Opelousas provide an opportunity to do just that.