Alaska Service

for 9th-12th graders

Alaska is monumental--with huge mountains, massive glaciers and giant rivers.  On Alaska Service, we'll spend three weeks in the Alaskan outdoors, working to protect our nation's Last Frontier through demanding trail work.  We'll also learn about Alaska's cultural heritage and explore Alaska's rugged coastline.

We’ll meet in Juneau where we’ll spend our first three days hiking just outside of the city.  In a small, spirited group (no more than 12 students or fewer than 2 leaders), we will get to know one another and appreciate Alaska's beauty before the rigors of trail work begin.

Next, we’ll volunteer with Trail Mix, an organization dedicated to improving trails in the Juneau area.  After a brief orientation, we'll strap on our packs and hike to the shores of Berners Bay.  Here our Trail Mix leaders will guide us in the trail reconstruction process: clearing brush, moving logs and distributing gravel.  After each hard day's work, we'll explore nearby beaches and relax in our incredible surroundings, and at the end of our project, we'll hike out on our newly renovated trail.

At program’s end, we’ll head out in sea-kayaks to explore the coast for three days. We’ll camp on an island beach and enjoy magnificent views of rugged coastline and snow-capped peaks, as we reflect upon our three weeks of service to help protect our nation’s Last Frontier on Alaska Service; it's a life experience with value and resonance that extends far beyond the boundaries of a single summer.

“My expectations were exceeded. I hope that Nick chooses another Overland program next summer.” Morton A. Pierce, New York, New York

 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Rebuild & restore Alaskan trails
• Hike some of Juneau's best trails
• Discover Alaska’s cultural heritage
• Sea-kayak Juneau’s coastline

GRADE

For students who will finish grades 9-12 in June 2008.  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.

START & END LOCATION

Starts and ends in Juneau

2008 SERVICE HOURS, DATES & FEES

3 Weeks

80 hours of community service credit

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.

“ACS Alaska taught me not only what I can do for others, but what I can do for myself.” Eliezah Dale, River Forest, Illinois

Itinerary & Day-to-day Life

Program Start

We'll meet in Juneau—the perfect place to pursue three weeks of outdoor-oriented service with more hiking trails than any other state capital. We’ll spend our first three days hiking just outside of the city, adjusting to the time difference and climate, getting to know one another and preparing for our trail work in the Juneau area.

Trail Project

Our ten day trail project will be in conjunction with Trail Mix, a local non-profit that works to preserve and create trails in the Juneau area. After a brief orientation, we’ll strap on our packs and hike to the shores of Berner’s Bay. Here we'll work alongside Trail Mix volunteers who will guide us through the trail building process: removing the bark from logs, building a frame for the trail and then spreading gravel. Our nights will be spent camping near the beautiful Alaskan coastline. Although the work will be challenging and the days long, we’ll hike out at the end of our ten days on our newly built trail, a fitting reward for all of our efforts.

Sea-Kayaking Alaska's Coast

At the end of the program, we’ll head out to sea-kayak for three days with Alaska Discovery. Following our experienced guides, we’ll paddle the rugged coastline, camp on island beaches, enjoy views of surrounding snow-capped peaks and hope to catch some fish! Although kayaking can be challenging, our three days on the water will serve as a fun and fitting end to our three weeks together in Alaska.

Program End

After sea-kayaking, we’ll return to Juneau for a final night to celebrate and reflect on our three weeks of exploration and service in the great Alaskan wilderness.

“The program was well organized, involving challenging work and leisure time.” Brian Chen, Princeton Junction, New Jersey

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 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 service program the group stays together all day: working hard on our service projects, exploring the beautiful surroundings and enjoying our evenings together as we prepare dinner and dessert and talk about the day's adventures. 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 program a success in every way possible.

In every decision we make, safety comes first. We plan our programs carefully choosing well-established organizations for whom we can provide meaningful service. 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 programs.

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.

Trip Details

Getting To & From The Program

Families are responsible for making travel arrangements to and from Juneau, Alaska. 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 program 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).

“This was a life changing experience – it gave our son such self-confidence!” Sue Raybin, San Francisco, California

Students: Is this trip right for you?

Alaska Service requires a positive attitude and a willingness to work hard as volunteers. Participants should be eager to take part in ten days of trail work and be ready for both the challenges and rewards that service work offers.

Keep in mind that your enjoyment of this trip will hinge on certain factors:

1. Your motivation. Service work is not always easy—you must be motivated!
2. Your commitment to teamwork. Overland trips require compromise, patience and selflessness. Support your trip leaders and your trip mates and you’ll find that you have a great experience!

We will spend some long days on the trail but by working together as a group and keeping a good attitude, trail work can be positive and rewarding. Expect to be tired at times, but also expect to have an incredible experience with 11 of your peers in Alaska.

What's it like?

Here's how a recent leader described the unique Alaska Service experience:

“I really loved working in Alaska because we got to see Juneau in a way that most tourists can't appreciate. Each day we watched large cruise ships anchor in the harbor, and we avoided the crowds of people concerned mostly with shopping at the tourist traps. While they saw only about 10 square blocks of the Juneau area, we saw so much more. We came to love the views from our cabin in Cowee Meadow and enjoyed the area on our own with Alaskan trail workers who provided wonderful local color. The views from Cowee were amazing—fields of bright purple fireweed framed by mountains and ocean off in the distance. The jobs were rewarding, too; Trail Mix filled our days with challenging physical work. We slept like logs each night of our stay and at the end of the week we saw tangible results. After building 170 feet of turnpike trail through the woods, we all felt we had earned a shower and a celebratory pizza dinner!”

“My leaders were amazing – the best people ever!” Monique Remillard, Northboro, Massachusetts

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