Overview
New England Service
for 9th-12th graders
We’ll make a difference in the lives of children through our Reading & Recreation Summer Program. We’ll also work together to preserve the beauty and recreational resources of the Berkshires while having fun in a small, spirited Overland group (no more than 12 students or fewer than 2 leaders).
We'll meet in Williamstown and settle into our house on the Williams College campus before our morning Reading & Recreation Summer Program begins. R & R is designed to help local six to eight year olds who could most benefit from one-on-one attention, the care of a mentor and significant reading assistance during the summer. Our New England Service students provide this mentorship, reading and playing with their younger buddy each morning. The warmth and encouragement from New England Service students allow their buddies to improve reading and social skills, while building confidence and a love of learning that remains for years to come.
In the afternoons and on the weekend, our focus will shift to the outdoors. We'll improve the hiking trail network in Williamstown by rebuilding, repairing and maintaining local trails. We'll also help to preserve the area's watershed by participating in a river cleanup. Other volunteer opportunities will include working on a community supported organic farm and helping at a local homeless shelter.
At the end of our two weeks together, we’ll look back on the strong friendships that have formed through shared challenges and laughter and reflect on the difference we have made for the people and land of Williamstown and the Berkshires on New England Service; it's a life experience with value and resonance that extends far beyond the boundaries of a single summer.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Help a child learn to read
- Repair trails in the Berkshires
- Participate in a river cleanup
- Volunteer at a homeless shelter
- Pitch in on a community supported organic farm
GRADE
For students who will finish grades 9-12 in June 2008. We plan on 1 group with 9th & 10th graders, 1 group with 9th-11th graders and 1 group with 10th-12th graders. Call us (800.458.0588) to check on current availability.
START & END LOCATION
Starts and ends in Williamstown, Massachusetts
2008 SERVICE HOURS, DATES & FEES
2 Weeks
60 hours of community service credit
Sunday, June 22 to Friday, July 4
Sunday, July 6 to Friday, July 18
Sunday, July 20 to Friday, August 1
$2995 (airfare not included)
APPLY TODAY
Most groups fill in January & February. To download an application, click here.
“Thank you for an unforgettable two weeks!” Julia Watkins, College Park, Georgia
Students: Is this the right trip for you?
New England Service requires a positive attitude and a willingness to work hard as 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. 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.
“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
Program Details
Program Start
New England Service starts 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 at our cooperative dormitory on the Williams College campus. Students who fly to program start arrive 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.
After we’ve settled into our rooms (doubles shared by Overland students of the same sex), we’ll reconvene as a group and spend the afternoon getting to know one another. Most New England Service groups have 12 students—never more—and there are usually 4 or 5 boys and 7 or 8 girls. In the evening we’ll meet with our local reading specialist to prepare for the start of Reading & Recreation.
“Jake thoroughly enjoyed every experience he had at Overland. He loved the staff and the kids (both his peers and the younger buddies). He enjoyed the community service and has kept in touch with many of his new friends.” Roberta Guralnik, Lovettsville, Virginia
Overland’s Reading & Recreation Summer Program
The following morning 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 and second 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.
Our New England Service groups make this amazing program possible. 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.
Each morning of the program begins with learning and reinforcement of reading skills through interactive group lessons and one-on-one learning. Carolyn Agostini, who has taught for over 30 years and directs the Title One Reading Program at Williamstown Elementary School, will guide this portion of the program, as we help our buddies with their reading skills and encourage a love of learning. After a variety of activities focusing on reading skills, we'll lead outdoor recreational activities for the kids, including games, crafts and sports. We’ll play kickball and soccer, explore the river and more, and the program will end each day with story time, where we read some of our favorite childhood books to our buddies.
“At the end of the program Paul recounted his experiences with a passion and enthusiasm that hasn’t been evident in recent years. He was touched by the children and considered it a rewarding experience. There was much to keep him busy. He never complained about his early mornings, and he even enjoyed the strenuous activities. He was proud of himself for what he accomplished.” Liz Tobin, Pt. Washington, New York
Afternoon & Weekend Service Projects
Each afternoon after Reading & Recreation has ended and on the weekend, we'll shift our focus to the outdoors of the Berkshires, working with some of the following organizations to protect and preserve the natural beauty of the area.
Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation
Rural Lands is a non-profit, community-funded land trust dedicated to preserving the natural environment by identifying ecologically sensitive land and creating protected wildlife habitats. We'll help Rural Lands with their endless summer maintenance of these protected lands, helping to build bridges, maintain trails and clear brush. This is hard and labor-intensive work but we’ll see rewarding and tangible results for our efforts.
Caretaker Farm
Caretaker Fram is 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.
Hoosic River Watershed Association
HooRWA is dedicated to the restoration, conservation and enjoyment of the Hoosic River and its watershed. We'll help preserve the area's watershed and protect its aquatic life by participating in extensive cleanups of the Hoosic River. One HooRWA summer intern wrote: “The river is now three shopping carts, one street sign, one lawn mower, two bicycles, numerous metal poles and countless bottles cleaner than at the beginning of the summer…thanks to Overland groups!” This is a wet and muddy project that makes a real difference and our groups remember for years to come!
Group Time
When we're not pursuing volunteer opportunities, we'll take advantage of the surrounding area and have fun as a group. We'll head to some of the great local swimming holes, spend time relaxing on the Williams campus and explore the beauty of the Berkshires on relaxing walks and hikes. Each evening we’ll prepare and enjoy dinner together, and share the highs and lows of the day over dessert. In this way, we'll gather each evening to look back over the rewarding day of service to the community and reenergize for the next day of outreach.
Program End
We'll end our two weeks together with a fun dinner out to celebrate the significant differences we have made for the people and land of Williamstown and the Berkshires.
“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
Supervision & Safety
On an
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 program a success in every way possible.
In every decision we make, safety comes first. We plan our programs carefully choosing well-established organizations for whom we can provide meaningful service. Since our first trips in 1985 our safety record has been superlative; it's no wonder, then, that Overland is one of the few organizations of its kind to earn accreditation by the American Camp Association.
For nearly 25 years our caring and competent leaders, our superlative supervision, our high expectations, and our commonsense approach to safety have made Overland the number one choice for summer programs.
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.
How We Put Our Groups Together
We have a number of important criteria for every group:
Size: Every
Gender: Groups are coed; the male/female ratio is always carefully balanced (6:6, 7:5, or 8:4).
Leader Comments
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."
