Mountains & Sea Adventure

for 6th graders

Please join us for two weeks of biking, hiking and sea-kayaking with a small, spirited group (no more than 12 students or fewer than 2 leaders) as we explore New Hampshire's Lake Sunapee region, Maine's rocky coast and Nantucket's sunny beaches on Mountains & Sea Adventure!

We'll start in Williamstown with an easy morning hike and a fun afternoon bike ride. Then we'll travel to New Hampshire's beautiful Lake Sunapee region for hiking, swimming and camping. We'll challenge ourselves with a hike up Mount Monadnock and be rewarded with a six-state view from the summit. From New Hampshire, we'll van to Maine for sea-kayaking in picturesque Casco Bay off of Orr's Island. Perfect for beginners, we'll paddle calm waters past quaint fishing villages and camp on an island at night. The next leg of our journey takes us to Nantucket Island. On quiet bike paths and bike routes, we'll explore the island's beauty—from bustling Nantucket Center to unspoiled Surfside Beach. We'll stay in the island's ocean-front youth hostel where we'll watch the sunset from our back porch.

At trip's end, we'll return to Williamstown to celebrate all that we have accomplished on our Mountains & Sea Adventure --a life experience with value and resonance that extends far beyond the boundaries of a single summer.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Hike Mount Monadnock (3,165 feet)
• Swim Lake Sunapee
• Sea-kayak the Maine Coast
• Bicycle & swim on Nantucket

GRADE

For students who will finish grade 6 in June 2008.  This summer we will have 6 groups. Call us (800.458.0588) to check on current availability.

CHALLENGE LEVEL

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.

START & END LOCATION

Starts and ends in Williamstown, Massachusetts

2008 DATES & FEES

2 weeks

Sunday, June 22 to Friday, July 4
Sunday, July 6 to Friday July 18
Sunday, July 20 to Friday, August 1

$2695 (airfare not included)

APPLY TODAY

Most groups fill in January & February. To download an application, click here.

"Overland gives a child situations to grow and develop that even the best of parents can't provide." Judy Scofield Miller, Brooklyn, New York

Itinerary

At The Start Of The Trip

Mountains & Sea 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.

Our First Day Together

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.

Hiking in New Hampshire

We'll travel by van to New Hampshire's Lake Sunapee region where we'll spend a few days hiking, swimming and camping. Our mornings will be spent on the trail as we explore the countryside. In the afternoons, we'll swim in beautiful Lake Sunapee, play games, and bond as a group before we return to camp for dinner and dessert. After a few day hikes, we'll be ready to tackle Mount Monadnock, at 3,165 feet. We'll have lunch on the summit as we enjoy the rewarding six-state, 360 degree view of New England.

Sea-Kayaking Maine's Coast

From New Hampshire, we'll travel to Orr's Island just north of Portland, Maine. Here we'll spend two days exploring the Maine coast by sea-kayak. Paddling is the ideal way to explore this area, offering peace, quiet and beauty while affording an intimate look at the bays and islands of America's most famous coast. Our seasoned guides from Maine's own H2Outfitters will show us how to navigate the cool, rocky waters of the coastline.

Biking on Nantucket

Our last leg of Mountains & Sea Adventure will be spent on Nantucket Island. We'll take a ferry from Hyannis, Massachusetts and ride to the Nantucket Star of the Sea Hostel, ideally situated at Surfside Beach. Our daily bike rides will take us to classic seaports, charming towns and long stretches of white sand—perfect for an afternoon of swimming and games. The terrain is generally rolling as we ride quiet roads and bike paths. We'll also explore bustling Nantucket Center and picturesque Siasconset.

Trip End

We'll head back to Williamstown and spend our last night celebrating our two weeks of fun and discovery. All in all the perfect introduction to Overland!

Supervision & Safety

Overland’s two leaders, a man and a woman, provide 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week supervision of the highest standard. Our students feel safe and secure in our talented and conscientious leaders’ hands.

On an Overland trip the group stays together all day: biking and hiking together, playing games together, swimming together, and enjoying our evenings together as we prepare dinner and dessert and talk about the day’s adventures. We get up early (usually between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m.), have full, active days, and head to bed soon after dark (between 9:00 and 9:30 p.m.).

We set high expectations for each student’s behavior—we expect respect and consideration for others, a positive attitude, and an eagerness to help make the trip a success in every way possible.

