New England Service

Overview

On New England Service, we’ll work together to make a difference in the lives of those in need by mentoring young readers, harvesting produce for a food bank at a community-supported farm and volunteering at a homeless shelter.

We’ll meet in Williamstown, Massachusetts, and get to know each other on an afternoon hike through the beautiful Berkshire Hills. Then, every morning for two weeks, through our Reading & Recreation Summer Program, we’ll work with local six to eight year-olds. These are children who could benefit from one-on-one attention, the care of a mentor and significant reading assistance during the summer. In the afternoons, we’ll travel to two nearby cities where we’ll learn about the challenges these communities face. We’ll meet with service providers, learn about the work they do and then offer our time and energy to their programs. We’ll volunteer at a homeless shelter and work in the fields of a community-supported farm, harvesting produce that we’ll then take to a local food bank. In each setting, we’ll see firsthand the need for our work and better understand the value of service.

Throughout the program, we’ll enjoy the camaraderie of our Overland group. A highlight of our time together is a night spent camping on Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts. At the end of New England Service, we’ll look back on two weeks of service, friendship and fun.

“I cannot praise Overland enough for offering this program that changed my son's life.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.” Ruth Haas, Summit, New Jersey

Highlights

• Teach & inspire a young reader
• Harvest produce for a food bank
• Volunteer at a homeless shelter
• Hike Mount Greylock (3,491 feet) & explore the Berkshires

Grade

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

Call us (800.458.0588) to check on current availability.

“My group got along great, and I felt like I really helped out the Williamstown community. I will always remember this trip.” Danielle Gallant, Atlanta, Georgia

Challenge Level

3 (1-10, 1 is easiest)

Start and End Location

Starts and ends in Williamstown, Massachusetts

Students who fly to the trip fly into the Albany, New York, International Airport, where Overland staff will be on hand to meet and assist all arriving students. Students who are dropped off should come to the Williams College Campus in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

At the end of the trip in Williamstown, students can either fly home from the 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.

Dates and Fees

2 Weeks

Sunday, July 4 to Friday, July 16
Sunday, July 18 to Friday, July 30

$3195 (airfare not included)

“The trip included a lot of fun activities and being able to work with and tutor kids was very rewarding. I also enjoyed the afternoon service projects because we had the chance to meet so many people. And my group was great; we had a lot of fun!” Annie Goldring, St Louis, Missouri

Itinerary

Program Start

New England Service starts in Williamstown, Massachusetts. For students who drive to the start of the program (Williamstown is 3 hours north of New York City and 3 hours west of Boston), we’ll meet at our cooperative dormitory on the Williams College campus. Students who fly to program start arrive 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.

After we’ve settled into our rooms (doubles shared by Overland students of the same sex), we’ll reconvene as a group and spend the afternoon getting to know one another. Most New England Service groups have 12 students—never more—and there are usually 4 or 5 boys and 7 or 8 girls. In the evening we’ll meet with our local reading specialist to prepare for the start of Reading & Recreation.

Overland’s Reading & Recreation Summer Program

The following morning we’ll dive right into our first day of community service work in the Berkshires, running Overland’s Reading & Recreation Summer Program. This program offers local first and second graders the opportunity to receive one-on-one reading instruction, attention and care from Overland’s staff of professionals and volunteers. The program’s goal is to enhance reading skills and boost self-confidence while having fun in a supportive setting.

Our New England Service groups make this amazing program possible. Each morning we’ll walk the three blocks to the local elementary school to meet up with our buddies with whom we’ll be paired throughout the program. Over the next two weeks, we’ll learn and play with our buddies, serving as a reading tutor, counselor, positive role model and friend.

Each morning of the program begins with learning and reinforcement of reading skills through interactive group lessons and one-on-one learning. Carolyn Agostini, who has taught for over 30 years and directs the Title One Reading Program at Williamstown Elementary School, will guide this portion of the program, as we help our buddies with their reading skills and encourage a love of learning. After a variety of activities focusing on reading skills, we'll lead outdoor recreational activities for the kids, including games, crafts and sports. We’ll play kickball and soccer, explore the river and more, and the program will end each day with story time, where we read some of our favorite childhood books to our buddies.

Afternoon & Weekend Service Projects

Each afternoon after Reading & Recreation has ended, we'll shift our focus to work with local organizations supporting those in need.

Caretaker Farm

Caretaker Farm is a community-sponsored farm dedicated to organic crop production and farm management. In addition to producing year-round fruits and vegetables for 175 local families, Caretaker Farm also provides food for the Berkshire Food Project, an organization serving free lunches in the nearby town of North Adams. We'll visit the farm, learning about sustainable agriculture as we contribute to this important community effort.

Group Time

When we're not pursuing volunteer opportunities, we'll take advantage of the surrounding area and have fun as a group. We'll head to some of the great local swimming holes, spend time relaxing on the Williams campus and explore the beauty of the Berkshires on relaxing walks and hikes.  During the weekend, we'll spend one night camping on Mount Greylock, the highest mountain in Massachusetts.  We'll hike a short distance to our beautiful campsite and spend the evening getting to know each other, roasting marshmallows, playing games and preparing for our second and final week of service together.  During the week, we’ll prepare and enjoy dinner together in our dormitory, and share the highs and lows of the day over dessert. In this way, we'll gather each evening to look back over the rewarding day of service to the community and reenergize for the next day of outreach.

Program End

We'll end our two weeks together with a fun dinner out to celebrate the significant differences we have made for the people and land of the Northern Berkshire community.

“Jake thoroughly enjoyed every experience he had at Overland. He loved the staff and the kids (both the teenagers and the younger buddies). He enjoyed the community service and has kept in touch with many of his new friends.” Roberta Guralnik, Lovettsville, Virginia

Trip Details

Service Hours

30 hours of service.

Students: Is this the right trip for you?

New England Service requires a positive attitude and a willingness to work hard as teen volunteers. Participants should be eager to take part in a variety of service projects and be ready for both the challenges and rewards that service work offers.

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

1. Your motivation. Service work is not always easy—you must be motivated!
2. Your commitment to teamwork. Overland trips require compromise, patience and selflessness from teenagers. Support your trip leaders and your trip mates and you’ll find that you 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 the Berkshires.

What's it Like?

Here's how a recent leader described New England Service:

"This program provides an exceptional opportunity for students to experience the enormous need and incomparable accomplishment of community service. The balance of people-to-people and outdoor projects on New England Service allows students to exercise their strengths and develop new abilities. The group’s involvement in the Reading & Recreation Summer Program and environmental management projects provides students with a profound understanding of the youth and environment of the Berkshire region. The two weeks of hard work result in lasting friendships and memories of a summer spent making a considerable impact on one of America's most beautiful regions."

“Overland was a pleasure to deal with—very organized and very communicative!” Jan Petersen, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania

Photos

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Videos

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Prepare & Pack

Preparing for the Demands of Service

New England Service combines meaningful person-to-person mentorship and demanding outdoor service, that require dedication, selflessness and hard work from students. 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 summer program. Then, once your program starts, commit yourself to your group and its service projects wholeheartedly .

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 Hiking 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.
• 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. Two pairs; one sturdy pair for volunteer work, one pair for evenings.
• 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 only.

Gear & Miscellaneous

• Sleeping bag. Needed for one night spent camping on Mount Greylock.
• 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.
• 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 New England Service.

Admission Material 2010

Flight & Travel Information 2010

Program Start & End Information 2010

New England Service Release Forms 2010: Over 18 Years Old & Under 18 Years Old

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.