Vermont

2 weeks

open to grades 7-9

Overview

Famous for its beautiful vistas, quiet roads and small, friendly towns, it’s no secret that Vermont is a perfect setting for bicycle touring. Our daily rides over rolling terrain offer stunning views of Vermont’s Green Mountains, Lake Champlain and New York’s Adirondacks.

We’ll begin in Williamstown, Massachusetts, with an orientation and short practice ride that focuses on safe riding. We’ll then load our bicycles and begin our trek to the Canadian border. On daily rides that average 25 miles, we’ll bike along green fields, through covered bridges, by red barns and past white-steepled churches. We’ll ride through the Lake Champlain Valley, seeking out quiet roads and gentle grades. As we head north, we’ll bike along stunning Lake Champlain and look west to the imposing Adirondacks. To the east are Vermont’s Green Mountains with impressive Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak, in the distance. We’ll take a day to visit Burlington, a nice contrast to the small towns and big farms along our route. Each day brings fun and discovery and, at day’s end, comfortable camping awaits us.

Near the end of our journey, we’ll ride triumphantly to the Canadian border. After reaching our goal, we’ll return to Williamstown by van to celebrate the accomplishments and fun of our two weeks together.

"Esme came back energized, happy and excited. Well done." Ben Chant, Brooklyn, New York

Highlights

Bike the length of Vermont
Explore small towns & quiet back roads
Swim in Vermont’s lakes & ponds
Visit exciting Burlington

Grade

For students who will finish grades 7-9 in June 2012.
Multiple sections are grouped by grades.

Call us (413-458-9672) to check on current availability.

Challenge Level

4 (1-10, 1 is easiest)

Start and End Location

Starts and ends in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

Accommodations

Comfortable tent camping for all nights. Most campgrounds will have flush toilets and showers. There is opportunity for laundry about once a week.

Dates and Fees

2 Weeks

Sunday, June 24 to Friday, July 6
Sunday, July 8 to Friday, July 20
Sunday, July 22 to Friday, August 3

$2795 (airfare not included)

“Patrick thoroughly enjoyed his trip. He formed amazing friendships and really enjoyed his leaders.” Lauren Beusse, Westport, Connecticut

Itinerary

At The Start Of The Trip

Vermont starts in Williamstown, Massachusetts. For students who drive to the start of the trip (Williamstown is three hours north of New York City and three hours west of Boston), we’ll meet on the campus of Williams College and travel a short distance to our campground where we'll spend our fist night. Students who fly to trip start arrive at the Albany, New York, airport where Overland staff will be on hand to meet you, help you collect your baggage and transport you by van the 42 miles to Williamstown.

Orientation & Practice Ride

On our first afternoon together, we'll prepare for our teen bike trip north by learning how to load our bikes and ride as a group. We’ll take a short practice ride and then return to our campground to set up our tents and prepare dinner.

Southern Vermont

From the border of Massachusetts and Vermont, we'll start our trek north. We'll travel in the valley between the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks where the terrain is gently rolling and increases in difficulty as we build up strength and get used to being on our bikes each day. A typical itinerary in Southern Vermont includes the following stops: Pine Hollow Campground in Pownal (10 miles); Lake Shaftsbury State Park (19 miles); Dorset Park (22 miles); Lake St. Catherine State Park (22 miles); Lake Hortonia (24 miles).

Burlington & The Border

From Lake Hortonia, we'll travel to the southern edge of Lake Champlain. Our route skirts along the shores of the lake with views of the Adirondacks to the west and the Green Mountains to the east. We'll ride through busy Burlington, a nice change of pace from the small Vermont towns we’ve been riding through so far. We'll continue through the northern section of Lake Champlain to the U.S./Canada border. During this section, most groups will make the following stops: Lake Champlain D.A.R. State Park (38 miles); Burlington's North Beach Campground (43 miles); Grand Isle State Park (43 miles); U.S./Canada border (20 miles). In Burlington, there is a buffer day built into the itinerary to allow for delays en route (most groups will spend this day partially or completely off of the bikes, relaxing and exploring on foot).

Trip End in Williamstown

We'll finish our biking as we ride triumphantly to the Canadian border. After a brief celebration, we'll hop in a 15-passenger van and trailer to head back to Williamstown. Here we’ll enjoy a last night out together as we celebrate the accomplishment of biking the entire length of Vermont! On the last morning of the trip, students are picked up in Williamstown or shuttled to the Albany, New York, airport for flights.

