Overland : summer & semester programs for 10-19 year olds
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Adam Platz
Adam Platz, from Auburn, Maine, is an iconic Overland leader and 2008 graduate of Dartmouth College with a degree in Astronomy. Adam is making an encore appearance this summer to lead one section of our one-week trip for 6th graders in New England. Previously, he led New England Explorer in 2007, Alaska Explorer in 2008 and the Alpine Challenge in 2009. As a sophomore at Dartmouth, Adam participated in a ten-week foreign studies program at Universidad Argentina De La Empresa in Buenos Aires, where he lived with a Spanish-speaking family and took courses in Argentine literature, history and art history. Adam was also an active member of the Dartmouth Ski Patrol, a student run organization serving the safety needs of the nearby Dartmouth Skiway. Through this program, Adam received certification in Outdoor Emergency Care, Red Cross First Aid and CPR/AED and as an Outdoor Emergency Care Phase 1 instructor. In college, Adam also spent three years volunteering his time as a mentor for the DREAM Program, working with underprivileged children in Vermont and New Hampshire's upper valley. Adam enjoys chess, Scrabble, and backcountry skiing around New England. This past year, he successfully completed a thru-hike of the entire Appalachian Trail. He now lives in Boston and is a director at Urban Escapes, a social adventures provider for young professionals in cities around the country.
Adam Rosenzweig
Adam Rosenzweig was born in southern California, raised in northern California, and graduated with honors from Pitzer College in 2009 with a degree in History. He is leading Northwest Explorer and Alaska Service this summer. Before attending Pitzer, where he was also a Fulbright Research Award alternate, Adam lived in Israel for a year where he studied History and Philosophy in Jerusalem and worked at two schools for developmentally disabled children. After two months backpacking in Thailand and Cambodia he returned to California and attended Foothill Community College while teaching 6th grade American Jewish and Israeli history in Palo Alto. After transferring to Pitzer Adam was an active member of the Claremont Ultimate Frisbee team as well as Pitzer Outdoor Adventure. Adam has always been interested in education and continues to teach formally and informally at various grade levels. He was the West Coast Senior Advisor for Young Judaea, a national youth movement, for three years and volunteered to teach history in a juvenile probation camp for boys in Los Angeles County. Following three semesters interviewing prospective students for Pitzer College, he was asked to join the staff as an Admission Counselor. Adam spent the last year recruiting students and reading applications from all over the country. He loves playing the guitar, cooking. Adam writes, "I was drawn to lead for Overland because I have tremendous respect for some of my friends from college who led for Overland before me. I am eager to meet my students and other Overland leaders, and to discover beautiful new worlds alongside them."
Alec Norton
Originally from Denver, Colorado, Alec Norton graduated from Stanford University in 2008 with a major in History. He returned to Stanford for a graduate year, receiving his Masters in Environmental and Central Asian History. At Stanford, Alec played ultimate frisbee and worked as a Research Assistant in the spatial history lab, where he made maps. He led Vermont to Montreal in 2007 and stepped it up a notch with the American Challenge in 2008. In 2009, he led Overland's Alaska Leadership Course. Alec now works full time for Overland on the logistics team, planning the American Challenge and Alaskan and European outdoor trips. Alec spent two weeks in Tanzania in April to scout our new Field Studies: Tanzania program, which he is excited to lead in 2010. In his free time, Alec enjoys reading, cycling, skiing and frisbee.
Alex Duane
Alex Duane is from Marion, Massachusetts, and is a Fine Arts and Environmental Studies major with an Outdoor Studies minor at St Lawrence University. He is leading our new North Country Adventure program for 6th graders in 2010. He works as Outdoor Program Guide where he leads backpacking, rock climbing and ice climbing trips throughout the school year. At St. Lawrence, Alex is an active member of the Environmental Action Organization, and is currently fostering a bike-share program on campus. He lives in the Greenhouse, a theme cottage where residents eat local organic food through CSA shares with farmers nearby and develop programs that educate the campus and community about environmental issues. Last fall, Alex spent four months in the Adirondack wilderness with eleven other students on St. Lawrence's Adirondack Semester program. Students on Adirondack Semester study the natural history, ecology, culture, and land-use of the Adirondacks and devolop their own environmental philosophy while immersed in nature. He is WFR certified and participated in St. Lawrence's Guide Training progam last year. Alex's family recently moved to Burlington, Vermont. Alex enjoys building things, cycling, skateboarding, and sailing. He writes, "I was drawn to lead for Overland because I believe that establishing a love for adventure and wilderness is essential for realizing a sustainable future."
Alex Kaufman
Alex Kaufman, from Newton, Massachusetts, is a rising sophmore at Washington Univerity in St Louis. Alex is excited to be leading Berkshire Adventure this summer. At Wash U, Alex rock climbs, plays ultimate frisbee, and writes for a magazine on campus. After graduating high school, Alex took a gap year before college during which he worked at several internships, completed a three-month wilderness trip, and visited Spain. He loves playing guitar, diving boards, being outside, and the Boston Red Sox. He writes, "I love Overland because nothing is better than being outside with a group of people you love."
