Overland : summer & semester programs for 10-19 year olds
open to grades 7-9 This classic tour of Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard is always one of Overland’s most popular trips— and for good reason. Daily rides explore beautiful beaches and picturesque towns on back roads and bike paths. Cape Cod & the Islands offers challenge, camaraderie, biking, beaches and whale watching off Provincetown.
We’ll start in Williamstown, Massachusetts, with a short orientation and a practice ride before we travel by van to the Cape. On the Cape, quiet back roads and beautiful beaches await us. We’ll ride through Hyannis, Brewster and Wellfleet on bike paths and scenic roads that take us through forests, by marshes and past beaches. The terrain is forgiving, allowing us to build skills and fitness as we go. In Truro, we’ll face some challenging hills as we bike through an area of big sand dunes with beautiful views of Cape Cod Bay to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. On Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, bike paths take us to classic seaports, charming towns and long stretches of white sand—perfect for an afternoon of swimming and games.
Our daily rides average 20 miles and are a great way to discover the beauty of the Cape and the islands while making friends and having fun on a summer adventure. A whale watch off Provincetown rounds out two weeks of biking, beaches and fun on Cape Cod & the Islands.
“Alex grew as an individual, took risks and gained confidence in becoming independent." Lisa Calvert, Sammamish, Washington
For students who will finish grades 7-9 in June 2010.
Call us (800.458.0588) to check on current availability.
2 (1-10, 1 is easiest)
2 Weeks
Sunday, June 27 to Friday, July 9
Sunday, July 11 to Friday, July 23
Sunday, July 25 to Friday, August 6
$2795
“One of the best parts was having dessert circle on the beach under the stars.” Rose Hedreen, Williamstown, Massachusetts
Cape Cod & the Islands starts in Williamstown, Massachusetts. For those who fly, we'll meet at Albany, New York International Airport; for those who are dropped off, we'll gather in Williamstown on the Williams College campus.
During the first days of the bike trip, we'll focus on group building and safe riding. We’ll show you how to set up your tent, how to pack your bicycle and how to ride safely. At the same time you’ll have the opportunity to get to know your trip mates and your two trip leaders (always a male and a female). Most Cape groups have 12 students—never any more—and there are usually 4 or 5 boys and 7 or 8 girls.
Groups will travel to the Cape the morning after they arrive. We’ll load up a 15-passenger van and a large trailer with all of our bikes and gear and van to the Cape (a four-hour drive). Once we arrive on the Cape, the van will return to Williamstown, and we'll start our self-supported bicycle tour. With three or four groups on the Cape at once, there will be at least three different itineraries; typically one group will start on Martha’s Vineyard and then travel to Nantucket and finish their ride in Provincetown, a second group will do that same itinerary in reverse and a third group will start on Nantucket, travel to Martha’s Vineyard and finish in Provincetown.
In addition to beautiful beaches, the Cape offers quiet backroads and a terrific rail trail. We’ll ride through forests, by marshes and past beaches and visit Hyannis, Wellfleet and Truro. The terrain on the Cape is generally rolling—there are some flat sections (the rail trail) and there are some hilly sections (Wellfleet to Truro). Most nights are spent in comfortable campgrounds on the Cape (with hot showers and fully equipped bathrooms) and a few nights are spent in a youth hostel on Nantucket (with dormitories, fully equipped bathrooms and a shared kitchen).
On Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, bike paths take us to classic seaports, charming towns and long stretches of white sand—perfect for an afternoon of swimming and games. The terrain on the islands is generally rolling and there is a mixture of quiet roads and bike paths. On Martha’s Vineyard we'll stay at a campground a short bike ride from the beach—a favorite with Overland groups. On Nantucket we'll stay at one of the world’s most beautifully sited youth hostels right on Surfside Beach!
In Provincetown we’ll board a whale-watching vessel for a three-hour excursion, exploring an area off the tip of the Cape where these giant mammals feed. Most groups are lucky enough to catch a glimpse of these magnificent creatures.