“I had an amazing time with Overland and was totally happy even though I had never done anything like it before.” Emily Glazer, Woodside, California

Trip Details

Vermont is rated 4 on a scale of 1-10 (1 is easiest). The length of the rides and the difficulty of the terrain are two notches higher than Cape Cod & the Islands (Level 2) and slightly less demanding than New England Coast (Level 5). Our daily rides average 25 miles and are a great way to discover the beauty of Vermont while making friends and having fun.

Many Vermont participants are first-timers on a teen bike 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.

Vermont is a great bike trip because:

It will be absolutely clear to you that you have accomplished something significant—you’ve biked the length of Vermont!
It is a reasonably challenging trip that is still a great first trip—most participants will be new to Overland and new to bicycle touring.
It is a comfortable teen bike trip—nightly camping is in small state parks and a few privately owned campgrounds: most have hot showers and many have lakes for swimming.

The days on Vermont include bicycling, swimming, camping and fun with a small group of students and two caring leaders (always a male and a female). There’s a real sense of adventure as you make steady progress toward the Canadian border…join us next summer and experience for yourself the excitement and camaraderie of our Vermont bike trip!

"My favorite part of Vermont was getting on my bike in the morning and knowing that the rest of the day on the bike was going to be exciting, fun and challenging." Sophie Gerry, Williamstown, Massachusetts

Photos

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Enrollment Forms

Below are the Enrollment Forms and other information for Vermont.

Enrollment Forms 2012

Bicycle & Pannier Rental 2012

Bicycle Report 2012

The Right Bicycle For Your Overland Trip 2012

Prepare & Pack

Preparing for the Biking

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. Before your trip you should be comfortable getting on and off your bike, shifting gears, braking, and making turns.

	Rides Per Week	Ride Length	Longest Ride	Shorter Rides
Cape Cod & the Islands	at least 2	30-40 min	15 miles	5-8 miles
Vermont	at least 2	30-45 min	15 miles	5-8 miles
New England Coast	at least 2	45-60 min	20 miles	8-12 miles
Nova Scotia & Acadia	at least 2	45-60 min	20 miles	8-12 miles

Please follow the above chart for four weeks before your trip. You should be able to ride 10 to 15 miles with ease (taking breaks for water and snacks). Your health and safety this summer depend on this. A good goal to work towards is being able to ride your long ride without too many prolonged breaks, although frequent shorter rides are a great way to become a confident and safe rider.

Packing for Your Trip

Label the following items with your name, address and phone number.
Overland bicycle tours are fully 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.
At trip start, your leaders will distribute group gear and they will help you repack your panniers and bike. If you're renting a bike and panniers from Overland please pack your clothing and equipment in a duffel bag. You will receive your bike and panniers upon arrival at the start of the trip.
You will have the chance to do laundry periodically and you will be able to leave extra items with our support staff at the beginning of your trip. These items will be stored at our facilities in Williamstown and returned at the end of your trip.
Check out some of our favorite brands and retailers to purchase items on this list.
Please do not bring any type of knife or multi-tool like a Swiss Army knife or Leatherman tool.
As you pack your gear adhere to the following instructions: (1) pack your sleeping pad and shoes in your bike box (2) Please take your helmet and sleeping bag with you on the plane as carry-on items in case your checked luggage fails to arrive on time. (3) Pack all your remaining items in your panniers (you can tape or strap your panniers together to check them as one piece of luggage) or in a duffel bag.

Biking & Camping Equipment

Note: You may choose to rent a bicycle and/or panniers from Overland to use during your trip. Please see the Bicycle & Pannier Rental form.

Helmet
Carry on the plane with you.

Water Bottles
Two. 24 oz bike bottles are the best size to aim for, but smaller sizes are okay if that is what you have (they should fit in a standard bike water bottle cage). A hydration system (e.g., CamelBak) is not necessary, but if you have one and want to bring it, that's great.

