New England Service

2 weeks

open to grades 9-12

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 working to build and restore trails in the Berkshires.

We’ll meet in Williamstown, Massachusetts, and get to know each other on an afternoon hike through the beautiful Berkshires. Then, every weekday morning, through Overland’s 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 meet with service providers, learn about the work they do and then offer our time and energy to their programs.

We’ll volunteer in the fields of a community-supported farm, harvesting produce that we’ll then take to a local food bank. We’ll also partner with a local non-profit to lend a hand building and maintaining scenic hiking trails. In each setting, we’ll see firsthand the need for our work and better understand the value of service.

A highlight of our time together is an overnight camping trip and a chance to hike 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
Build & maintain hiking trails
Hike Mount Greylock (3,491 feet)
Explore the Berkshires

Grade

For students who will finish grades 9-12 in June 2012.

Multiple sections are grouped by grades.

Call us (413-458-9672) 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

Start and End Location

Starts and ends in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

Accommodations

12 nights total.

11 nights are spent in a Williams College dormitory in a double or triple room with students of the same gender from your program. Students have daily access to showers and laundry.

1 night is spent outside camping in a tent. A sleeping bag and warm clothing is required for each student; Overland will supply the tent and all group gear required for a night of camping. The campground is a front-country campground with access to flush toilets and running water.

Dates and Fees

2 Weeks

Sunday, June 24 to Friday, July 6
Sunday, July 8 to Friday, July 20

$3295 (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

Day 1 Trip Start

New England Service starts in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Once everyone has arrived, we'll go for a short hike and then start preparing for our two weeks of service in the Berkshires. After we've settled into our rooms (doubles or triples shared by Overland students of the same gender), we'll cook dinner as a group and meet with a local elementary school teacher who will talk to us about our upcoming week with the Reading & Recreation Program.

Days 2 - 6 Reading & Recreation Summer Program & Trail Maintenance/Construction

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, second & third 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. 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.

In the afternoons we'll devote our time to a trail building project with a local non-profit. We'll spend several hours outdoors each afternoon working with their trail supervisor to build & improve trails that thousands of people enjoy every year.

Days 7 - 8 Hiking & Camping

We'll spend our weekend outdoors as we hike Mount Greylock, the highest mountain in Massachusetts, and spend Saturday night camping at a nearby state forest. Our time outside will give us a chance to grow closer as a group and explore the beautiful Berkshire mountains.

Days 9 - 12 Reading & Recreation Summer Program & Caretaker Farm Produce Harvesting

We'll jump back into our final week with the Reading & Recreation Program. We'll spend each morning working with our reading buddies and helping them make their final strides as they improve their reading skills with Overland. On Thursday, we'll celebrate with a trip to a local swimming hole for a cookout and celebratory awards ceremony for the students.

In the afternoons, we'll devote our time to Caretaker Farm, 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.

Day 13 Trip End

We'll wrap up our last day in Williamstown with a final diner as a group and a chance to reflect on all we've done for the Northern Berkshire community and the friendships we've made in the past two weeks. Students driving home from Williamstown will depart on Friday morning at 11am, while students flying home from the Albany International Airport (ALB) will be transported to Albany and helped with the check-in procses by a member of Overland's staff.

“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

35 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:

Your motivation. Service work is not always easy—you must be motivated!
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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Enrollment Forms

Enrollment Forms 2012

New England Service Release Forms 2012 for students over 18

New England Service Release Forms 2012 for students under 18

Prepare & Pack

Preparing for Your Trip

New England Service combines meaningful person-to-person mentorship and demanding outdoor service, that require dedication, selflessness and hard work from students.

Before Your Trip

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.
Once your program starts, commit yourself wholeheartedly to your group and all of its activities.

Packing for Your Program

On service programs we travel light —we cannot emphasize this enough.
Please stick to the following guidelines when packing for your program; your group will have access to laundry on a weekly basis.
Be sure to bring comfortable clothes that can get dirty, paint-splattered and worn while volunteering.
Be sure to tag all items with your name, address and phone number.
Please do not bring any type of knife or multi-tool (e.g., Swiss Army Knife, Leatherman).

Luggage

Duffel Bag
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.

Day Pack
For weekend excursions and day hikes. 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).

Clothing

Sturdy Sneakers or Light Hiking Boots
One pair. Comfortable shoes to wear around all day while volunteering, doing work outside and on day hikes.

Sport Sandals
One pair. Sturdy enough for muddy or wet service projects.

Waterproof Raincoat.
Your rain jacket must be waterproof -- not just water or wind resistant.