In every decision we make, safety comes first. We plan our trips carefully choosing hiking trails and bike routes that make sense for the age and abilities of each group. We hike and ride with care, with a leader at the front and a leader at the rear—and we take frequent rest stops. When biking, we only ride during the day; we always wear helmets, and we attach an orange safety flag to every bike. Since our first trips in 1985 our safety record has been superlative.

For nearly 25 years our caring and competent leaders, our 24/7 supervision, our high expectations, and our commonsense approach to safety have made Overland the number one choice for summer trips.

Overland Leaders

In a world where strong leadership skills make the difference between the average and the exceptional, Overland recruits and trains only the best to be our leaders. Not only do these remarkable people capably lead our groups, they also offer our students the kind of role modeling for which Overland has long been recognized.  Bright, charismatic and accomplished, our leaders ensure the safety and well-being of every Overland student, and then they provide much, much more, inspiring our students to reach for their potential in every way. 

You won’t find a more dynamic and talented group of people than Overland’s leaders. Most Overland leaders have played varsity sports and many have captained their teams; they have served as student government officers, volunteered as peer counselors and directed campus organizations. They are high achievers who come to Overland with a lifetime of leadership experience—but just as importantly, they are warm, wonderful people who are eager to work with Overland’s students.

Overland’s leaders prepare carefully for the summer. We know of no other program that requires certification in First Aid, CPR and lifesaving—every Overland leader has all of these plus our own 10-day training program that focuses on safety, supervision and leadership. All of our efforts prepare Overland’s caring and committed leaders to create safe, supportive and valuable programs where each of our students can flourish.

Meet some of our spectacular returning leaders.

 What's It Like?

Traveling with Overland is fun as we seek to explore as a group, largely under our own power, in a non-competitive, supportive environment. There is always lots of activity.  We do everything together as a group; we make all of our meals together, we hike together, we bike together, we swim together and we explore together. With two caring leaders in charge, this makes for a great experience for everyone.

Our days start with a simple breakfast as a group (cereal, milk, juice, fruit and bagels) before we clean up and head out for the day's activities. We’ll usually have a picnic lunch (sandwiches, chips, fruit and cookies) while out hiking, sea-kayaking or biking. By mid-afternoon we tend to return to our campsite or hostel for some down time to read and relax. We’ll almost always head back out in the late afternoon for a short bike ride, a walk or a swim before returning to our accommodations to prepare dinner. Dinners are simple meals—tacos or burritos, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti or hamburgers and hot dogs—accompanied by a green salad or fruit. Group members (with the leaders’ supervision) plan, shop for and prepare all of the meals. After dinner, the group will take a walk in town or on the beach, play a game or build a campfire. As the sun goes down, we come together one last time to enjoy dessert together and discuss the day’s highs and lows. This last gathering of the day—called Dessert Circle—is a long-lived Overland tradition and is the perfect way to unwind and reflect after a busy day.

How We Put Our Groups Together

We have a number of important criteria for every group:

Size: Every Overland group is limited to 12 students.
Gender: Groups are coed; the male/female ratio is always carefully balanced (6:6, 7:5 or 8:4).
Friends: We allow two pairs of friends in a group (we never allow three or more friends to travel together). With a maximum of two pairs of friends there will always be space available for at least eight students to come on their own without a friend. Furthermore, if we enroll two pairs of friends in a group and both pairs are of one gender, we generally try to: (1) enroll three or four more students of that gender in that group, or (2) close the group to additional students of that gender.

“Peter returned home quietly confident and with a new enthusiasm for the outdoors.” Kent Hedman, Bratenahl, Ohio

Trip Details

Getting To & From The Trip

Mountains & Sea Adventure starts and ends 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 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.

Equipment

Equipment needs are minimal: a day pack, sleeping bag, bike helmet and suitable clothing packed in a duffel. Overland will provide a bicycle for all Mountains & Sea Adventure students. Please see the Preparing & Packing page for a complete clothing and equipment list.

Additional Costs

Transportation to and from program start and end locations, spending money and personal gear are not included in the program fee. Overland provides group gear including bicycles, tents and stoves; students provide all personal equipment (helmet, sleeping bag, day pack).

 

"JJ rated this trip a '10 out of 10.' He is not drawn to hyperbole so this is a real endorsement of his view of the trip." William Nance, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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