Berkshire Adventure

Overview

Overland welcomes our youngest students to join us for a week of exploration in the beautiful Berkshires and Green Mountains. We'll hike hills and mountains, cycle a quiet bike path and raft a fun river on our Berkshire Adventure.

Few settings could equal the Berkshires and the southern Green Mountains as locations for an introductory Overland program. Gentle hills become mountains, clear rivers flow past old farms and postcard-perfect towns spread out from manicured greens. With a wide range of fun outdoor activities—from hiking to biking to rafting to camping to playing games—the Berkshire Hills and the Green Mountains in southern Vermont are perfect for our week-long 5th grade program. We’ll begin with easier hikes and walks, building up to our hike of Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts. We’ll spend a day cycling the countryside on the beautiful Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. On the Deerfield River, we’ll enjoy a day of rafting.

At trip’s end, we’ll celebrate all that we have accomplished and seen on our Berkshire Adventure—the perfect introduction to Overland.

“Thank you for having a one-week, 5th grade program. It is the ideal first experience.” Helen Hamel, Wellesley, Massachusetts

Highlights

• Hike the Berkshires & southern Green Mountains
• Bike the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail
• Raft the Deerfield River
• Climb Mount Greylock (3,491 feet)

Grade

For students who will finish grade 5 in June 2010.

Call us (800.458.0588) to check on current availability.

Challenge Level

1 (1-10, 1 is easiest)

Start and End Location

Starts and ends in Williamstown, Massachusetts

Students who fly to the trip fly into the Albany, New York, International Airport, where Overland staff will be on hand to meet and assist all arriving students. Students who are dropped off should come to the Williams College Campus in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

At the end of the trip in Williamstown, students can either fly home from the 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.

Dates and Fees

Sunday, June 27 to Saturday, July 3
Sunday, July 4 to Saturday, July 10
Sunday, July 11 to Saturday, July 17
Sunday, July 18 to Saturday, July 24
Sunday, July 25 to Saturday, July 31
Sunday, August 1 to Saturday, August 7

$1495 (airfare not included)

“A program I can trust.” Sue Boomershine, Wilmette, Illinois

Itinerary

At The Start Of The Trip

The trip begins in Williamstown, Massachusetts. For those who fly, we'll pick you up at Albany International Airport in Albany, New York; for those who are dropped off, we'll meet on the Williams College campus.

Our First Day Together

On our first afternoon together, we'll focus on getting to know each other through playing fun games and taking a short, beautiful hike to stretch our legs. Our group will include two leaders—always a man and a woman—and up to 12 students (never more). A small group makes for close friendships and fun as we enjoy our week together.

Exploring the Berkshires & southern Green Mountains

We'll spend our days doing day hikes and bike rides. We'll bike the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail and hike to a few of the beautiful vistas in and around Williamstown, Massachusetts, and Manchester, Vermont. Between hikes and rides, we'll enjoy the area, taking a dip in one of the local swimming holes or playing group games. We'll spend one day rafting the Deerfield River with professional guides. The Deerfield is a perfect mixture of fun rapids and calmer water in the spectacular Zoar Gap. At trip's end, we'll challenge ourselves with a hike up Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts (3,491 feet).

Trip End

On our last night together, we’ll celebrate our week of fun and discovery. All in all, this trip is the perfect introduction to Overland.

“I didn't have a favorite part; I loved it all!” Melissa Swann, Williamstown, Massachusetts

Trip Details

This is an introductory trip. The selected activities, their duration and intensity, are designed for adventurous kids who will finish 5th grade in June 2010. The challenge level is a 1 on a scale of 1-10, where 1 is easiest. While this is an introductory trip designed for our youngest students, it is essential that parents make a good choice for their child. Every Overland program requires independence, age-appropriate maturity and good fitness.

“I had a great time on Berkshire Adventure meeting friends, hiking, biking and especially rafting. It was the best week of my life.” Emma Robitaille, Cincinnati, Ohio

Photos

Click thumbnails below to enlarge

Videos

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Prepare & Pack

Preparing for the Hiking & Biking

Stay active in sports and get out for some walks and rides this spring. The more you prepare, the more you'll enjoy your program and the better able you'll be to hike and ride safely this summer.

