Overland : summer & semester programs for 10-19 year olds
for 6th graders only Please join us for two weeks of hiking, biking, kayaking, rafting and swimming, as we explore the best of New York’s Adirondacks and Vermont’s Green Mountains on our North Country Adventure.
Soon after meeting up in Williamstown, Massachusetts, we’ll head to picturesque Arlington, Vermont, for day hikes and bike rides; nearby we’ll kayak the peaceful Battenkill River. Next, we’ll travel west to camp along the shores of beautiful Lake George. We’ll raft the exciting Hudson River Gorge and summit Cascade Mountain, one of the famous Adirondack High Peaks. Returning to Vermont, we’ll bike along Lake Champlain and visit bustling Burlington and classic Middlebury. Our final hike will take us along the famed Long Trail to the top of Camel’s Hump, where we’ll have spectacular views from the summit.
At trip’s end, we’ll return to Williamstown and celebrate the friendships, fun and accomplishments of our North Country Adventure.
"Fabulous leaders!" Vivian Epstein, Ridgefield, Connecticut
For students who will finish grade 6 in June 2010. Call us (800.458.0588) to check on current availability.
2 (1-10, 1 is easiest)
Starts and ends in Williamstown, Massachusetts
For students who drive to the start of the program, we’ll meet on the campus of Williams College in Williamstown. Students who fly to the program 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 in Williamstown, students can either fly home from Albany, New York ariport or be picked up in Williamstown. Overland staff will be on hand to assist all students with flights or pick-ups.
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 not included)
North Country Adventure begins in Williamstown, Massachusetts. For those who fly we'll pick you up at Albany, NY Airport; for those who are dropped off, we'll meet on the Williams College campus.
On our first afternoon together, our short orientation will focus on getting to know each other. Our group will include two leaders—always a male and a female—and up to 12 students (never more). Our small group makes for close friendships and fun during our time together. We'll spend a day in Williamstown to get acquainted and go on some short hikes and bike rides to prepare for the adventures to come.
For the first few days, our base will be the quaint town of Arlington, Vermont, just north of Williamstown, Massachusetts. We'll camp next to a beautiful mountainside lake and explore the area by foot, bike and kayak. We'll ride our bikes through one of Vermont's famous covered bridges and hike to a pristine waterfall, hidden in the Green Mountain wilderness. In kayaks, we'll paddle down the Battenkill River, taking in the beauty of the area from the calm waters.
We'll travel by van to Lake George—one of the most beautiful lakes in the northeast. We'll take a morning bike ride along a well-maintained rail trail and spend the afternoon swimming at the Lake George beach. A hike to the summit of Black Mountain will show us beautiful views overlooking Lake George and the Adirondacks. As we travel north through the Adirondack park, we'll stop to spend a day rafting the exciting Hudson River Gorge before reaching Lake Placid. Now in the heart of the Adirondacks, we'll hike to the top of Cascade Mountain, one of the famous Adirondack High Peaks.
For our next adventure, we'll head back east into Vermont, where we'll spend a few days on the shores of Lake Champlain. We'll visit bustling Burlington, Vermont, and explore the surrounding area by bicycle. Back on the trail, we'll hike along the famous Long Trail to the top of Camel's Hump, one of Vermont's highest peaks. From the summit, we'll enjoy fabulous views of New England.
We'll travel south, stopping to visit Middlebury, Vermont on our way. Back in Williamstown we'll spend our last night celebrating our two weeks of fun and discovery. All in all the perfect introduction to Overland!
"As in the past, Overland provided a top quality, well-run program." Lindsey Forden, Princeton, New Jersey
This is an introductory trip. The selected activities, their duration and intensity are designed for adventurous 6th graders. The challenge level is a 2 on a scale of 1-10, where 1 is easiest. While this is an introductory trip designed for some of our younger students, it is essential that parents make a good choice for their child. Every Overland program requires independence, age-appropriate maturity and good fitness.
Check back for a video of this trip soon. To see other trip videos click here.
Stay active in sports and get out for some walks and rides this spring. The more you prepare, the more you'll enjoy your program and the better able you'll be to hike and ride safely this summer.
Our packing list is designed to keep you safe and comfortable while hiking, biking 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 a duffel bag or your daypack. You should carry your sleeping bag 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. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact our office.
Hiking, Biking & Camping Gear
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 Materials packet and other information for North Country Adventure.
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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