Leaders Archive | Overland Summers

Our Leaders

Far more than simply counselors or guides, Overland’s leaders are terrific role models for our students. Capable and caring, our leaders focus on creating supportive, wholesome environments where every student can flourish and grow.

A leader points out a hiking route to pre-teens on their summer adventure trip with Overland

Leader helps out camper with his writing this summer on an Overland adventure program

Leaders and campers are friends on our summer adventure programs for teens

1000 applicants

We recruit our leaders from America’s finest colleges and universities, meeting with hundreds of campus leaders across the country—an effort that generated over 1000 applications in 2019.

300 minutes

We typically spend over five hours evaluating our finalists: there are two readings of the application, a thorough review of three references, a three-part background check and an interview.

200 leaders

In 2019, over 220 individuals led for Overland. A mix of first year and returning leaders, our leaders include top students, athletes and campus leaders—ideal role models for our students.

50 colleges

We visit the campuses of the country’s top schools multiple times during the year and rely on our network of leaders at these schools to produce a deep pool of qualified applicants.

10 days

From extensive presummer preparations (first aid certifications, readings, and videos) to a demanding training session in Williamstown in June, our leaders invest ten days (minimum—for many leaders it's much more!) preparing for the summer.

1 goal

Our talented leaders have one goal: the success of each of their students. This, perhaps more than anything else, has made the difference for us as an organization and for the thousands of students who have joined us.