Summer Writing Program

2 weeks

open to grades 7-9

Overview

No skill is of greater importance in school—and in life—than the ability to communicate clearly and effectively. Our Summer Writing Program offers two weeks of small group writing instruction. More than that, though, the Summer Writing Program offers an ideal learning environment—mornings in small classes with inspiring teachers and afternoons outdoors with dynamic Overland leaders. Learning and fun, indoors and out—a great way to improve your writing.

Our Summer Writing Program is based in Williamstown, Massachusetts. We’ll be in class every morning, writing and revising under the guidance of a master teacher and two Overland leaders. In a supportive setting, students will break writing down into steps: brainstorming, outlining, writing a first draft, reading aloud, editing, revising and producing a finished product. We’ll focus on expository writing but will have fun, too, with poetry and short stories. Excited and confident, students will take risks in their writing and surprise themselves with the results.

Every afternoon, we’ll explore the Berkshire Hills by foot and bike. In the evenings, we’ll come together for dinner and dessert, reading, writing and games. During the weekend, we’ll enjoy camping and an exciting rafting trip. At the end of the program, each student will have had the chance to improve his or her writing and, as a result, build his or her confidence, while making friends and having fun in a close-knit and enthusiastic Overland group.

Learning should not be drudgery; it should be fun. With inspiring teachers and a healthy balance of time “in school” and outside activities, the Summer Writing Program offers an energized educational experience.

Highlights

Learn how to master the essay writing process
Enjoy small classes (12 students) led by a professional master teacher
Hike, bike & swim in the Berkshires
Camp on Mount Greylock
Raft the Deerfield River

Grade

For students who will finish grades 7-9 in June 2010.

Call us (800.458.0588) to check on current availability.

Challenge Level

3 (1-10, 1 is easiest)

Start and End Location

Starts and ends in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

“The Summer Writing Program was a great way to improve my writing, meet new people and enjoy some time in the great outdoors.” Andrei Papai, Brooklyn, New York

Dates and Fees

2 Weeks

Sunday, June 27 to Friday, July 9
Sunday, July 11 to Friday, July 23
Sunday, July 25 to Friday, August 6

$3195 (airfare not included)

Itinerary

Each day we'll start out by having breakfast together in a Williams College dining hall before heading to class. Our master teacher, with the support and guidance of our two Overland leaders, will lead us through the process of expository writing—brainstorming, outlining, writing a first draft, reading out loud, editing, revising and producing a final product—in a fun and encouraging environment.

Every day after class, we'll make lunch together and then our leaders will guide the group through various fun activities to get us out and exploring the beautiful Berkshires. We'll swim at local swimming holes, ride our bikes on quiet roads and explore several beautiful hiking trails during our afternoons together.

The evenings will consist of eating dinner together in a Williams College dining hall and dessert circle, a time to reflect on the day's progress and growth. After dessert circle, we'll come together for reading, writing and games.

During our weekend, we'll spend a day rafting on the Deerfield River with Zoar Outdoor, enjoy a night of comfortable camping as a group and climb Mount Greylock (3,491 feet).

Trip Details

Our Master Teachers

Liza Barrett has been a middle school English teacher for twenty-three years. She began her career at the Greenwich Country Day School in Connecticut where she taught Upper School Social Studies and English for 10 years. For the past 12 years, she has been teaching 7th and 8th grade English at Mount Greylock Regional High School in Williamstown, Massachusetts. She has a BA in English and Psychology from Wesleyan University, and holds a Masters in Education from MCLA. Liza's passion is teaching writing to middle school students. She has extensive experience teaching all forms of writing including expository, creative and literary analysis.

Liza writes, "The reason I teach is because I love working with students and helping them grow as writers and people. The past three summers working with Overland students have included some of the most enjoyable teaching moments of my 24 year teaching career. I honestly believe that every student I have taught in the Summer Writing Program has learned new skills, honed existing ones and has ultimately gone home as a more confident and successful writer. I wish every student I teach during the year could experience the writing and revising with the amount of feedback SWP students get!"

Pat Blackman has taught middle school and high school social studies for tenyears in western Massachusetts and will be starting his third year as an Overland writing teacher. In his 8th grade American history classes he uses music, creative writing and the visual arts to help students gain depth of understanding. He has two bachelor’s degrees, one in history and one in religious studies. He is an amateur guitarist, singer and poet and is noted in his school for providing students with a direct experience of the music of America’s past by performing the songs himself.

"Overland creates an environment that allows a teacher not only to excel professionally, but to practice art," Pat remarks. "I am reminded now every summer, during my experiences in the Overland classroom, of what great teaching can be. This freedom translates into an invaluable asset for the students. I am able to meet them where they are as individual writers, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and then help them grow in their own way. I could not ask for a better place to do what I do best."