At trip end, we’ll return to Williamstown to enjoy a final dinner as a group, rounding out two weeks of biking, beaches and adventure on Cape Cod & the Islands.
“We are tough critics, but we were very impressed by the professionalism and thoughtfulness of every aspect of Overland and the Cape Cod & the Islands.” Doug Elmendorf and Karen Dynan, Bethesda, Maryland
Cape Cod & the Islands is rated 2 on a scale of 1-10 (1 is easiest). The length of the rides and the difficulty of the terrain are a bit less demanding than Vermont (Level 4). Our daily rides average 20 miles and are a great way to discover the beauty of the Cape and Islands while making friends and having fun on a teen bike trip.
Most Cape Cod & the Islands 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.
“My leaders were awesome!” Alex Calvert, Sammamish, Washington
Below are individual PDFs of the Admissions Materials for Cape Cod & the Islands.
Training ahead of time is essential to your success on an Overland bike trip. Training will enable you to enjoy your trip and to ride safely this summer. The most important part of training is gaining confidence on your bike by riding regularly. Please take two 30- to 45-minute rides every week for four weeks before the start of your trip. Your health and safety this summer depend on this. Before your trip you should be comfortable getting on and off your bike, shifting gears, braking, and making turns; and you should be able to ride 10 miles with ease. A good goal to work towards is being able to ride 15 miles in one ride, although frequent shorter rides (5-8 miles) are a great way to become a confident and safe rider.
Overland bicycle tours are self-contained—meaning there is no van support. You will carry all of your belongings, plus some group gear, on a sturdy rack mounted over the back wheel of your bike. You will hang panniers (these are saddlebags, pronounced “pan-yers”) off the rack and attach gear like your sleeping bag and sleeping pad to the top of the rack using bungee cords.
You may choose to rent a bicycle and/or panniers from Overland to use during your trip. Please see the Bicycle & Pannier Rental form.
Our packing list is designed to keep you safe and comfortable while 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. Often times 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 your panniers, or in a duffel bag if you are renting panniers from Overland. You can tape or strap your panniers together to check them as one piece of luggage. Please take your helmet, sleeping bag and pad with you on the plane as carry-on items 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. You will have the chance to do laundry periodically.
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.
If you are flying to the start of your trip, you will need to box your bike prior to your flight so that you can check the boxed bike as a piece of luggage. Most airlines charge about $100 to $200 one-way to check a bike. Please let your airline know that you will be bringing a bike, as many small planes cannot accommodate bike boxes. Please bring and set aside money to pay the bike fee for your return flight.
To box your bike, bring the bike to a bike shop where a mechanic will break it down and box it for about $50. Please make sure the mechanic leaves the cables attached and protected and does not remove the rear derailleur. For instructions on how to box your bike yourself, click here.
DROP OFF: Cole Field House, 85 Stetson Rd., Williams College, Williamstown, Mass. at 2:00 p.m. Sunday
PICK UP: Cole Field House, 85 Stetson Rd., Williams College, Williamstown, Mass. at 11:00 a.m. Friday
FLIGHT ARRIVAL: Albany International Airport (NY) between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon Sunday
FLIGHT DEPARTURE: Albany International Airport (NY) between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon Friday
For any special cases, please contact the Overland office to make arrangements, if you have not done so already.
Cape Cod & the Islands starts in Williamstown, Massachusetts. For students who drive to the start of the trip, we’ll meet on the Williams College campus. 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 by 15-passenger van the 42 miles to Williamstown.
At the end of the trip students will be shuttled back to Williamstown. 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.
Flight & Travel Information 2010
Students have the chance to receive mail midway through the trip. Please follow the instructions below to properly address mail to your student's CI section. Please send mail well in advance to ensure delivery to the group.
