Archive for the 'About Overland' Category

Inspired by a sense of accomplishment and camaraderie from completing a cross-country bike trip just after his graduation from Williams, Tom Costley founded Overland in 1984. The first summer, Overland ran three bike trips for 7th, 8th and 9th graders—two Cape Cod & the Islands bike trips and one in New Hampshire and Maine; 28 years later, Overland offers 43 carefully crafted outdoor, service, language and writing programs for students finishing 4th through 12th grade. Recently, Kathleen Igoe sat down to talk with Tom.

Kathleen Igoe: What sets Overland apart from other summer programs?

Tom Costley: Over the years, we’ve stuck with what we do best: small groups of great kids led by inspiring leaders. We have created 43 fun, challenging programs that focus on teamwork and consideration for others.

Kathleen Igoe: Why does having small groups make such a big difference?

Tom Costley: Our small groups (12 students and two adult leaders) create spirited, close-working teams, allowing students to thrive in an environment of friendship and fun. Twelve is large enough for lots of fun and lots of friends, but small enough so that you get to know everyone really well and no one is ever lost in the shuffle. Some organizations say they have the same ratio of leaders to students with a group of say, 18 students and 3 leaders, but I think that’s too big and chaotic for the kids not to mention the difficulties of a 3-way leadership team.

Kathleen Igoe: Talk a little bit about Overland’s leaders.

Tom Costley: Over the last few summers, we’ve had around 140 or 150 leaders. About 60 of them are going to be returning for their second, third, fourth or fifth summer. To find our new staff, we recruit from about two dozen of the top colleges and universities across the country (schools like Williams, Middlebury and Dartmouth), spending eight months a year on recruiting, interviewing, hiring and training. It starts in the fall when we travel to all of these schools to seek out and meet with hundreds of campus leaders—an effort that generates around 600 applications for just 80 new leadership positions. Our screening and selection process is rigorous and thorough: we require a lengthy application, three professional written references, and an in-person, face-to-face interview, usually in a group setting with multiple members of our staff (in addition we do four background checks– CORI, SORI, drivers license and local police department checks). In the spring, our leaders will become certified in First Aid, CPR and lifesaving and their summer starts here in Williamstown with leader training. All of leaders come back for leader training regardless of whether they’re new or returning so we can focus everyone in on the importance of the summer. We go over safety, trip specifics, communication and what our expectations are of them. No other organization invests the resources that we do to put together the finest summer leadership staff possible. It’s hard work and takes an enormous amount of time and energy but we’ve found it makes all the difference in the world.

Kathleen Igoe: What do you look for in an Overland leader?

Tom Costley: Overland leaders are ambitious, accomplished 20-25 year olds who are eager to spend a summer with kids. We look for great role models who have been leaders all their lives—they were leaders in high school of teams and organizations, and they are leaders on their college campuses today. Not only are they talented, prepared and focused but they’re dynamic, supportive and fun. They appreciate Overland students, and they are eager to help them grow in confidence and independence.

Kathleen Igoe: Each year, you add new programs; how do you decide where to run these trips?

Tom Costley: In early September, I ask everyone in the office to send me suggestions for their ideal Overland trip. Together, we sit down and talk about people’s ideas, as we look at last summer’s enrollment and student and parent questionnaires. What programs had four or five sections last summer? What types of programs are Overland alumni requesting? When Overland students asked for more challenge hiking trips but within a shorter time frame, we created Appalachian Trail Challenge, Teton Challenge and the Colorado 14er Challenge. After we sent two groups to Tanzania in 2010, we developed more field studies programs in Ecuador and in Thailand.

Kathleen Igoe: Who plans your programs?

Tom Costley: Overland’s logistics directors are former all-star Overland leaders. Many of them have led for three or four summers so they understand the importance of a well-planned itinerary for a successful Overland program. They spend the year planning every detail of our programs—they make the reservations at campgrounds, get the backcountry permits, find the safest biking routes, set up the service projects, hire the language teachers, revise the leader notes based on last summer’s programs and are constantly tweaking the trip to improve upon it year after year. In mid-June, they also train Overland leaders during our 10-day leader training in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

Kathleen Igoe: What are your most popular programs?

