The Overland Difference
At the heart of every Overland program is a carefully crafted challenge with a clearly defined goal: bike a coast, hike a mountain, serve a community, learn a language, improve your writing. In a world where so much of what is offered is little more than entertainment, we seek to give our students engagement, focus and achievement. Overland is not simply a summer experience-- it's a life experience with value and resonance that extends far beyond the boundaries of a single summer.
Experience & Safety
For 23 years Overland has provided safe, engaging and rewarding summer experiences for more than 10,000 young people. Evaluated on overall program quality and some 300 safety standards, Overland is fully accredited by the nationally-recognized American Camp Association, a distinction earned by few of our peers. Our superlative safety record over the last 23 years further demonstrates our commitment to our students' safety--the most important factor in all our decisions, from program design and planning, to leader selection and training, to program operation and support.
Small Groups
Overland has always offered the smallest group size of any similar program. While other organizations' groups range in size from 13 to more than 20 students, no Overland program has more than 12 students or fewer than 2 leaders. Keeping our groups small ensures superior supervision, individual attention and clear, consistent leadership while encouraging a family-like environment with strong friendships and spirited teamwork.
Careful Admissions
In our admissions process, we check each applicant's references thoroughly, admitting only those students whom we believe are a good fit for the experience we offer. We also take great care in putting students together into the best possible groups. Our goal is to build groups with a carefully considered mix of students in terms of age, grade, gender and hometown.
High Expectations
Our expectations of our students are high: play by the rules (no tobacco, alcohol or illegal drugs), do more than your fair share of the cooking, cleaning and setting up, treat everyone with respect and consideration and try your best. An Overland group is a positive, wholesome place filled with energy and enthusiasm, guided by caring leaders with good values.
Superlative Leaders
Our detailed application, intensive interviewing and extensive training requirements ensure that each Overland group is led by dynamic and accomplished leaders who keep their students safe and secure, while inspiring them to be their best in every way.
Carefully Crafted Programs
We take great care to design and plan programs that allow our students not only to have fun and explore the world, but also to accomplish something--to experience the growth and fulfillment that comes from successfully tackling a challenge together. Every Overland program--from outdoors to service to language to writing--offers this opportunity for accomplishment to each of our students.
Committed To You
Anyone who has ever met an Overland director at a presentation, spoken to an Overland staff member on the phone or met an Overland leader in the field can't help but feel our deep personal commitment to our students and their families. All of us at Overland are 100% dedicated to making our students' summers with us the best experiences of their lives. Please join us!