Shoes For Biking
You have two options: (1) ride in running shoes (2) ride in bike touring or mountain biking shoes with bottom treads and recessed cleats—these shoes clip into “clipless” pedals (it’s confusing). A popular style of clipless shoes/pedals are SPDs. Please do not ride in racing shoes (they have hard soles that are uncomfortable to walk in). Please note that if you are renting a bike from Overland (available for all of our New England trips) you will need to bring your own "clipless" pedals if you wish to ride in bike shoes. The bikes we rent come with flat pedals appropriate for biking in running shoes.

Sleeping Bag
Warm to 30 degrees or less. Lightweight and compact (when stuffed in a compression stuff-sack it should be no larger than 12" x 20"). Synthetic or down is acceptable. Carry on the plane with you.

Sleeping Pad
Compact and either 3/4 or full length. Closed cell foam (thin and firm—e.g., RidgeRest) or self-inflating (e.g., Therm-a-Rest) is acceptable.

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 utensils are fine.

Headlamp
Small and lightweight. This comes in very handy in camp when it's dark and you're using both hands.

The following items are available for rent from Overland.
Please see the Bicycle & Pannier Rental form.

Bicycle & Rear Rack
- Please see The Right Bicycle For Your Overland Trip in the Admissions Materials. Please note: The American Challenge and European Challenge require specific bikes; keep this in mind if you are buying a new bike now and plan on doing one of these trips in a future summer. If you need assistance in choosing a bicycle, please contact Alec Norton at alec@overlandprograms.com.
- If you are bringing your own bicycle: 1) Please return the 2012 Bicycle Report Form by April 1st to ensure your bicycle meets all qualifications. 2) Prepare your bike for travel: Traveling With Your Bicycle.

Water Bottle Cages
Two. Attached to the bike frame. Note: Some smaller size bike frames can not accommodate two cages. That's okay, as you'll be able to strap additional water bottles to your rack with your other gear.

Panniers & Two Bungee Cords
Panniers are saddlebags sold in pairs that attach to either side of your rear rack. For our trips you will want large panniers, 2400-3000 cubic inches total, designed for touring. One large pannier has internal dimensions of approximately 17" x 13" x 7". You should be able to fit all of your belongings, besides your sleeping bag and pad, into your two panniers and have some space for group gear. Consider compressibility of clothing while packing for your trip.

Spare Bike Tube
One spare tube that matches your bike's tire size.

Clothing

Please bring only the clothes listed below and do not wear an extra set of clothes for the flight. At trip start, your leaders will distribute group gear and they will help you repack your panniers and bike—at that time any unnecessary items will be mailed home.

Fleece Jacket or Pullover & Long Fleece Pants
Please don't bring jeans or sweatpants. They are heavy, bulky and will not keep you warm if wet.

Waterproof, Breathable Rain Jacket
Your rain gear must be waterproof (not just water resistant). Gore-Tex is one of the better-known waterproof, breathable fabric brands, but there are many to choose from. Ponchos are not acceptable.

Shorts To Bike In
Three pairs. Synthetic recommended (some students bring padded, spandex bike shorts but they are not required).

Around Camp Shorts
One pair. Athletic shorts work well around camp as they are comfortable to wear, light and compressible to pack.

T-Shirts
Three. Synthetic preferred.

Underwear
Five.

Socks
Five pairs; at least one warm, synthetic pair for inclement weather and around camp.

Pajamas
One pair only. Pajamas aren't required as many students sleep in shorts and a t-shirt.

Bathing Suit
One only.

Sport Sandals
For trips with rafting (New England Coast and Nova Scotia & Acadia) students must have sandals with a heel strap. For other programs flip-flops are also okay if you do not have sport sandals.

Miscellaneous Gear

Passport (Nova Scotia & Acadia ONLY)
Towel
Medium size cotton or synthetic. Synthetic camp towls will dry faster and are more compactable.

Plastic Bags
Ten large ziplocks and five tall kitchen trash bags. The trash bags will be used to line your panniers and to wrap your sleeping bag and pad in. The ziplocks will be used to organize and waterproof the rest of your gear.

Toiletries
All travel size (in a plastic bag). If necessary, you will be able to restock en route.

Sunglasses, Sunscreen (SPF 15+), Chapstick (with SPF protection) & Insect Repellent

Sunscreen (SPF 15+), Chapstick (with SPF protection) & Insect Repellent

Personal Journal or Book
Optional.

Digital Camera & Extra Batteries
Great for documenting the trip. Make sure you bring a large enough memory card (1 to 4 GB).

