Hawaii Service

Overview

For three weeks, we’ll reach out to the people and the land of Oahu, volunteering with local organizations as we explore some of the most breathtaking landscapes imaginable while enjoying the fun and camaraderie of our Overland group.

On Hawaii Service, we’ll work together to connect with the people of Oahu and preserve the natural beauty of the landscape. In Honolulu, we’ll learn about the challenges facing the homeless, elderly and hungry and partner with local organizations to make a difference for these populations. We’ll work with elementary school students by assisting with summer programs for underserved children. In addition to our work with the people of Hawaii, we’ll step out of Honolulu to help preserve and maintain the beautiful Waimea Valley on Oahu’s North Shore. Here, our service projects will focus on trail maintenance and the protection of native habitats.

We’ll celebrate the beauty of Oahu by taking time to enjoy some of the activities for which Hawaii is best known—relaxing at spectacular beaches, snorkeling in Hanauma Bay and swimming with dolphins in Oahu’s coastal waters. At the end of our three weeks, we’ll sit on the beach under the Hawaiian sunset and reflect on all that we have accomplished in this beautiful but fragile land.

“My leaders were wonderful, and all of the kids got along really well. I would not have changed one thing.” Peter Gandal, Bethesda, Maryland

Highlights

• Reach out to the people of Honolulu
• Help protect Hawaii’s fragile ecosystems
• Snorkel Hanauma Bay & swim with dolphins
• Visit USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor
• Hike Diamond Head volcanic crater

Grade

For students who will finish grades 9-12 in June 2010.

Call us (800.458.0588) to check on current availability.

Challenge Level

3 (1-10, 1 is easiest)

Start and End Location

Starts and ends in Honolulu, Hawaii

Families are responsible for making travel arrangements to and from the Honolulu International Airport on the island of Oahu. Overland’s leaders will be on hand at the airport to provide supervision and assistance at program start and end.

Dates and Fees

3 Weeks

Sunday, June 27 to Friday, July 16
Sunday, July 18 to Friday, August 6

$4595 (airfare not included)

“I will never forget this experience; every moment was amazing!” Maddie Nissen, Winnetka, Illinois

Itinerary

Program Start

Hawaii Service is based in Honolulu on the island of Oahu, where Overland's leaders will be on-hand at the airport to meet students and help collect baggage. From here we’ll head to our accommodations in Honolulu to get to know one another before we begin our service work the next day.

Service Projects

While in Honolulu, we will work with several service organizations to serve both the people and the land of Oahu. We will coordinate with local service organizations throughout the year to best serve the needs of the island when we arrive in the summer. Here are a few examples of the types of service projects we expect to do in 2010:

Day Care Center

We will spend our first mornings volunteering at the University of Hawaii Child Care Center. Here we will work with preschool aged children, assisting with their summer school program. Some of our responsibilities may include assisting teachers with class room preparations, running art projects, reading to children, serving lunch and snacks and participating in and supervising play time.

Land Stewardship

We will team up with local and state conservation organizations to protect and restore sensitive island habitats. We'll spend many afternoons outside, soaking up the Hawaiian sun, while preserving the fragile island ecosystems of Waimea Valley, caring for the botanical gardens of Oahu and cleaning beaches on the North Shore.

Snorkel Hanauma Bay

We'll take a short break from our service projects to visit what has been called one of the most beautiful beaches in America. In Hanauma Bay, we'll rent snorkel gear and be able to wade from white sand beaches into crystal clear waters to view tropical reefs and schools of colorful and exotic fish.

“Elisabeth had an amazing transition in her perspectives and in her appreciation of her world. The program did an excellent job of combining service work, interpersonal teamwork and an enjoyment of the location—Hawaii!” Dianne Thompson, Seattle, Washington

Trip Details

Service Hours

40 hours of service.

Students: Is this the right trip for you?

Hawaii Service requires a positive attitude and a willingness to work hard as teen volunteers. One-on-one mentoring of children and a variety of outdoor service work will challenge students emotionally and physically. Participants should be eager to take part in a range of summer service projects and be ready for both the challenges and rewards that service work in Hawaii has to offer.

