Overland : summer & semester programs for 10-19 year olds
open to grades 7-8 New England's famous peaks and valleys are ideal for summer adventure. For two weeks, we’ll hike, backpack and sea kayak the best of New England by exploring the gentle Berkshires, the legendary Green Mountains, the rugged White Mountains and the scenic coast of Maine.
On hikes through beautiful mountains, we’ll aim for the highest points in Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire, seeking out quiet campsites and dramatic views of the fields and farms below. We’ll begin with a day hike in Massachusetts’ Berkshires, reaching the top of Mount Greylock before crossing into Vermont. In the Green Mountains, we’ll hike to the summit of Mount Mansfield on the renowned Long Trail. We’ll then don our packs for a three-day backcountry hike in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, camping at secluded mountain lakes and enjoying panoramic views. For our final hike, we’ll challenge ourselves with a climb to the top of Mount Washington, at 6,288 feet, the highest peak in New England.
After our hikes, we’ll head to the coast of Maine for two days of sea kayaking. Paddling is the ideal way to explore this area, offering a close look at the bays and islands of America’s most famous coast. At trip’s end, we’ll return to Williamstown, where we’ll celebrate our summerr adventures, our accomplishments and our time together.
“Tierney gained such confidence from her New England Explorer trip. Thank you.” Debra Behles, Wilmette, Illinois
For students who will finish grades 7 & 8 in June 2010.
Call us (800.458.0588) to check on current availability.
3 (1-10, 1 is easiest)
Starts and ends in Williamstown, Massachusetts
2 weeks
Sunday, June 27 to Friday, July 9
Sunday, July 11 to Friday, July 23
Sunday, July 25 to Friday, August 6
$2795 (airfare is not included)
“I loved both of my leaders. They were responsible, fun-loving and enthusiastic.” Courtney Colwell, Rye, New York
New England Explorer starts in Williamstown, Massachusetts. For students who drive to the start of the trip (Williamstown is 3 hours north of New York City and 3 hours west of Boston), we will let you know where to meet us in Williamstown. Students who fly to 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 the 42 miles to Williamstown.
We’ll spend our first two days camping and hiking in Massachusetts’ Berkshires. On our way up Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts at 3,491 feet, we’ll take frequent breaks to appreciate the views and enjoy some snacks to keep us going. At the summit we’ll have lunch and enjoy panoramic views of four states: Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and Massachusetts.
In the Green Mountains of Vermont, we’ll hike to the summit of Mount Mansfield, the highest peak in the state. While in Vermont, we'll also have a chance to swim in pristine mountain lakes and visit the Ben & Jerry's factory for a bite of everyone's favorite ice cream!
Here, in the most rugged mountains in New England, we'll don our backpacks for a three-day backcountry hike, walking along ridgelines and enjoying spectacular panoramic views. Then, having honed our hiking skills and fitness, we'll take on Mount Washington, the highest peak in the North East. Beginning early in the morning, we'll ascend via the fabled Tuckerman's Ravine to the 6,288 foot summit to enjoy sweeping views of the Presidential Range.
Near the end of our trip, we’ll spend two days exploring the Maine coast via sea kayak. Paddling is the ideal way to explore this area, offering peace, quiet and beauty while affording an intimate look at the bays and islands of America’s most famous coast. Our seasoned guides will show us how to navigate the cool, rocky waters of the coastline.
At trip end we’ll travel back to Williamstown, Massachusetts. Here we’ll spend our final night together to celebrate our adventures, our accomplishments and each other.
“I had a lot of fun hiking up and down mountains all over New England. My leaders and fellow hikers were great.” Justin Krakoff, Westport, Connecticut
New England Explorer is rated 3 on a scale of 1- 10 (1 is easiest). The length of the hikes and the difficulty of the terrain are less demanding than Rocky Mountain Explorer (Level 4). Daily hikes on New England Explorer will vary in length depending on the day’s activities but will generally fall in the range of 6 to 8 miles.