“Summer Writing Program has the perfect combination of classroom time and outdoor time .” Suzanne Worden, New York, New York

Photos

Click thumbnails below to enlarge

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Enrollment Forms

Below is the Admissions Material packet and other information for Summer Writing Program.

Admission Material 2010

Summer Writing Program Release Form 2010

Prepare & Pack

Request for Writing Samples & Transcript

For the summer of 2010, we are requesting that students admitted to the Summer Writing Program submit two writing samples and a transcript or recent report card by June 1, 2010.

These pieces of writing should have been completed within the last two years and can be expository essays, personal essays, creative writing or short stories. The writing samples can be a piece of writing done for a class at school or completed independently and may be of any length. The transcript can be an unofficial transcript.

These samples and your transcript will help our summer writing teachers to tailor their preparation for your two weeks of instruction. The writing samples will not be graded or evaluated in any way, nor will they be used to rank or split the class -- they are simply a way for our teachers to become familiar with each student's skill and writing style and be best prepared to help you during your two weeks with Overland. Please make sure that your first and last name are clearly printed on each writing sample. Writing samples can be submitted to me directly via email as an attachment or mailed to our office in hard copy.

To email writing samples and your transcript, please submit them to liz@overlandprograms.com with "SWP Writing Sample" in the subject line with your name in the body of the email.

To mail writing samples and your transcript, please mail them to:

Overland Programs
ATTN: Liz Kantack/Summer Writing Program
PO Box 31
Williamstown, MA 01267

Preparing for Your Program

We'll spend mornings in class, writing individually and with fellow students, under the direction of our writing instructor and Overland leaders. We will provide writing materials and laptops for every student's use in class. Afternoons will be active and fun; we will go for bike rides and hikes. During the weekend, we'll spend two nights camping outdoors and we'll raft down the Deerfield River.

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

Luggage

On Overland trips, we travel light. Please bring just one carry-on size rolling suitcase and one small backpack. Experience has shown that this is the only way to go. Dimensions of the carry-on rolling suitcase should not exceed 22"H x 14"W x 9"D. Use your backpack to carry essentials on the plane (do not use as additional luggage space). Your backpack will be used for carrying your materials to class, as well as for afternoon day hikes. 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 clothes that are comfortable and suitable for outdoor activities. Overland provides linens (sheets, pillowcase, towels), a blanket and a pillow.

Clothing

Tennis Shoes or Sneakers. Comfortable shoes to wear around all day and while on day hikes and bike rides.
Sandals. Tevas, Chacos (or similar) with a heel strap for rafting trip.
Waterproof Raincoat. Must be waterproof (not just water or wind resistant); GoreTex is one of the better-known waterproof and breathable fabrics but there are many to choose from.
Long Pants. One pair.
Fleece Pullover or Sweatshirt. One only.
Comfortable Shorts. Two pairs; comfortable to hike and bike in.
Shirts. Four short-sleeve shirts or tank tops; two long-sleeve shirts.
Underwear. Seven pairs.
Socks. Six pairs.
Pajamas. One pair.
Bathing Suit. One only.

Gear & Miscellaneous

Small backpack. For everyday adventures and hikes.
Bike Helmet. Overland will provide bikes.
Sleeping Bag. Any type is acceptable.
Utensils. 6" to 8" plastic dish or bowl with top; insulated plastic mug; spoon, fork and knife.
Toiletries. All travel size.
Beach Towel. Medium size.
Water Bottle. Any kind, to stay hydrated out in the sun.
Flashlight or headlamp. Small with the appropriate batteries.
Sunglasses & Hat. With visor (e.g., baseball hat).
Sunscreen (SPF 30+), Chapstick (with SPF protection) & Insect Repellent.
USB Flash Drive (any size). For saving your writing projects.
Camera/Batteries/Memory Card

Canon PowerShot SD960 IS

Journal & Pen. Optional.
Personal Spending Money. $50 is a suggested amount for souvenirs, gifts and necessities.

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 (for example, 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.

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

Families are responsible for making travel arrangements to and from 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. At the end of the program, students who need to fly home will be shuttled to the Albany International Airport by our staff.

Flight & Travel Information 2010

Program Start & End Information 2010

For Parents Driving to Williamstown 2010

Mail Stops

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

Student’s Name
c/o Overland Group SWP __ (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 SWP section number on the envelope/package and make sure it arrives prior to the date listed below to ensure delivery to the group:

SWP 1 - mail must arrive prior to July 8

SWP 2 - mail must arrive prior to July 22

SWP 3 - mail must arrive prior to August 5

Helpful Reminders

Checklist and Reminders 2010

Apply Now

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.

Emma Newcombe

Hometown: Longmeadow, Massachusetts
School: Skidmore College
More about Emma »

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