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).

Beach Towel.
One.

Towel for Showering.
Small towel.

Flashlight or headlamp.
For personal use around the cabana at night. Mandatory.

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).

Sunscreen (SPF 30+), Chapstick (with SPF protection) & Insect Repellent (two bottles).

Camera/Batteries/Memory Card.
Optional.

Journal & Pen
Optional.

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).

Cell Phones, Electronics and Personal Property

Please note the following important policies:

Our programs offer the opportunity to strengthen independence and self-reliance. To maximize these benefits, we do not permit phone calls to or from our students (except in the case of emergency).

If it is important for your son or daughter to be able to call you while en route to Overland, we recommend that you purchase an inexpensive phone card that your son or daughter can use at any airport pay phone.

If you feel that it is necessary to send your son or daughter with a phone, please do not send an expensive smart phone like an iPhone or BlackBerry. Send an inexpensive prepaid cell phone instead. On arrival we will collect all phones but we have found that safeguarding these phones is problematic given that our programs move from place to place. Despite our best efforts over $25,000 in phones have been lost, damaged or stolen in the last two years alone. We regret that due to the expense involved in replacing these items, we take absolutely no responsibility whatsoever for phones, electronics or personal property brought by students and we will not make any reimbursements for lost, damaged or stolen phones, electronics or personal property.

Communications

To maximize independence and self-reliance, we do not permit phone calls, emails or text messages to or from our students (except in the case of an emergency).
Your child will call home with our phones and assistance on arrival and departure if he/she flies to his/her program.
In the case of an emergency, we will make sure you are in touch with your child as soon as possible.

Cell Phones

Cell phone use is prohibited on all Overland programs.
Any phone brought by a student will be collected by us on arrival and returned at departure.
If you decide to bring a phone, do not bring an expensive smartphone (e.g., iPhone or BlackBerry); instead bring an inexpensive prepaid cell phone (better yet, bring an inexpensive prepaid calling card).

Personal Electronics

We do not permit personal electronics (e.g., iPods, Kindles or iPads) except for digital cameras.
We do not permit emergency response or GPS tracking electronics.
Any electronics brought by a student will be collected by us on arrival and mailed home or returned at departure.

Personal Property

Overland is not responsible for any student’s personal property—including but not limited to: phones, electronics, cameras, equipment, bicycles and clothing. Please schedule all expensive items on your homeowners insurance policy to ensure that your child/ward’s personal property and equipment is covered against loss, damage or theft.

No Reimbursements for Lost, Damaged or Stolen Phone, Electronics and Personal Property

Despite taking precautions, some phones, electronics and personal property brought by students (and collected by us) have been lost, damaged or stolen. We regret that due to the expense involved in replacing these items, we take absolutely no responsibility whatsoever for phones, electronics or personal property brought by students and we will not make any reimbursements for lost, damaged or stolen phones, electronics or personal property.

Questions or concerns? Please call us. Your understanding and cooperation are appreciated.

Travel Information

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 contact Overland to make arrangements, if you have not already done so.

For students who drive to the start of the trip, we’ll meet on the Williams College campus. 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 by 15-passenger van the 42 miles to Williamstown.

At the end of the trip, students can either fly home from Albany or be picked up in Williamstown. Overland staff will be on hand to assist all students with flights or pick-ups.

Flight & Travel Information 2012

Program Start & End Information 2012

For Parents Driving to Williamstown 2012

Mail Stops

Throughout the week, students may receive mail sent to our Williamstown office, addressed as follows:

Student’s Name
c/o Overland Group NES __ (please fill in student's section number here)
PO Box 31
Williamstown, MA 01267

Note: If you will send mail or packages vis UPS or FedEx, please use our street address--63 Spring St--instead of the PO Box.

Please write the student's name and NES section number on the envelope/package and make sure it arrives prior to the date listed below to ensure delivery to the group:

NES 1 - mail must arrive prior to July 7

NES 2 - mail must arrive prior to July 21

Helpful Reminders

Checklist and Reminders 2011

Apply Now

HOW TO APPLY

You have two choices. You can apply online with a credit card by clicking the link below.

Apply Online

Or you can download the 2012 Overland Application as a PDF (you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader).

Then mail your completed one-page application and $795 deposit check 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

Applications are reviewed in the order in which they arrive at our office and we cannot hold spots over the phone.

Learn about our admissions process.

Zach Baquet

Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana
School: Carleton College
Leadership: New England Service, Summer Writing Program
More about Zach »

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