Tom Costley: There are a few programs that we’ve been running for many years like Cape Cod & the Islands, Vermont, and Rocky Mountain Explorer that will be perennial favorites. However, as we’ve grown and expanded our offerings to add service, language study abroad, writing and introductory options, I’ve seen more groups choosing to go on our Language & Exploration Spain, New England Adventure and Costa Rica programs. And of course, whenever we add new trips, there’s heightened interest in those offerings, especially among our alumni, whether that’s the College Essay Program or Field Studies Tanzania.

Kathleen Igoe: Which programs will fill up the fastest?

Tom Costley: That’s hard to predict and depends on the particular program. For some, like Cape Cod, we can have multiple sections for each departure date. Each group will have a different pair of leaders and a modified itinerary so they retain that unique group experience. For others, we’re limited and can only run one group. I always tell families that they can call us and check on the exact availability of a program to get an idea of how fast it’s filling. Most will fill in January and February but others will have spots well into the spring.

Kathleen Igoe: Anything else parents should know?

Tom Costley: When talking to families, I also add that parents and students can call us anytime to get more information for a trip so that they’re making the right decision. We staff the office seven days a week in January and February and are happy to answer questions or send references for any of our trips. We’ve also put a lot of work into our website the last two years so I think it’s become a great resource. You can learn more about all of our programs, read a profile of every single leader we hire and now you can even apply online for a trip. During the summer, we have trip updates on the blog too so parents can stay connected.

Kathleen Igoe: Thanks for chatting.

Tom Costley: My pleasure. Call Overland today to learn more about who we are and what we do: 413-458-9672.

Fall has arrived in Williamstown, and the full time staff at Overland is already back to work in the office preparing for our 28th summer. Though the trips are months away, the work that goes into preparing for an Overland summer begins well in advance.

Preparation for the upcoming summer begins with a thorough review of our 2011 programs. Theresa, Emily, Dawn and Kate have been busy collecting and reading student and parent questionnaires from the summer and passing them on for a second reading to our logistics coordinators and enrollment team. We love receiving positive feedback and value constructive criticism that helps us to improve. September and October are exciting months for strategic planning, and we love the new ideas and visionary changes that spring from the previous summer’s feedback. If you haven’t yet completed a questionnaire, it’s not too late! Email us to request an electronic copy of the questionnaire.

Meanwhile, our logistics staff has been busy tweaking the fine details of each trip. Emily, a new addition to our full-time staff, is preparing for her upcoming trip to southern California and Santa Monica to scout a new section of the American Challenge; Hannah, Catherine, Alec, and Kate are fine-tuning Overland’s classic trips through Alaska, Yellowstone and along the Pacific Coast, as Melissa and Conor meet with Tom regularly to hash out the details of a new international program! And of course, we are all sorting through the 39,000 photos collected over summer 2011 to identify catalog-worthy shots of smiling faces, epic scenery, and the Overland family. Kate and Tom are working hard to compile our glossy catalog as we all wait eagerly for the final product. Contact us now to secure an early November mailing of our 2012 catalog, if you have not done so already.

Jonathan and Chris are busy scheduling leader recruiting visits to campuses across the country. Leader hiring for the upcoming summer begins early in the fall, as Overland staff members contact potential leaders, arrange interviews and prepare presentations about leading for Overland at colleges and universities around the country. It is not by luck that Overland’s leaders are among the brightest and most inspiring students in the country; the rigorous hiring process requires visits to nearly two dozen campuses multiple times a year, in-person group interviews with all finalists, and discussions among full time staff members about leader candidates – the final product is a truly special hand-picked group of warm, charismatic, over-achieving leaders who we feel immensely fortunate and proud to call our own.

