Overland : summer & semester programs for 10-19 year olds
open to grades 7-9 In the spectacular Rockies we’ll hike to over 14,000 feet, raft a great western river and see the best of Colorado. For two weeks, we’ll discover the beauty and excitement of America’s West in an adventurous and spirited Overland group.
At the start of our trip, we’ll set out on a series of introductory hikes. These hikes are a terrific way to acclimate to the high elevation and arid climate. At the end of our first week together, we’ll be ready to head into the backcountry on a three-day backpacking trip below snowy mountains and along crystal-clear alpine lakes.
During our second week, we’ll take a break from the trail to enjoy a two-day rafting trip on the Arkansas River. With professional guides at the helm, we’ll float the long, calm stretches and enjoy the fun of the Class III rapids—a perfect river for our group. Back on the trail, Rocky Mountain Explorer ends with a hike up Mount Yale, one of Colorado’s famous “14ers” (mountain peaks over 14,000 feet). Our hard work during the ascent will be rewarded with magnificent views from the summit and a huge sense of accomplishment. At trip’s end, we’ll look back on two weeks of hiking, rafting and fun in the spectacular Rocky Mountains.
"Geoffrey was all smiles when I picked him up at the airport; he really enjoyed being treated like an adult and being part of the group decision process." Julie Graham, Toledo, Ohio
For students who will finish grades 7-9 in June 2010.
Call us (800.458.0588) to check on current availability.
4 (1-10, 1 is easiest)
Starts and ends in Denver, Colorado
Families are responsible for making travel arrangements to and from Denver, Colorado. Overland’s leaders will be on hand at the airport to provide supervision and assistance at trip start and end.
Sunday, June 27 to Friday, July 9
Sunday, July 11 to Friday, July 23
Sunday, July 25 to Friday, August 6
$3095 (airfare not included)
“When Chuck came home, he was the most empowered person I'd ever seen!” Melissa Caikoski, Califon, New Jersey
Once everyone has arrived in Denver, we’ll head to our campground and spend time checking over our gear and getting to know one another before heading out to explore the best of the Rockies.
We'll spend the first 4-5 days on day-hikes, averaging around 5-7 miles, which will allow us to acclimate to the elevation and prepare ourselves for the more challenging hiking to come. We’ll then head out on a three-day backcountry trip, hiking below snowy mountains and along alpine lakes and camping in the beautiful and remote Colorado backcountry. Averaging 5 miles per day on the trail, we’ll carry all of our gear, learn about Leave No Trace principles and work together to enhance our backpacking skills. We'll spend two nights camping near one of Colorado's beautiful high mountain lakes. Our second day in the backcountry will be spent exploring the area and relaxing in our beautiful and peaceful setting. While backpacking, Overland Travel operates under permit by the White River National Forest and is an equal opportunity service provider.
We’ll take a break from our hiking adventures to raft the Arkansas River with Wilderness Aware (www.inaraft.com). Wilderness Aware has been guiding rafting trips for many years and rafting is often a highlight for Overland groups. Our experienced guides will take us down the river as we paddle in rafts and inflatable kayaks through calm flat water and exciting Class II and III rapids. We’ll spend the night on the river, waking up to breakfast prepared by our guides as we get ready for our second day of paddling.
As a culmination of our two weeks in the Rockies, we’ll attempt to summit one of Colorado’s 14,000 foot peaks - Mount Yale. Colorado is famous for its 14ers and after our two weeks of hiking and rafting at high elevations, we'll be prepared to tackle one of these magnificent peaks. Rising early, we’ll hope to summit by late morning and return to camp in early afternoon—a triumphant and fitting end to our adventures in the Rockies.
At trip's end, we'll head back to Denver for a final dinner as we reminisce about our two weeks together and celebrate all we have accomplished on Rocky Mountain Explorer, a life experience with value and resonance that extends far beyond the boundaries of a single summer.
“It was one of the coolest things I have ever done." Ben Young, Corning, New York
A recent Rocky Mountain Explorer leader had the following to say about this trip:
“Get the most out of your trip because it will be over before you know it! Colorado is a beautiful state and Rocky Mountain Explorer hits the best of the Rockies! Our hikes were challenging yet fun; the three-day back country was perfect for beginner backpackers and a great way to get in shape for our trip-ending climb of one of Colorado’s 14ers. Remembering our group together at the top of Mount Yale in the early morning sunrise is something I won’t soon forget. Teamwork and enthusiasm, even in the early hours of our hike, are what made our climb successful. Our final night in Denver was spent telling stories and laughing about our adventures together – hard to believe we had only known each other for two weeks!”
“This was my third summer with Overland, and every single program I have done has been fabulous. The leaders are outstanding, and the programs are perfectly organized. Once again, Overland has exceeded my expectations!” Linda Kate Gilbreath, Arlington, Virginia
Rocky Mountain Explorer is rated 4 on a scale of 1-10 (1 is the easiest). This rating places Rocky Mountain Explorer in a moderate category. Day hikes often average 7 miles a day while the groups tackle 4-5 miles daily in the backcountry.
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 broken in. The training guidelines below are designed to help you properly break in your boots and develop a solid fitness base.
Four weeks before your trip: 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 weeks before your trip: Take three 30-minute hikes or walks in your boots.
Two weeks before your trip: Take three 45-minute hikes or walks in your boots.
One week before your trip: Take three 1-hour hikes or walks in your boots.
Many Rocky Mountain 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.
Your enjoyment of this trip will hinge on several factors:
Our packing list is designed to keep you safe and comfortable while hiking and camping this summer. Nighttime temperatures are much cooler when you are at high elevation than they tend to be in the regions most of us are from. The warm clothing and layers listed may seem unnecessary now, but we guarantee you'll appreciate them 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 or daypack. You should 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. rafting) and this is included in your trip fee.
Measure Your Torso Length. This is key: Your torso length, not your height, determines your pack size. Here's how to measure it: 1.With the help of a friend, locate the bony bump at the base of your neck. This is where the slope of your shoulder meets your neck, also known as the seventh vertebra. Tilt your head forward to locate it more easily. 2. Using a flexible tape measure, have your friend start measuring at that spot down your spine, following the curves of your back. 3. Place your hands on your hips to feel your iliac crest, the twin pointy protrusions on the front of your hips. Position your hands so your thumbs are reaching behind you. 4. Finish measuring at the point where the tape crosses an imaginary line between your thumbs. This distance is your torso length.
Measure Your Hips. While less critical than torso length, this is helpful if you're considering a pack that offers mulitiple sizes of interchangeable hipbelts. To measure, take your tape measure and wrap it around the tops of your hips. This is the "latitude line" where you can feel your iliac crest, the two pointy bones on the front of your hips. A properly positioned hipbelt will straddle your iliac crest at this line.
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.
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.
Below is the Admissions Material packet and other information for Rocky Mountain Explorer.
Flight & Travel Information 2010
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.
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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.
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