Overland Summer camps for 4th - 12th graders
Few coastlines in the world can rival the beaches, bluffs and bays that stretch between Seattle and San Francisco. And few experiences can match the exhilaration of riding across the Golden Gate Bridge after four fun-filled weeks of biking along this breathtaking coast. Enjoy cool, misty mornings, sunny picnics on rugged beaches, dramatic sunsets over the Pacific and brilliant stars at night.
Sunday, June 30 – Friday, July 26
7 (1-10, 1 is easiest)
Start: Seattle, Washington
End: San Francisco, California
Completing grades 8-11 in 2019
Students grouped by grade
Each group is limited to 12 students
Meals
Group gear
Accommodations
Activities
Personal gear and clothing
(see what to pack)
Airfare to and from the trip start and end
Trip insurance (recommended;
learn more about the benefits)
Bicycle (bring your own or rent a bike and panniers from us for $400 plus tax)
A beautiful coast, a famous bridge, a great four weeks.
Biking point-to-point, as we do on the Pacific Coast, lends a wonderful simplicity, a clear focus to the trip. “What are we doing today?” Riding south. “Where are we going?” San Francisco. “What’s our goal?” The Golden Gate Bridge.
Along the way, it’s non-stop beauty. Staggering beauty, actually. The vast blue Pacific. Towering dark redwoods. Tiny charming towns. It’s incredible—just about every day offers some new take on coastal beauty.
The riding is challenging, but not overly so. You have to work hard (you’re going all the way to San Francisco!), but there’s a wide range of terrain, frequent stops (for rest, and water, and snacks and lunch) and a group of like-minded peers who will cheer you on and on and on. And when you cross into California, you’ll take a break from the bikes to raft the Klamath River for two days (which is really, really fun).
When you cross the Golden Gate Bridge, you will have succeeded. But you won’t have done it alone—you’ll have done it with the newest, closest friends you might ever have and the most wonderful leaders you’re ever likely to meet.
Overland's Pacific Coast trip exceeded my expectations as a parent. Roman had a great time cycling and camping every day, but what really impressed me was he said what he learned about over the four weeks was 'what leadership means' and how important it is to 'put the group before yourself'—amazing!
- Toland Grinnell, Brooklyn, New York
Four weeks of biking and beauty, of friendship and fun!
Day 1: Trip Start
We’ll meet in Seattle, Washington, and travel a short distance to a campground outside the city. In the afternoon, we’ll build our bikes and learn how to load them, practice riding as a group and prepare for the journey ahead.
Days 2 & 3: Washington
From Seattle, we’ll ride west to the coast where we’ll head south towards the Columbia River. We’ll skirt around bays and inlets and bike through large evergreen forests. Upon reaching the Columbia River, we’ll cross the Astoria Bridge into Oregon for the next leg of our journey.
Days 4-12: Oregon
As we pedal through Oregon, we will see the beautiful coastline up close. Our ride will take us through farmlands and forests and gradually more challenging terrain. We’ll take time to appreciate amazing vistas, lush green forests, weathered and tide-beaten cliffs and the rolling sand dunes of Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.
Days 13 & 14: The California Redwoods
Entering California, we will ride through farmland that soon gives way to a climb out of Crescent City and into the redwoods. For two days, we will bike through shady, cool redwood groves, marveling at these ancient and remarkable trees.
Days 15 & 16: Raft the Klamath River
Soon after crossing into California, we’ll enjoy two days of rafting on the Lower Klamath River. With professional guides at the helm, we’ll enjoy exciting rapids and calm pools perfect for swimming.
Days 17–25: Northern California
After two relaxing days on the water, we’ll continue our journey to San Francisco. We’ll skirt the wilderness of California’s Lost Coast, then return to the Pacific to find a coastline punctuated by large golden buttes and steep cliff faces.
