New England Explorer

for 7th & 8th graders

New England’s peaks and valleys are ideal for summertime adventures. For two weeks, in a small, spirited group (no more than 12 students or fewer than 2 leaders), we’ll hike, backpack and sea-kayak the best of New England, exploring the gentle Berkshires, the legendary Green Mountains, the rugged White Mountains and the scenic coast of Maine.

On hikes through beautiful mountains, we’ll aim for the highest points in Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire, seeking out quiet campsites and dramatic views to the fields and farms below. We’ll begin with a day hike in Massachusetts’ Berkshires, reaching the top of Mount Greylock before crossing into Vermont. In the Green Mountains, we’ll hike to the summit of Mount Mansfield on the renowned Long Trail. We’ll then don our packs for a three-day backcountry hike in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, camping at secluded mountain lakes and enjoying panoramic views from majestic Mount Moosilauke. For our final hike, we’ll challenge ourselves with a climb to the top of Mount Washington, at 6,288 feet, the highest peak in New England.

After our hikes, we’ll head to the coast of Maine for two days of sea-kayaking. Paddling is the ideal way to explore this area, offering peace, quiet and beauty, while affording an intimate look at the bays and islands of America’s most famous coast. At trip’s end, we’ll head back to Williamstown, where we’ll celebrate our adventures, our accomplishments and our time together on New England Explorer, a life experience with value and resonance that extends far beyond the boundaries of a single summer.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Climb New England’s tallest peaks
• Hike New Hampshire’s White Mountains
• Summit Mount Washington (6,288 feet)
• Sea-kayak Maine’s rocky coast

GRADE

For students who will finish grades 7 & 8 in June 2008.  This summer we will have 3 groups.  Call us (800.458.0588) to check on current availability.

CHALLENGE LEVEL

New England Explorer is rated 2 on a scale of 1- 10 (1 is easiest). The length of the hikes and the difficulty of the terrain are less demanding than Blue Ridge Explorer (Level 3) or Rocky Mountain Explorer (Level 4). Daily hikes on New England Explorer will vary in length depending on the day’s activities but will generally fall in the range of 6 to 8 miles.

Most New England Explorer participants are first-timers on a trip like this—so few, if any, students come with prior experience. There is always a range of physical ability and fitness in each group. As long as you are motivated and reasonably fit, you will keep up just fine because the trip is designed to be a cooperative, non-competitive group activity where everyone contributes and helps one another.

START & END LOCATION

Starts and ends in Williamstown, Massachusetts

2008 DATES & FEES

2 weeks

Sunday, June 22 to Friday, July 4
Sunday, July 6 to Friday, July 18
Sunday, July 20 to Friday, August 1

$2695 (airfare is not included)

APPLY TODAY

Most groups fill in January & February. To download an application, click here.

“The leaders were engaged, enthusiastic, competent and welcoming.” Helen Wells, Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Itinerary

Trip Start

New England Explorer starts in Williamstown, Massachusetts. For students who drive to the start of the trip (Williamstown is 3 hours north of New York City and 3 hours west of Boston), we will let you know where to meet us in Williamstown. Students who fly to trip start should fly into the Albany, New York airport where Overland staff will be on hand to meet you, help you collect your baggage and transport you the 42 miles to Williamstown.

Hiking the Berkshires of Massachusetts

We’ll spend our first few days camping and hiking in Massachusetts’ Berkshires. On our way up Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts at 3,491 feet, we’ll take frequent breaks to appreciate the views and enjoy some snacks to keep us going. At the summit we’ll have lunch and enjoy panoramic views of four states: Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and Massachusetts.

Exploring Vermont's Green Mountains

In the Green Mountains of Vermont, we’ll hike to the summit of Mount Mansfield, the highest peak in the state. While in Vermont, we'll also have a chance to swim in pristine mountain lakes and visit the Ben & Jerry's factory for a bite of everyone's favorite ice cream!

Climbing the White Mountains of New Hampshire

Here in the most rugged mountains in New England, we'll don our backpacks for a three-day backcountry hike, including a thrilling climb to the top of Mount Moosilauke. Then, having honed our hiking skills and fitness, we'll take on Mount Washington, the highest peak in the North East. Beginning early in the morning, we'll ascend via the fabled Tuckerman's Ravine to the 6,288 foot summit to enjoy sweeping views of the Presidential Range.

Kayaking Maine's Coast

Near the end of our trip, we’ll spend a few days exploring the Maine coast via sea-kayak. Paddling is the ideal way to explore this area, offering peace, quiet and beauty while affording an intimate look at the bays and islands of America’s most famous coast. Our seasoned guides from Maine’s own H2Outfitters will show us how to navigate the cool, rocky waters of the coastline.

Trip End

At trip end we’ll travel back to Williamstown, Massachusetts. Here we’ll spend our final night together to celebrate our adventures, our accomplishments and each other.

Supervision & Safety

Overland’s two leaders, a man and a woman, provide 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week supervision of the highest standard. Our leaders, while loving the outdoors and being experienced hikers, are dedicated, first and foremost, to making each student's experience with us a safe and enjoyable one. By creating a supportive and wholesome environment, our leaders help each student to feel comfortable and at home. In this kind of setting, friendships flourish and teamwork grows; challenges are welcomed and accomplishments are celebrated. For nearly 25 years, Overland's students have felt safe and secure in our talented and conscientious leaders’ hands.

