For my fourth birthday, my parents invited my friends to join me on a bike tour to the neighborhood park and back.

My steed was a three-wheeled plastic John Deere tractor and my gear list included a helmet, two crayons, and a gumball. While we were out riding, our yellow lab ate my entire chocolate cake, complete with mocha frosting. But during the ride, I learned that a great adventure shared with good friends is even better than homemade birthday cake.

I led my first trip with Overland in 2012. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to lead students to the summit of Wyoming’s Grand Teton, alongside towering glaciers on the shoulder of Mt. Blanc, across knife-edged peaks in Norway’s Jotunheimen National Park, and through the wildflower-filled meadows along Switzerland’s Haute Route. Watching a group of students share the highs and lows of a summer spent outside is one of the most rewarding experiences imaginable.

It’s a pleasure to work here at Overland alongside colleagues who take such joy in being outdoors, and in sharing that passion with their students.