Spending Money
$25/week in cash or with a debit or ATM card.

Cell Phones, Electronics and Personal Property

Please note the following important policies:

Our programs offer the opportunity to strengthen independence and self-reliance. To maximize these benefits, we do not permit phone calls to or from our students (except in the case of emergency).

If it is important for your son or daughter to be able to call you while en route to Overland, we recommend that you purchase an inexpensive phone card that your son or daughter can use at any airport pay phone.

If you feel that it is necessary to send your son or daughter with a phone, please do not send an expensive smart phone like an iPhone or BlackBerry. Send an inexpensive prepaid cell phone instead. On arrival we will collect all phones but we have found that safeguarding these phones is problematic given that our programs move from place to place. Despite our best efforts over $25,000 in phones have been lost, damaged or stolen in the last two years alone. We regret that due to the expense involved in replacing these items, we take absolutely no responsibility whatsoever for phones, electronics or personal property brought by students and we will not make any reimbursements for lost, damaged or stolen phones, electronics or personal property.

Communications

To maximize independence and self-reliance, we do not permit phone calls, emails or text messages to or from our students (except in the case of an emergency).
Your child will call home with our phones and assistance on arrival and departure if he/she flies to his/her program.
In the case of an emergency, we will make sure you are in touch with your child as soon as possible.

Cell Phones

Cell phone use is prohibited on all Overland programs.
Any phone brought by a student will be collected by us on arrival and returned at departure.
If you decide to bring a phone, do not bring an expensive smartphone (e.g., iPhone or BlackBerry); instead bring an inexpensive prepaid cell phone (better yet, bring an inexpensive prepaid calling card).

Personal Electronics

We do not permit personal electronics (e.g., iPods, Kindles or iPads) except for digital cameras.
We do not permit emergency response or GPS tracking electronics.
Any electronics brought by a student will be collected by us on arrival and mailed home or returned at departure.

Personal Property

Overland is not responsible for any student’s personal property—including but not limited to: phones, electronics, cameras, equipment, bicycles and clothing. Please schedule all expensive items on your homeowners insurance policy to ensure that your child/ward’s personal property and equipment is covered against loss, damage or theft.

No Reimbursements for Lost, Damaged or Stolen Phone, Electronics and Personal Property

Despite taking precautions, some phones, electronics and personal property brought by students (and collected by us) have been lost, damaged or stolen. We regret that due to the expense involved in replacing these items, we take absolutely no responsibility whatsoever for phones, electronics or personal property brought by students and we will not make any reimbursements for lost, damaged or stolen phones, electronics or personal property.

Questions or concerns? Please call us. Your understanding and cooperation are appreciated.

Travel Information

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 Overland to make arrangements, if you have not already done so.

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 can either fly home from Albany or be picked up in Williamstown. Overland staff will be on hand to assist all students with flights or pick-ups.

Flight & Travel Information 2012

Program Start & End Information 2012

For Parents Driving to Williamstown 2012

Mail Stops

Students have the chance to receive mail midway through the trip. Please follow instructions below to properly address mail to your student's VT section. Please send mail well in advance to ensure deliver to the group.

All VT groups will receive mail at the following address:

Student's Name, Overland VT __ (fill in student's section number here)

c/o North Beach Campground

60 Institute Rd

Burlington, VT 05401

Please write the student's name and section number clearly on the envelope/package and be sure it arrives prior to the dates listed below to ensure delivery to the group:

VT 1A - mail must arrive prior to June 30th

VT 1B - mail must arrive prior to June 30th

VT 2A - mail must arrive prior to July 14th

VT 2B - mail must arrive prior to July 14th

VT 3A - mail must arrive prior to July 28th

VT 3B - mail must arrive prior to July 28th

Helpful Reminders

Checklist and Reminders 2011

Apply Now

HOW TO APPLY

You have two choices. You can apply online with a credit card by clicking the link below.

Apply Online

Or you can download the 2012 Overland Application as a PDF (you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader).

Then mail your completed one-page application and $795 deposit check 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

Applications are reviewed in the order in which they arrive at our office and we cannot hold spots over the phone.

Learn about our admissions process.

Bonnie Frieden

Hometown: Manchester, New Hampshire
School: Washington University in St. Louis
Leadership: Berkshire Adventure, Vermont
More about Bonnie »

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