Day 26: The Golden Gate Bridge
On our final day of biking, we will triumphantly cross the Golden Gate Bridge! We’ll look back on four weeks of friendship and fun, of challenge and accomplishment.
ACCOMMODATIONS
24 nights of frontcountry camping. Campground facilities will vary and may include flush toilets, showers and/or laundry.
1 night of backcountry camping while rafting the Klamath River.
1 night in a hostel in San Francisco.
Itinerary may vary by group and is subject to change.Luggage
Clothing
Outer Layers
General Gear
Bike Gear
Footwear
Miscellaneous
Important Documents
Spending Money
Things to know
You can expect typical summery weather with lots of sunshine, some rain, warm days and cool nights.
You will need to arrange transportation for your child to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and from San Francisco International Airport (SFO). We will provide more specific travel information once we have placed your child on a trip.
The Pacific Coast route offers frequent (but not daily) access to showers. Most groups do laundry once a week.
Safety and risk management are at the forefront of our decision-making–from trip planning to leader training to supporting our groups in the field. We cannot guarantee absolute safety–no program can. All recreational activities include inherent risks. Therefore, we strive to manage the risks that we can, knowing we cannot eliminate them. We work hard to recruit, train and support our trip leaders so they can create the kind of trips that have made us successful for over 30 years. Please click here to read more about our approach to risk management and our accreditation by the American Camp Association.
While no previous experience is required, we have high expectations of our students. We expect your child–with your help–to select a trip that is appropriate for his or her interests and abilities. You should spend some time familiarizing yourself with the details of the specific trip and help your child understand what to expect. We also expect our students to prepare ahead of time: to review the packing list, gather clothing and gear and complete whatever training the trip requires (for recommended training please see the Before You Go tab). Once the trip begins, your child should be ready–and excited–to contribute to a wholesome and enthusiastic group where each group member feels welcomed and valued.
When we receive your application, if your first choice is available, we will: (1) call you to acknowledge our receipt of your application, (2) send you an email with a link to our Admissions Review Forms, and (3) charge a deposit of $795 to your credit card to hold your place in the trip pending a favorable admissions review. If your first choice is not available, we will call you to discuss your second choice, third choice or other options. For more information, and to access our application, please visit our Apply page.
PHONES
To maximize independence and self-reliance, we do not permit phone calls, emails or text messages to or from our campers. Your child will call home on arrival and departure with our phones and assistance, and in the case of an emergency. If your child brings a phone for use while en route to Overland, please do not send an expensive smartphone, instead, an inexpensive prepaid cell phone will do. All phones will be collected on arrival and returned at departure. While we will take reasonable steps to prevent damage, theft or loss, we take no responsibility for phones and we will not make any reimbursements for lost, damaged or stolen phones.
ELECTRONICS
Cameras are welcome but please do not bring any other electronics (e.g., iPods, iPads, Kindles or other readers, GPS or similar devices). All electronics (except cameras) will be mailed home on arrival (at your risk and expense).
COMMUNICATION
We are committed to providing extraordinary support to you and your child; to that end, the Overland office is staffed from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. seven days a week during the summer. Outside of office hours our answering service provides emergency coverage. Our leaders in the field are in touch with our office regularly; they carry cell phones (and in some cases satellite phones). Anytime a camper is treated for an injury or illness by a doctor or other medical personnel, parents are notified by our office. A director will call the parents to explain the nature of the injury or illness, the sequence of events leading up to the injury and/or the steps leading to the treatment. Parents are typically able to speak with the medical personnel, with the leaders and with their child.
Getting a letter, card or postcard while on an Overland trip is always exciting. Please keep in mind that sending mail to your child on an Overland trip is different than sending mail to camp because your child will be on the move. Our experience has been that mail often does not arrive on time, and, sometimes, even when it does, post offices, campgrounds and other mail stops do not reliably deliver mail to our groups. For these reasons:
1. Please do not send anything valuable – please send letters, cards or postcards only. If mail is late, lost or misdirected, Overland’s leaders and staff are not able to return to the post office (or other mail stop) to collect it.