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

1. Your motivation. It’s not always easy—you must be motivated!
2. Your desire to hike and do trail work. We’ll spend some time working hard on trails, in botanical gardens and other outdoor projects.
3. 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 will have a great experience!

Please note that some of the service opportunities your group pursues will depend on the needs of the community and available service opportunities. We ask for students’ flexibility in the service projects we pursue in Hawaii.

“I had a great time on my Overland program.  The service work was very rewarding, and the time spent at the beach and exploring Oahu was lots of fun.” Aaron Taylor, Williamstown, Massachusetts

What's it like?

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

“Hawaii Service offers students the opportunity to perform a diverse array of service projects, helping both the ecosystems and people of Hawaii. Students combat invasive plant species in an unparalleled setting of tropical mountains and beaches, and work with a population that has an amazing cultural heritage. While time spent in the Islands is certainly productive, students also have the opportunity to learn about Hawaii's natural and cultural history from the many Hawaiians they meet along the way. Performing meaningful service in a tropical paradise is an experience you won't soon forget.”

“It's such a great experience in every way! Morgan has enjoyed every program, every place and every leader!” Barbara Stamm, River Forest, Illinois

Photos

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Videos

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Prepare & Pack

Preparing for the Demands of Service

Hawaii Service combines meaningful person-to-person mentorship and demanding outdoor service that require dedication, selflessness and hard work in a setting of breathtaking beauty. Begin your preparations for a great summer now by organizing your luggage, clothing and gear. As the summer nears, stay active and fit through sports and exercise. The more you prepare, the more you will enjoy your program. Then, once your program starts, commit yourself wholeheartedly to your group and its service projects.

Luggage

On Service programs we travel light —we cannot emphasize this enough.  Please bring just one duffel bag and one small day pack for weekend excursions and day hikes. The dimensions of the duffel bag should not exceed 24"L x 13"W x 11"H.   We recommend checking out duffel bags from EMS, REI and L.L. Bean as guidelines for size.  The day pack should be a regular school backpack with two shoulder straps, large enough to fit a rain coat, water and snacks.  It must be worn on both shoulders (satchels and one strap bags will not be appropriate for day hikes and weekend excursions). Use your day pack to carry essentials on the plane (but do not use this bag as additional luggage space).  Be sure to tag all items with your name, address and phone number.

Packing for Your Program

Please stick to the following guidelines when packing for your program; your group will have access to laundry on a weekly basis. Bring comfortable clothes that can get dirty, paint-splattered and worn while volunteering.

Clothing

• Sturdy Sneakers or Tennis Shoes. 1 pair. Comfortable shoes to wear around all day while volunteering, doing trail work and on day hikes.
• Sport Sandals. 1 pair. Sturdy enough for muddy or wet service projects.
• Flip Flops. Optional.
• Waterproof Raincoat. 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.
• Long Pants. One sturdy pair for service work.
• Fleece Pullover or Sweatshirt. One only.
• Comfortable Shorts or Skirts. Two; one pair of shorts must be suitable for day hikes.
• Shirts. Five short-sleeve shirts or tank tops; one long-sleeve shirt.
• Underwear. Seven pairs.
• Socks. Five pairs.
• Pajamas. One pair.
• Bathing Suit. One or two.
• Towel. One.

Gear & Miscellaneous

• Student ID. Current school identification or driver's license (if you have one).
• Toiletries. All travel size.
• Water Bottle. Any kind, to stay hydrated out in the sun.
• Leather Work Gloves. One pair. For trail work.
• Sunglasses & Hat. With visor (e.g., baseball hat).
• Sunscreen (SPF 30+), Chapstick (with SPF protection) & Insect Repellent (two bottles).
• 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 & Pen. Optional.
• Reading & Recreation Items. To share with your reading buddy: a couple of your favorite easy-to-read children's books and a favorite children's chapter book (e.g., Charlotte's Web or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).
• Spending Money. $50/week is a suggested amount for souvenirs, gifts and necessities (like more sunscreen if you run out, or stamps and 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 Material packet and other information for Hawaii Service.

Admission Material 2010

Flight & Travel Information 2010

Program Start & End Information 2010

Hawaii Service 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.