Hawaii Service

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combines meaningful person-to-person mentorship and demanding outdoor service that require dedication, selflessness and hard work in a setting of breathtaking beauty. Begin your preparations for a great summer now by organizing your luggage, clothing and gear. As the summer nears, stay active and fit through sports and exercise. The more you prepare, the more you will enjoy your program. Then, once your program starts, commit yourself wholeheartedly to your group and its service projects .

Luggage

On Service programs we travel light—we cannot emphasize this enough.  Please bring just one travel backpack and one small day pack (*see specifications below*) for weekend excursions and day hikes. Experience has shown that this is the only way to go (there will be lots of walking). Dimensions of the travel backpack should not exceed 22"H x 14"W x 9"D if used as a carry-on, however it may be larger if you plan to check this luggage at the airport.  We recommend travel backpacks from REI, EMS and LL Bean. Use your day pack to carry essentials on the plane (but do not use this bag as additional luggage space). Be sure to tag all items with your name, address and phone number. If you are checking your travel pack as luggage, ask the airline to bag it for you. This will help protect the pack.

• *Travel backpacks should store between 2500-4000 cubic in. We recommend the following kinds of backpacks from REI, though anything similar will work perfectly!
• www.rei.com/product/762485
• www.rei.com/product/747515
• www.rei.com/product/747520
• *Day packs have two shoulder straps and room for a rain coat, water bottle and snacks. Satchels and one-strap bags will not be appropriate for day hikes and weekend excursions).

Packing for Your Program

Please stick to the following guidelines when packing for your program; your group will have access to laundry on a weekly basis. Bring comfortable clothes that can get dirty, paint-splattered and worn while volunteering.

Clothing

• Sturdy Sneakers or Tennis Shoes. 1 pair. Comfortable shoes to wear around all day while volunteering, doing trail work and on day hikes.
• Sport Sandals. 1 pair. Sturdy enough for muddy or wet service projects.
• Flip Flops. Optional.
• Waterproof Raincoat. Your rain jacket must be waterproof (not just water and/or wind resistant). GoreTex is one of the better-known waterproof and breathable fabrics, but there are many of these fabrics to choose from.
• Long Pants. One sturdy pair for service work.
• Fleece Pullover or Sweatshirt. One only.
• Comfortable Shorts or Skirts. Two; one pair of shorts must be suitable for day hikes.
• Shirts. Five short-sleeve shirts or tank tops; one long-sleeve shirt.
• Underwear. Seven pairs.
• Socks. Five pairs.
• Pajamas. One pair.
• Bathing Suit. One or two.

Gear & Miscellaneous

• Student ID. Current school identification or driver's license (if you have one).
• Toiletries. All travel size.
• Water Bottle. Any kind, to stay hydrated out in the sun.
• Leather Work Gloves. One pair. For trail work.
• Sunglasses & Hat. With visor (e.g., baseball hat).
• Sunscreen (SPF 30+), Chapstick (with SPF protection) & Insect Repellent (two bottles).
• Camera & Film. Optional.
• Journal & Pen. Optional.
• Reading & Recreation Items. To share with your reading buddy: a couple of your favorite easy-to-read children's books and a favorite children's chapter book (e.g., Charlotte's Web or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).
• Spending Money. $50/week is a suggested amount for souvenirs, gifts and necessities (like more sunscreen if you run out, or stamps and envelopes to mail letters).

Note: Please do not bring any type of knife or multi-tool (e.g., Swiss Army Knife, Leatherman).
We do not permit personal electronics on our programs (e.g., cellphones and iPods). We do, however, allow students who fly to their program to carry a cell phone while traveling; on arrival, Overland's leaders will collect all cell phones for the duration of the program and return them for flights home. Perhaps, a better option would be to bring a pre-paid phone card so that the leaders do not have to carry cell phones for the duration of the program.