CI 1A
Mail must arrive prior to July 2nd to ensure delivery to the group
Please write, "Hold for arrival 7/3/10" on the lower left corner of the envelope/package
CI 1B
Mail must arrive prior to July 2nd to ensure delivery to the group
Please write, "Hold for arrival 7/3/10" on the lower left corner of the envelope/package
CI 1C
Mail must arrive prior to July 3rd to ensure delivery to the group
Please write, "Hold for arrival 7/5/10" on the lower left corner of the envelope/package
CI 1D
Mail must arrive prior to July 3rd to ensure delivery to the group
Please write, "Hold for arrival 7/6/10" on the lower left corner of the envelope/package
CI 2A
Mail must arrive prior to July 16th to ensure delivery to the group
Please write, "Hold for arrival 7/17/10" on the lower left corner of the envelope/package
CI 2B
Mail must arrive prior to July 16th to ensure delivery to the group
Please write, "Hold for arrival 7/17/10" on the lower left corner of the envelope/package
CI 2C
Mail must arrive prior to July 17th to ensure delivery to the group
Please write, "Hold for arrival 7/19/10" on the lower left corner of the envelope/package
CI 3A
Mail must arrive prior to July 30th to ensure delivery to the group
Please write, "Hold for arrival 7/31/10" on the lower left corner of the envelope/package
CI 3B
Mail must arrive prior to July 30th to ensure delivery to the group
Please write, "Hold for arrival 7/31/10" on the lower left corner of the envelope/package
CI 3C
Mail must arrive prior to July 31st to ensure delivery to the group
Please write, "Hold for arrival 8/2/10" on the lower left corner of the envelope/package
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.
From South Pasadena, California, Emilio Medina is a rising junior at Pomona College, where he is double majoring in Economics and Spanish. He is leading our Cape Cod & the Islands bike trip this summer. At Pomona, Emilio leads overnight and day trips to national parks in the Southern California area for On the Loose, the outdoors club at Pomona and has held multiple jobs as a photographer for organizations including The Student Life (the college newspaper), Metate (the college yearbook) and the Oldenborg Center for Modern Languages and International Relations. He also serves as an International Relations Colloquium Chair at the Oldenborg Center, where he hosts, introduces and publicizes guest speakers visiting Pomona. Volunteering in the local community, Emilio mentors for Uncommon Good, a local program matching low income children with a college mentor to support and encourage higher education. After leading this summer, Emilio will also be a head leader for freshmen orientation outdoor trips at Pomona. During his free time, Emilio enjoys playing tennis, swimming, exploring new places, and taking pictures. He writes, "This summer will be full of challenges, sunshine, new friends and laughs. I'm looking forward to all of it!"
Overland P.O. Box 31 Williamstown, MA 01267 | 800.458.0588 | 413.458.9672 | Fax: 413.458.5208 info@overlandprograms.com
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Overland Programs offers more than 40 different trips including New England summer camps and hiking adventures for tweens (5th graders and 6th graders), hiking trips for teens, teen bike trips in Europe and America, and teen summer service programs. Whether you're looking for a language immersion program, summer programs abroad or service programs abroad, summer writing programs, environmental studies programs, teen adventure travel trips, a field studies program, or even a gap year semester in Spain, you're sure to find a program here which will create lasting memories, capture the imagination, and strengthen physical, emotional and social skills. Overland is not simply a summer or semester-long experience—it's a life experience with value and resonance that extends far beyond the boundaries of a young person's time with us.
Overland leaders are students and recent alumni from top colleges and universities, including many schools in the Ivy League and NESCAC as well as other elite schools across the country. Overland leaders are campus leaders, varsity athletes, sports captains, peer counselors, outdoor guides, and honors students. All leaders are First Aid, CPR, and lifeguard certified.
Overland Programs, also known as Overland Summers and even as Overland Adventures, is proud to have ACA accredited summer programs, teen summer camps, teen summer adventures, teen travel, teen summer programs, teenage camps, teen adventure programs, teen adventure trips, summer camp programs, summer programs abroad, language immersion courses abroad, teen bike trips, teen bicycle tours, teen summer service programs and New England camps which are held to the highest safety standards. Overland is not a teen tour or a summer camp, our trips and programs are carefully crafted and designed to challenge our students, who are always in small groups with superlative leadership.
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