Though summer 2011 is only now drawing to a close, we are already looking forward to our 28th summer with anticipation. Soon, our catalog will hit the mail, the phone lines will begin to ring with calls from curious parents and eager students, leader applicants will start to visit our office for interviews, and the office will fill with the sound of excited conversations and ample laughter that characterizes the Overland community through all seasons.

It is never too soon to start thinking about 2012 – a friendly, helpful conversation is just a phone call away. Our online application is up and running, our program dates and prices are current on the website, and the catalog is nearly complete. Please join us!

Happy fall from Williamstown,

The Overland Team

Hello Overland families and friends!

Thanks for a wonderful summer!  Please check our SmugMug photo website to see photos from all of our trips.   All photos were taken by our leaders and are available for free download for home printing or professional printing through SmugMug.  All photos from the summer will be online by Friday, August 12.

Overland SmugMug Website

Enjoy!

The Staff at Overland

Hello Overland families and friends!

Overland’s summer blog updates will be every Saturday for most of our programs and on Wednesdays for BA, NEA, CEP 2, CEP 4 and FST. You can expect one post for our two-week trips, two for our three-week trips, three for our four-week trips and so on. Feel free to call our office for any other updates during the summer; the office is staffed 7 days a week from 8:00am to 10:00pm EDT.

After many requests for pictures, we’ve decided to try to get photos of Overland groups going forward. That being said, many leaders do not have camera phones or access to computers so we may not be able to get a picture of every group. However, after leaders return to Williamstown from their trips, we’ll upload their photos on the Overland SmugMug site!

Thanks!

How did you first learn about Overland, and why did you choose to apply to be a leader?

I heard about Overland from one of my best friends from Dartmouth, Adam Platz, who led for Overland in 2007. After his summer, he told me what a great experience it was and encouraged me to look into it. I took his advice and was fortunate enough to lead hiking trips out west for two summers before I began working in the office full-time.

What are your responsibilities in the Overland office?

One of the things I like most about working here is the seasonal cycle of the job. You start every September with the goal of making the following summer as close to perfect as possible. I used to hate long-term projects in high school that had deadlines which were months away because the project actually just took a few days of focused work. So it was always difficult to motivate myself to work on it when it was first assigned. Overland has the same long-term deadline by nature, but it’s quite different because it actually takes the whole year to put all the pieces in place for the next summer. For me, it involves the logistics of planning each day of my programs, leader recruitment, website development, slideshow presentations, permit applications, leader interviewing and hiring, answering phone calls, building bikes, figuring out gear requirements, leader training and the dozens of other projects along the way. But that’s what makes it enjoyable; each month’s work is different, yet it all culminates in a successful summer.

Conor (far right) on the summit of Mount Shasta with a few of his students in 2009.

What is the most important quality that you look for when hiring successful Overland leaders?

Or in other words, how do you get a job at Overland? Well, if I had to choose two things on top of the requisite leadership and relevant program experience, it would be a great first impression and a positive attitude. Why is a first impression important? Because when you meet your 12 students the first time, you’ve got one chance to show them that you care, that you know what you’re doing, that the trip is going to be amazing and that they’re going to have an awesome time. You also meet a number of parents who drop their kids off at trip start or at the airport, so you have to just radiate poise and enthusiasm to them, too. It’s a solid handshake, a genuine smile and 100% attention. A positive attitude is also paramount to working at Overland. Leading is tough; it’s 24 hours a day, seven (or more) days a week, and you’re constantly thinking about the next meal, the group dynamic and how each student is doing. And you have to do it with a smile on your face and upbeat attitude because your students will mirror your demeanor. You can’t be unrealistically happy, but you must maintain that sanguine disposition throughout.

What do you like about living in Williamstown, Massachusetts?

I live within walking distance of the office; I can run on a mountain trail 10 minutes after leaving work; and the people I work with are just phenomenal.

Conor with his High Sierra Explorer co-leader, Hannah Phillips.

