The Certainty of Each Other

Home Overland Stories Teamwork & Leadership The Certainty of Each Other

Meg Pritchard, a member of our year ’round team, shares some reflections on Overland in these unprecedented times.

At Overland, we have always embraced challenge. We have learned to cheer each other on, to give support, and to receive it, too.

These past few weeks have represented challenge outside of what we know. This is not a strenuous hike or a long bike ride, or even first-time-away-from-home jitters. These are unprecedented times, and it is natural to be anxious in the face of the uncertain and unfamiliar.

But at Overland we make the unfamiliar familiar. On the first day of a trip, seeing all of those new faces can be nerve-wracking. Just twelve days later, we may be crying because we’re leaving some of the best friends we’ve ever made. Packing our bags on the first day of backpacking may seem impossible—how can we ever hope to fit all that in there? But four days later, we’re packed up first and helping our friends. Our first nights of sleeping in tents might be something we’ve been worrying about for weeks, but soon enough, it’s something we look forward to: time in sleeping bags, whispering with our friends, dozing off together in warm summer air.

We can’t do this—the adjusting, the adapting, the accepting of the unknown—alone. That first day can be hard, but it’s made so much easier by our leaders, who show us how much they care, and by our peers, who reach out to build friendships. The first day of packing packs can be overwhelming, but we ask for help from our friends, and give it, too. Those first nights in tents can be stressful, but it’s those around us who make it fun. We learn that we can face challenges and confront uncertainties if we rely upon each other.

In our Williamstown office, we have been comforted by the love and support of the Overland community. From calls with our gracious parents to emails from our caring leaders, we are grateful to feel connected to you all. As we do our part and transition to remote work, we are thinking of all of you who are facing new, unfamiliar challenges at school, at work, or at home. Though we may be nervous about the unknowns that lie ahead, the Overland community is built upon the desire to support each other, to find in uncertain times the certainty of each other.

We’ve hiked past where we thought we could hike, carrying more than we thought we could carry. We’ve biked farther than ever before, and over hills that once would’ve seemed daunting. We’ve pushed—to the top of that mountain, to the crest of that pass—and seen the world open up around us.

New days may bring new challenges, but one thing is clear: our community is strong. As we look ahead to the coming weeks, we are grateful for everyone who is a part of our Overland family.

Meg Pritchard is a 2018 Yale graduate who led hiking trips for two summers before joining the Overland team as an Assistant Director of Trip Planning.

Filed Under: Teen Summer Adventures / Teen Adventure Travel