2. Please use the US Postal Service first-class mail only; do not use UPS, FedEx or DHL (many of our mail stops accept US Postal Service mail only).
3. Please do not send overnight letters: many overnighted letters arrive before or after we arrive and are then sent back. For this same reason, please do not send mail that requires a signature upon delivery.
4. Please allow one week for postal delivery to U.S. mail stops.
5. Please allow two weeks for postal delivery to international mail stops.
Bike, raft and explore the Pacific Coast from Seattle to San Francisco!
Students going on Pacific Coast should prepare for:
We expect you to arrive to your trip fully prepared for all activities.
Preparing for the Biking
Daily rides on our Pacific Coast trip average 45 miles over varying terrain. Four or five days will be over 50 miles and the longest day ranges from 55 to 70 miles. There are one or two buffer days included in the itinerary to allow for delays en route (most groups will find that they spend these buffer days partially or completely off of the bikes) and an additional two days off the bikes to go rafting.
Overland bicycle tours are self-contained—there is no van support. You will carry all of your belongings, plus some group gear and food, on a sturdy rack mounted over the back wheel of your bike. You will hang panniers (these are saddlebags, pronounced “pan-yers”) off the rack and attach gear like your sleeping bag and sleeping pad to the top of the rack using bungee cords. On average, you will carry about 40 pounds of equipment on your bike (not including the weight of the bike).
You should come prepared and recognize that some days will be more challenging and longer than others. Delays occur due to a wide range of variables—weather patterns change and road conditions vary. You, or someone in your group, might get a flat tire or encounter another mechanical issue that could delay your group. On some days your group will arrive at camp in the early afternoon, with plenty of time to explore, play games or go swimming, while on other days your group will spend more time on the bike.
Every Pacific Coast participant should complete all of the spring training rides, and, once on the trip, must be able to maintain 10 mph over challenging terrain on a fully loaded bicycle. Please keep the following responsible riding practices in mind as you complete your spring training rides.
Responsible riding practices
WEAR A HELMET AND CLOSED-TOED SHOES
Always, no exceptions.
DESIGN A GOOD TRAINING LOOP
To the extent possible, ride on bike paths, bike lanes, and bike routes.
FOLLOW THE LAW
You have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers. Obey traffic signals and stop signs. Ride with traffic; use the rightmost lane headed in the direction you are going.
BE PREDICTABLE
Make your intentions clear to everyone on the road. Ride in a straight line and don’t swerve between parked cars. Signal turns, and check behind you before turning or changing lanes.
BE VISIBLE
Ride where people can see you and wear a hi-vis top. Ride with your rear light on and flashing. Make eye contact with others and don’t ride on sidewalks. When possible, ride with others.
THINK AHEAD
Watch for turning vehicles and ride outside the door zone of parked cars. Look out for debris, potholes, and other road hazards. Cross railroad tracks at right angles.
RIDE READY
Check that your tires are sufficiently inflated, brakes are working, chain runs smoothly, and quick release levers are closed. Carry tools and supplies that are appropriate for your ride.
Pre-trip Training:
All training rides should be at an average speed of between 10 to 12 miles per hour. Once on the trip, you and your group will take multiple short breaks throughout the day—for water and snacks, to stretch and rest, to relax and enjoy the view!
Preparing for an Overland Experience
Overland trips are wholesome, structured experiences with high expectations of each student’s behavior. You are expected to be enthusiastic, positive, helpful and supportive of your trip mates and your leaders. We ask that you leave your cell phone and electronics at home (cameras are always welcome), so you can fully engage with your group and your trip. Arriving ready for a challenge—and prepared to contribute to an enthusiastic group—will go a long way toward creating a successful trip. Please contact us if you’d like to discuss preparing for your Overland trip.
4 weeks
$5,195
