Archive for the 'Choosing a Program' Category

Now that our enrollment season is well underway, the phones are ringing off the hook and we spend our days in the office answering students’ and parents’ questions. This is an exciting time for us… and despite the heavy workload we all enjoy the non-stop conversations.

In this post I’ll address the most common question:

“How do I make a decision between a biking trip, a hiking trip, a service project, a language immersion program abroad, a writing program or a field studies trip?”

“It’s easy,” we always say. The essential Overland experience (a small group meeting a series of carefully-crafted challenges with a clearly defined goal) is the same on any Overland program. Making a choice, then, is as easy as simply picking the program that most appeals to you. Here are some ways you might narrow down your choices:

By Location

If you’ve always wanted to explore New England or travel out West, then start by investigating our different hiking, biking and service options in each region. Use the Find a Program search feature located on our home page.

By Challenge Level

Are you more interested in a fun summer adventure or a challenging experience? Then consider these options:

Low Challenge: Go on a cycling tour of Cape Cod and the Islands

Moderate Challenge: Study Spanish abroad on Language Immersion and Service Peru

High Challenge: Hike the Swiss Alps on the Alpine Challenge

By Length

Even if your summer is packed with family plans, you can still find time for the best summer adventure. Use the Find a Program tool and you can search by program length or even start date.

Need more guidance? Just call us! 800-458-0588.

-Tom Costley

Where will you be next summer?

Enrollment season is here and the flood of applications has started… now is the time to make your plans!

An important part of the application process for many families is attending an hour-long Overland presentation where you can meet one of our directors, hear about our 2010 programs and have your questions answered.

Please click here for times and locations.

We hope to see you there!

-Tom Costley

A view from the road on our coast-to-coast bike trip - the American Challenge.

In my first post I suggested that parents give their son or daughter the Overland catalog and ask him or her to have a look to see what looks interesting.

In this post, I’ll assume your son or daughter has expressed an interest in a biking trip. First off, talk about what a bike trip is like: you move from place to place, camping most nights and preparing meals outside. You get great exercise, and you see a lot – even our shortest bike trips cover over 200 miles and our longest covers over 3000 miles. Want more info? Read this FAQ page or give us a call… five of our office staff have led bike trips!

Then consider how much time you have. If you’re looking for two weeks away look closely at Cape Cod & the Islands and Vermont; if you have three weeks consider New England Coast and Nova Scotia & Acadia; four weeks: Pacific Coast, Paris to the Sea and European Challenge. Six weeks: The American Challenge.

Think about each trip’s challenge level (each trip is rated on a scale of 1-10, 1 is easiest). For example, Cape Cod & the Islands is rated a 2; Vermont is a 4; New England Coast and Nova Scotia & Acadia are both 5’s; Pacific Coast and Paris to the Sea are both 6’s; European Challenge is a 9 and the American Challenge is a 10.

Finally, keep in mind that no matter where you go on a bike trip with Overland that you’ll be in a small group of kids your own age with two dynamic leaders (who will keep you safe and pointed in the right direction). Bike trips naturally lend themselves to cohesive groups; there’s a real sense of adventure and discovery, the camping is comfortable (lots of hot showers) and the meals are fresh and plentiful.

For an adventurous 7th to 12th grader looking for a summer program that offers the fun and friendship of camp, the adventure and exploration of active travel and the challenge and satisfaction of daily physical demands, a bike trip with Overland is the way to go next summer.

-Tom Costley

This is the first in a series of posts addressing this question from five different perspectives: outdoor adventures, service programs, language programs, environmental studies and academic programs.

But before I get into the details of how we structure our hiking trips to be both challenging and supportive, or how our language immersion programs guarantee hours a day of instruction and conversation (and do so in places as beautiful and exciting as Barcelona and Paris) let’s just look at the process of choosing a summer camp or summer program.

My advice to parents? Give your son or daughter the Overland catalog and ask him or her to have a look to see what looks interesting; then talk about his or her interests. In the ensuing conversation you’ll likely be surprised by some of the things you hear (my daughter surprised me by being eager to head west as a sixth grader; my son surprised me by saying that his interests were largely centered on hiking rather than biking).

Then consider your family’s summer schedule—if your family’s schedule is like mine, it’s a jigsaw puzzle of competing interests. Since most of our 40 programs have multiple start dates, you should be able to find a program that fits.

At the end of this conversation, size up where you are in the process. Everyone’s on board and ready to go? Send your application and deposit in right away. Not quite ready to commit? Take your time, think it through and call us with your questions or concerns. We’re always happy to help… and we want you to help your family find the best summer camp or best summer adventure: what works best for you, excites your child’s imagination and will produce memories that will last and influence a lifetime.

-Tom Costley, Founder