What makes Overland special?

One of the things that makes Overland unique is the amount of responsibility we give to our students during the programs. It’s still a structured group environment—so students are working safely together—but we ask a lot of them. We have these high expectations, but there’s also an incredible amount of support provided by the leaders if they need guidance or help. Overland students are doing things like planning, preparing and cooking their own meals; doing their own laundry; grocery shopping; planning afternoon activities; and taking on leadership roles within the group. They’re also expected to be positive group members, to reflect on the each day and to have a lot of fun. When students leave an Overland program, regardless of where they went, they come away with self-confidence and pride because they’ve had the opportunity to take on an incredible amount of ownership in the program. This paradigm—giving someone substantial and significant responsibility with a great support network in an effort to facilitate genuine personal growth—is also true for our leaders and even for our full-time staff. Actually, it’s a good recipe for any worthy challenge you might face.

Learn More

Want to see what other leaders we have from Dartmouth College?  Check out our leader profiles.
Want to learn more about trips Conor has led?  Read more about RMX and HSX on our website.
Have a question for Conor?  Email him.

Theresa Lepicier is our enrollment coordinator and handles the large task of placing our students on trips, processing applications and managing our wait list, among the MANY things she does in the office!  Her daughter, Sam, has done four Overland trips.

I first heard about Overland 11 years ago when my daughter Sam joined the New England Explorer program.  At that time, I did not realize how Overland would shape her and her future.

Theresa with her daughter Sam

Sam was nervous and excited that first day when we dropped her off at the welcome tent. I was also nervous; this was the first time she would be away from us! While she was gone I was wondering if she was having a good time and if she was making friends… that’s all we really needed to know.

I don’t know what happened during those two weeks, but Sam came home a different girl; she was more confident and independent.  I think that she learned to push herself in ways that she never knew were possible.

Sam is a quiet girl by nature, but she did not stop talking about Overland for months! I knew that something big had just happened.  I felt like I needed to give back to Overland in some way for offering her this unbelievable opportunity so I went to Overland to see if I could volunteer my time.   I did some data entry work and one thing lead to another and here I am employed by Overland for over 10 years!

After her first summer with Overland in New England, Sam went on three more programs: the High Sierra Explorer hiking trip, the European Challenge bike trip, and the American Challenge coast-to-coast bike trip. Just imagine the confidence she has now as a young adult!

Sam graduated college in May of 2010 and has since moved to Chicago.  I truly believe that Overland has helped shaped who she is today!  I love knowing that all of us here at Overland are doing the same for other families.

Our second leader interview is with Kate Silverman, a three-time Overland Leader who has been a member of the full-time Overland staff for a year and a half. In 2008, she led Vermont; after her graduation from Amherst College in 2009, she led Pacific Coast; and in 2010, she led Nova Scotia & Acadia. During August & September of 2010, Kate re-scouted our European Challenge bike trip with co-worker and former Overland leader, Conor Frantzen.

1.  How did you first learn about Overland, and why did you choose to apply?

I first heard about the opportunity when Overland did leader recruitment at Amherst. I attended an information presentation and was hooked. I chose to apply because I had a lot of experience working with kids, and it seemed like a great way to take those skills to a new level and environment. Overland sounded like a great summer adventure.

2. What are your responsibilities in the Overland office?

At the office, I tend to wear a lot of hats. My primary responsibilities are on the admissions side of Overland— talking to parents, processing admissions forms and overseeing student flights. I also oversee the production of our catalog and other mailings. Last year, I was in charge of getting us re-accredited by the American Camp Association and, new this year, I’ve taken on some logistical responsibilities and plan half of our bike programs. I am also part of the leader-recruiting team.

3. What is the most important quality that you look for when hiring successful Overland leaders?

Successful Overland leaders are hard-working, but incredibly flexible and up for anything. Their goal should be an incredible summer for 12 students and a co-leader—through this selflessness they’ll have a rewarding experience.