Packing For Your Program

Our packing list is designed to keep you safe and comfortable while hiking, biking and camping this summer. Keep in mind, however, that there are a wide range of products available in terms of clothing and equipment. Overland programs are relatively short, and although you want your clothing and equipment to be durable, this does not mean it has to be top of the line. Oftentimes more basic and less expensive options perform just as well. Some of our favorite brands, in terms of quality of product for a reasonable price, include REI, EMS and L.L.Bean.

Label the following items with your name, address and phone number. Bring only what you need and pack everything in a duffel bag or your daypack. You should carry your sleeping bag on the plane with you in case your checked luggage fails to arrive on time.

Please bring only the clothes listed below. Do not wear an extra set of clothes for the flight. By layering you will stay cool on warm days, dry on rainy days and warm on cool nights. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact our office.

Clothing

• Sneakers or Low Top Hiking Shoes
  Comfortable shoes to wear around all day and on day hikes and bike rides.


• Sport Sandals
  With a heel strap for rafting, swimming and around camp. No flip-flops or Crocs as these will not be acceptable for rafting. If you do not have sport sandals, sneakers will work fine for rafting although they will get wet so you may want to bring sneakers for rafting in addition to those you'll use for daily hikes and bike rides.


• Waterproof Rain Jacket
  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.


• Fleece Jacket/Pullover or Warm Sweater/Sweatshirt
  One only. To wear in camp on cool evenings.


• Long Pants
  One pair only. To wear in camp on cool evenings.


• Shorts
  Two pairs of comfortable shorts to hike and bike in.


• Shirts
  Three short-sleeve shirts or tank tops; two long-sleeve shirts.


• Underwear
  Six pairs.


• Socks
  Six pairs.


• Hat
  With a visor—like a baseball cap—to keep the sun off your face.


• Pajamas
  One pair only.


• Bathing Suit
  One only.

Hiking, Biking & Camping Gear

• Backpack
  For everyday adventures and hikes. Your backpack should have two shoulder straps (i.e., not a satchel) and be big enough to carry your lunch, snacks, two water bottles and a rain jacket or extra warm layers. A regular school backpack will work fine.


• Bike Helmet
  Overland will provide bicycles.


• Sleeping Bag
  Any type is acceptable. Overland will provide sleeping pads.


• Pillow
  Optional. Many students will use their fleece or sweatshirt as a pillow.


• Flashlight or Headlamp
  So you can see in camp when it's dark outside.


• Utensils
  6" to 8" plastic dish or bowl with top; insulated plastic mug; spoon, fork and knife. These don't need to be special camping utensils. A Rubbermaid dish (or similar) and regular eating utensils are fine.


• Water Bottles
  Two of any varitey. One-liter bottles are a good size to aim for, but smaller sizes are okay as well if that is what you have.

Miscellaneous Gear

• Beach Towel


• Toiletries
  Travel size as more is available if needed.


• Sunglasses


• Sunscreen & Chapstick
  Minimum SPF 15.


• Camera/Batteries/Memory Card

Optional. Interested in seeing your photographs or videos on Overland's website next year? Bring a camera with lots of pixels (10 or more) and lots of memory (4GB or more). Buying a new camera? One of our favorites is the Canon PowerShot SD960 IS digital camera.

• Journal and/or Book
  Optional. Your group will collectively keep a group journal and you'll receive a copy of the journal after the trip. If you would like to keep a personal journal, you should bring one.


• Spending Monday
  $50 for souvenirs, gifts and necessities (like more sunscreen if you run out or 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.

Admissions

Below is the Admissions Materials packet and other information for Berkshire Adventure.

Admissions Materials 2010

Flight & Travel Information 2010

Program Start & End Information 2010

Berkshire Adventure Release Form 2010

Apply

We welcome your interest in joining Overland this summer!

To apply, please complete and sign the application on page 47 of the Overland catalog or download an application. (You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download the application).

Please refer to page 46 of our catalog for important information you should know before signing the application.

Send your application and $795 deposit to:

Overland
P.O. Box 31
Williamstown, MA 01267

For overnight mail via UPS or FedEx, please use our street address:

Overland
63 Spring Street
Williamstown, MA 01267

Sorry, we are unable to accept applications by fax, and we do not take credit cards. Applications are reviewed in the order in which they arrive at our office and we cannot hold spots over the phone.

To learn about our admissions process, please click here.