Allie Cooperman
Originally from Westport, Connecticut, Allie Cooperman is a rising sophomore at Carleton College. A veteran Overland student, she pedaled her way through the Pacific Coast, the European Challenge and the American Challenge programs. Her trips made a huge impact on her, and she always dreamt of leading for Overland. Now at school in Minnesota, she is a prospective math major. Outside of academics, she dances in Ebony II, an all-inclusive dance group, tutors in mathematics and captains intramural sports. When not biking, Allie enjoys running in Carleton's arboretum, baking and watching Glee. She writes, "I was drawn to lead for Overland after completing the Pacific Coast, my first bike trip. I fell in love with my trip - my fellow students, the challenge of each day, and the sense of accomplishment and wonder that I had when I crossed the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. But most importantly, my leaders were so vital to our group's accomplishments. While my trip, and the two that I took afterwards, the leaders impacted me in such a positive way, I wanted to take on the leadership role and have an equal or even more positive impact on my students." Allie can't wait to lead Berkshire Adventure in the summer of 2010.
Alvi Amo-Adjei
Hailing from Woodbridge, New Jersey, Alvi Amo-Adjei graduated from Pitzer College in 2010 with a degree in Political Studies with a focus in Human Rights and International Law. This summer, Alvi is excited to be leading the Southwest Service program in Santa Fe, New Mexico. At Pitzer, Alvi participated in Model United Nations for four years and was a head delegate this past year. She has also organized a 5K fundraiser the last three years for the local Day Laborer Center in Pomona, California. Last fall, Alvi worked to organize a freshman orientation trip that was focused on arts and music in the Los Angeles area. Alvi has studied abroad in Costa Rica for a summer and Venezuela for a semester in addition to doing some traveling on her own around South America. In her free time, Alvi enjoys photography, yoga, being outdoors, traveling, and dancing. She writes, "This summer, I am eager to meet the people I will be working with at Overland and in Santa Fe doing community service."
Alyson Guillet
Alyson Guillet was born and raised in Rochester, New York, and graduated from Dartmouth College cum laude in 2008 with a degree in Geography and Spanish. She led our four-week Language Immersion Spain program in 2009 and will lead the European Explorer this summer. While at Dartmouth, Alyson was a member of the Dartmouth Ski Patrol, serving as the Student Director her senior year. As a ski patroller, she has her certification in Outdoor Emergency Care. In addition, Alyson led freshmen orientation trips and helped organize and plan freshmen trips as a senior. She was also a member of Sigma Delta sorority and was a leader for Outdoor Leadership Experience. In this organization she mentored seventh and eighth grade students while enjoying many outdoor activities. While a sophomore, Alyson also studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina attending a local university and studying Argentine literature, history, and art. Since graduating, Alyson completed her post-baccalaureate pre-medical program at Bryn Mawr college in anticipation of beginning medical school fall 2010. Currently she is doing orthopaedic research at the Steadman Phillipon Research Institute in conjunction with the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado. Alyson writes, "I was drawn to lead for Overland because of the emphasis it puts on soft skills and group dynamics. I think the most rewarding thing Overland gives to kids and leaders alike is the opportunity to bond as a group and learn how to live in a diverse group of 14. Everyone learns how to take care of others and put the group first."
Alyssa Johansen
Alyssa Johansen is from Indianapolis, Indiana, and is a Art and Architectural History major with a minor in American Studies at Miami University. She has gone on two trips with Overland, Pacific Coast in 2005 and European Challenge in 2006. Alyssa is returning to Overland to lead our New England Adventure program for 6th graders this summer. At Miami, she plays intramural volleyball and broomball, is part of Green Oxford, an environmental awareness organization, is the Historian for her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, and is also the president of the Art and Architectural History club. Alyssa has published essays and writing submissions in the Art journal of Miami, and is a member of the Lecture Series committee, which works with faculty to bring speakers to campus. Alyssa loves to travel and explore the culture of an area by trying out different cuisines and hiking through the backcountry of the land. She is also really interested in the contemporary art, especially graffiti art and how it represents an urban identity. Alyssa writes, "I love Overland because it makes everyday seem full of possibility. I remember eating lunch at 12pm already having biked 40 miles earlier that day, which was incredible for me. Overland allowed me to understand how dynamic and capable my body and mind were of accomplishing amazing things."
Amy Gartenberg
Originally from St Louis, Missouri, Amy Gartenberg is a rising junior at Indiana University. Amy is thrilled to be leading this summer's Vermont biking trip and can't wait to spend another year with Overland. At Indiana, she is a Health Education major, is the captain of the varsity rowing team, and also competed in her first triathlon last summer. During high school, she went on Overland's Vermont and Nova Scotia & Acadia cycling trips. Her favorite Overland memory was sitting with her group at the top of Cadillac Mountain, being the first people in the United States to see the sunrise one day. Amy has spent a month traveling through India building a new school and learning about natural medicine. She enjoys skiing, photography, travel and spending time with her three wonderful sisters. Amy writes, "I love Overland because it promotes adventure while demonsting the power of teamwork. This summer, we will do things that we never imagined we could."
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Group A of the European Challenge, led by Darcy and Joe, finished last week!
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Summer and Semester Programs
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.
Elite Leaders
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.
Programs and Adventures Since 1984
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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