Most New England Explorer 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 Overland experience was completely amazing!” Hannah Boomershine, Wilmette, Illinois
Below is the Admissions Material packet and other information for New England Explorer.
Your trip will be significantly more enjoyable if you have a basic level of fitness and well-broken-in boots. We cannot overemphasize the importance of well-broken-in boots. There have been students who have had to leave their trips because of blisters from boots that were not well broken in. The training table below is designed to help you properly break in your boots and develop a solid fitness base.
| Weeks Before Your Trip | Recommended Preparation |
|---|---|
| FOUR | Wear your boots for 15-30 minutes a day to walk around your house or neighborhood so your boots will begin to conform to your feet. |
| THREE | Take three 30-minute hikes or walks in your boots. |
| TWO | Take three 45-minute hikes or walks in your boots. |
| ONE | Take three 1-hour hikes or walks in your boots. |
Our packing list is designed to keep you safe and comfortable while hiking 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 your backpack and daypack. Wear your hiking boots on the plane and carry your sleeping bag and sleeping pad 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. You will have the chance to do laundry periodically. You will be able to leave some extra items in our van while we are on the trail, but please stick to the packing list. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact our office.
Overland will rent specialized gear for any of our non-hiking activities (e.g., kayaking and rafting), and this is included in your trip fee.
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.
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 call the Overland office to make arrangements, if you have not done so already.
For students who drive to the start of the trip, we’ll meet in Williamstown. 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 the 42 miles to Williamstown.
At the end of the trip, 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 a chance to receive mail midway through the trip. Please follow the instructions below to properly address mail for your student's NEX section. Please send mail well in advance to ensure delivery to the group
NEX 1
Mail must arrive prior to July 2nd to ensure delivery to the group. An Overland staff member will deliver mail to the group once during the trip. Any mail that arrives at the Overland office after July 2nd, may be collected when the group returns to Williamstown at the end of the trip.
NEX 2
Mail must arrive prior to July 17th to ensure delivery to the group
On the lower left corner of the envelope/package, write "Please hold for hiker, ETA 7/19/10"
Note: UPS and FedEx will not be accepted at a General Delivery Post Office. Please send mail via USPS only.
NEX 3
Mail must arrive prior to July 31st to ensure delivery to the group
On the lower left corner of the envelope/package, write "Please hold for hiker, ETA 8/2/10"
Note: UPS and FedEx will not be accepted at a General Delivery Post Office. Please send mail via USPS only.
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.
Hailing from West Simsbury, Connecticut, Nick Sizer is a rising junior at Connecticut College where he is majoring in Government. Nick is returning for his third summer at Overland to lead New England Explorer after having been on support staff in 2009 and a student in 2004. At Connecticut College, Nick is a member of both the varsity men’s water polo and varsity men’s lacrosse teams. He is active in campus clubs as the co-president of the Connecticut College Outdoors Club and also as a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and Investment Club. Nick is also a “Floor Governor” at Connecticut College, a position similar to a Residential Advisor, which allows him to create programs for the dorm community as well as promote kinship in the residential halls. Nick was lucky enough to attend Overland as a student in 2004, greatly enjoying his experience on the Colorado and Utah mountain-biking trip. In his free time, Nick enjoys snowboarding and backpacking with his father, little brother, and two dogs. He writes, "After a summer with Overland, I began to realize the true potential of an Overland student. I have personally seen quiet kids transform into master chefs, the fast hikers move to the back of the group to encourage those around them, and the slower bikers raise out of their seats and charge up rolling hills. This change occurs during their adventures with Overland because the students recognize the importance of the journey over the destination. It is the greatest reward as a leader to witness the small changes that allow the students to begin to appreciate each step on the trail or push of the pedal. This change can be attributed to the plethora of wonderful and diverse Overland leaders. I have learned much of what it means to be patient, resilient, and joyful from the devoted crew that is Overland. I am blessed to be a part of the group of leaders who are truly committed and passionate about providing an unforgettable summer for their students."
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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