Alaska Explorer

for 9th-12th graders

Alaska is unequaled for its vast wilderness and spectacular mountains, offering unsurpassed outdoor opportunities for the adventurous. For three weeks in a small, spirited group (no more than 10 students or fewer than 2 leaders), we’ll hike, raft and sea-kayak the best of Alaska, discovering giant mountains, rushing rivers and rugged coastline teeming with diverse wildlife on, Alaska Explorer, a trip with value and resonance that extend far beyond the boundaries of a single summer.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Backpack the rugged Chugach Mountains
• Backcountry hike in Denali State Park
• Raft the exciting Nenana River
• Hike in Denali National Park
• Sea-kayak Prince William Sound
• Discover Alaska’s wildlife

GRADE

For students who will finish grades 9-12 in June 2008 (students will be grouped by age).  We plan on 1 group with 9th & 10th graders and 1 group with 10th-12th graders.  Call us (800.458.0588) to check on current availability.

CHALLENGE LEVEL

7 (1-10, 1 is easiest)

START & END LOCATION

Starts and ends in Anchorage, Alaska

DATES & FEES

3 Weeks

Sunday, June 22 to Friday, July 11
Sunday, July 13 to Friday, August 1

$3995 (airfare not included)

APPLY TODAY

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

"I had an amazing time—great group, great leaders and great activities!" Nick Tyler, Sacramento, California

Itinerary

Trip Start

We'll meet in Anchorage and spend our first couple of days getting to know one another and preparing for our backcountry hiking. We’ll check over our gear, learn how to pack our backpacks, shop for food and explore the majestic Chugach Mountains on day hikes.

Backpacking Chugach State Park

For our first backcountry hike, we’ll head to Chugach State Park which encompasses over a half-million acres of Alaskan wilderness. For four days, we’ll explore valleys and passes, beautiful alpine lakes and glacier-fed rivers as we average five to six miles a day over the rugged terrain. Climbing above tree line with views of snow-capped peaks, we'll hike up the remote Indian Valley, over Ship Lake Pass and into the Williwaw Lakes Valley. We'll carry all of our gear, learn about Leave No Trace principles and work together to enhance our backpacking skills. Although daylight is not a problem in Alaska at this time of year, we'll get out on the trail early and hope to get into camp in the early afternoon to enjoy some time relaxing in our spectacular setting.

Hiking Denali State Park

Our second backcountry hike will take us to Denali State Park for a four-day ridge hike with views of the Alaska Range and Denali in the distance. After our warm-up hike in the Chugach, we’ll be well prepared for this second backcountry, averaging seven to eight miles per day on the trail. The terrain will vary as we hike over rolling hills and through dense groves of alder and aspen.

Visiting Denali National Park

We’ll also spend a day in Denali National Park to experience one of our nation’s greatest national parks. Denali offers over 6 million acres of wilderness and we’ll explore the park by bus and foot, hoping to catch a glimpse of moose, caribou, wolves, dall sheep and grizzly bears. In the midst of the glacier-draped Alaska Range, we’ll hike across tundra and braided riverbeds, enjoying the lightness of our daypacks and our spectacular setting.

Sea-Kayaking Prince William Sound

Taking a break from the trail, we’ll spend four days kayaking with Alaska Sea Kayakers (www.alaskaseakayakers.com) in Prince William Sound. We’ll learn paddling techniques and environmental awareness from our experienced guides as we average six to seven miles daily. We'll keep our eyes peeled for calving glaciers and marine life and spend our nights on beautiful, remote beaches. No previous kayaking experience is required.

Rafting the Nenana River

We'll also enjoy two days of rafting on the Nenana River with experienced Too-loo-uk River guides (www.akrivers.com). We’ll spend our first day on flat water, enjoying the Alaskan scenery and hoping to spot wildlife as we float downriver. After a night on the banks of the Nenana, we'll tackle Class II and III rapids—an exciting way to finish off our two days on the river!

Trip End

Our trip will end in Anchorage where we’ll look back and celebrate our three amazing weeks together in Alaska!

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.

“I loved the leaders! They were amazing. Not only did they feel like leaders but they felt like good friends to all of us." CC Hudson, Dorset, Vermont 

Trip Details

Getting To & From The Trip

Families are responsible for making travel arrangements to and from Anchorage. Overland’s leaders will be on hand at the airport to provide supervision and assistance at trip start and end.

Preparing & Important Equipment

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

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).

“After the demands of school during the year, it was very freeing for Rachel to stretch herself physically and socially and to enjoy nature with such an agreeable group. She loved it! And we did too!” Laurie Glover, Williamstown, Massachusetts

What's it like?

Here's how a recent leader described Alaska Explorer:

“Overland's Alaska Explorer provides a unique and amazing experience; it is a perfect trip for any high school student who seeks the challenge and excitement that is found only in traveling through pristine and wild environments. The Chugach Mountains and Denali State and National Parks provided, without a doubt, the best hiking and backpacking I have ever done! A mix of open tundra, dense forest, flat ridgelines and steep hills creates a uniquely diverse hiking experience. Glorious mountain passes, vast open tundra, hanging mountain lakes, tall and jagged peaks...the views are amazing! The terrain is unlike any other on earth. While sea-kayaking Prince William Sound, we saw calving glaciers and mountains rising four thousand vertical feet out of the ocean—all while in the company of whales, eagles, sea otters and other ocean wildlife. River rafting with Too-loo-uk River Guides gave our legs a nice rest and was a definite highlight! The guides were wonderful people to work with and we enjoyed their stories about life in the Alaskan bush. Throughout the trip, we enjoyed learning about the culture of Alaska and the people who live there. We brought home glorious photo albums, lasting friendships and enthusiasm for life.”

“Very well organized. Safety is a priority and the trip was also a good challenge.” Caty Cleffi, Succasunna, New Jersey