On an Overland trip the group stays together all day: hiking together, playing games together, swimming together, and enjoying our evenings together. We get up early (usually before 7:00 a.m.), have full, active days, and head to bed soon after dark (typically between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m.).

We set high expectations for each student’s behavior—we expect respect and consideration for others, a positive attitude, and an eagerness to help make the trip a success in every way possible.

In every decision we make, safety comes first. We plan our trips carefully choosing hiking trails that make sense for the age and abilities of each group. We hike with care, with a leader at the front and a leader at the rear—and we take frequent rest stops. Since our first trips in 1985 our safety record has been superlative; it's no wonder, then, that Overland is one of the few organizations of its kind to earn accreditation by the American Camp Association.

For nearly 25 years our caring and competent leaders, our superlative supervision, our high expectations, and our commonsense approach to safety have made Overland the number one choice for summer trips.

Overland Leaders

In a world where strong leadership skills make the difference between the average and the exceptional, Overland recruits and trains only the best to be our leaders. Not only do these remarkable people capably lead our groups, they also offer our students the kind of role modeling for which Overland has long been recognized.  Bright, charismatic and accomplished, our leaders ensure the safety and well-being of every Overland student, and then they provide much, much more, inspiring our students to reach for their potential in every way. 

You won’t find a more dynamic and talented group of people than Overland’s leaders. Most Overland leaders have played varsity sports and many have captained their teams; they have served as student government officers, volunteered as peer counselors and directed campus organizations. They are high achievers who come to Overland with a lifetime of leadership experience—but just as importantly, they are warm, wonderful people who are eager to work with Overland’s students.

Overland’s leaders prepare carefully for the summer. We know of no other program that requires certification in First Aid, CPR and lifesaving—every Overland leader has all of these plus our own 10-day training program that focuses on safety, supervision and leadership. All of our efforts prepare Overland’s caring and committed leaders to create safe, supportive and valuable programs where each of our students can flourish.

Meet some of our spectacular returning leaders.

How We Put Our Groups Together

We have a number of important criteria for every group:

Size: Every Overland group is limited to 12 students.
Gender: Groups are coed; the male/female ratio is always carefully balanced (6:6, 7:5 or 8:4).
Friends: We allow two pairs of friends in a group (we never allow three or more friends to travel together). With a maximum of two pairs of friends there will always be space available for at least eight students to come on their own without a friend. Furthermore, if we enroll two pairs of friends in a group and both pairs are of one gender, we generally try to: (1) enroll three or four more students of that gender in that group, or (2) close the group to additional students of that gender.

“Organization was excellent, activities were excellent—Mac only wished the trip could have been longer!” Robin Parsons, Chicago, Illinois

Leader Comments

To help give you an idea of what this trip is like, here are some daily notes taken by a recent New England Explorer leader:

“Today was our challenge day: a great hike up and down Mount Washington. It was a tough day, but the kids handled it like champs and the views made it more than worthwhile. We got up very early to make sure we had plenty of time to do the hike and had a pre-dawn breakfast of bagels, cream cheese and jelly, and bananas too.

"Mount Washington is a spectacular mountain, and the kids were a little intimidated by the sight of it, but all their fears disappeared after we got on the trail and started moving. The day started out beautiful, with temperatures in the 80’s, but as we moved up the trail, Mount Washington’s notoriously variable weather started to kick in, and by the time we got to the top, it was windy and around 55 degrees. Everyone had extra warm layers so we were all set. The views were amazing, and the kids were super proud of themselves for having hiked all the way—they laughed at all the silly folks who drove up in their cars! On our way back down we stopped by a stream to fill up our water bottles and some of the kids thought they spotted a fox on the far bank. By the time we finished the hike, we were all tuckered out and excited to be back in camp. All in all, it was another great day.”

“It was everything I thought it would be plus more. I had a lot of fun throughout the whole trip.” Harrison Riddell, Millburn, New Jersey

Trip Details

Getting To & From The Trip

This trip starts in Williamstown, Massachusetts. For students who drive to the start of the trip (Williamstown is 3 hours north of New York City and 3 hours west of Boston), we’ll meet in Williamstown. Students who fly to the trip start should fly into the Albany, New York airport where Overland staff will be on-hand to meet you, help you collect your baggage and transport you the 42 miles to Williamstown.

At the end of the trip, students can either fly home from Albany, New York airport or be picked up in Williamstown. Overland staff will be on hand to assist all students with flights or pick-ups.

Clothing & Equipment

Please see the Preparing & Packing page for a complete equipment list to help guide your trip preparations. Note that the main pieces of equipment needed for this trip are: a backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad and hiking boots.

Additional Costs

Transportation to and from program start and end locations, spending money and personal gear are not included in the program fee. Overland provides group gear including tents and stoves; students provide all personal equipment (e.g., backpacks, boots, sleeping bags; click on the link above for a complete clothing and equipment list).

“We had great activities and great times together.” David Smith, Winnetka, Illinois

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