4. What do you like about living in Williamstown, Massachusetts?

Williamstown is a beautiful place. There are great places for running, biking and hiking. I also love all of the local farms and small town feel. Plus, someone’s got to rep’ Amherst in this enemy territory!

5. What was the best part of your European Challenge scouting trip during August 2010?

Kate pauses at the border of Luxembourg while rescouting our European Challenge trip in August 2010

I loved seeing the European countryside from a point of view that not many people experience. I really think that bike touring is the best way to travel, hands down. I also loved putting my language skills to the test—I’m kind of a “jack of all trades, master of none” when it comes to foreign language so it was fun to use my beginner skills in the seven countries that we biked through. Also, France has amazing bakeries!

6. Please explain the goals of dessert circle. And would you share a dessert circle highlight?

Dessert circle is a time to reflect on the day and think about everything you experienced. Every person has a chance to speak while the rest of the group listens. Each student and leader presents his or her best part of the day (high), the worst part of the day (low) and gives a shout out of thanks to someone who helped them out or just helped make the day better (cheers). It’s an opportunity to vent any difficulty or challenges so you can move on and not dwell, and it’s an even better time to focus on and remember the good memories. I love when students really put effort into dessert circle. Rather than “low was rain, high was getting to camp, cheers to cook crew,” it’s nice to see students appreciating what they’re doing and who they’re with. One of my favorite additions to dessert circle is just laying back and looking at the stars while reflecting on the day, whether it’s before or after sharing with the group. On one trip we did this in silence for a good 20 minutes. Afterward, as we got up and made our way to our tents, many students commented that they never had the opportunity before to just relax and gaze at such a clear sky with so many stars.

7. You have led three biking trips—in what ways were your leading experiences similar? Different?

Of course differences in length and location make each experience unique, but the real difference is in the group of students. Each group of 8-12 comes together as a team and takes on its own personality. For me, that is where the real differences are. In the end, it doesn’t matter as much where you are or what you’re doing, but, rather who you’re with. Each group has its own favorite songs, inside jokes, good memories, etc. Because of this, leading an Overland trip never gets old!

8. What are two things that you learned while leading Overland programs?

In terms of hard skills, I have learned a ton about bike mechanics. Although stressful at times, learning during training and then on the road really proved to be the best teacher. More importantly, though, I have really enhanced my general awareness of others around me and learned to better read group dynamics. This often involves a lot of multitasking. While biking, you’re not just thinking of where to go and motivating yourself up a hill, but, rather you’re constantly doing a mental check of each student and making sure that everyone is having a good time and being themselves. You’re also making sure everyone is well-fed, making sure the group is cohesive, thinking about any on-going bike issues, and you’re having fun along the way! It’s not easy, but the rewards and memories are priceless.

Kate on her 2009 Pacific Coast trip

9. Many Overland parents comment on the maturation of their children during Overland programs. Please share a story of growth that you witnessed in one of your Overland students.

On my first Vermont trip, we had a pretty small group and a shy one at that. In particular, there was one student who was very nice and a great biker, but mainly kept to herself and wrote letters home for the first few days. By the end of the trip, however, she totally came out of her shell. She was central to group dynamics, had great, creative ideas of fun things we could do along the way and was an absolute pleasure to have around. During final dessert circle she shared her amazingly deep reflections of how the trip challenged her, helped her to be more outgoing and really changed her for the rest of her life. This student went on to do a three-week bike trip with us the following summer and stepped up to complete the American Challenge this past summer!

10. List your top three Overland moments.

1) My co-leader, Nate, pulling two huge bottles of sparkling cider out of his panniers upon reaching the Canadian border on Vermont.

2) The adrenaline-filled ride on the last day of Pacific Coast en route to the Golden Gate Bridge after 1000 miles of riding on Pacific Coast.

3) All five times that I’ve watched my group of students change from 12 shy individuals to a cohesive group of 12 inseparable teammates.