By working for Overland Summers you get the amazing opportunity to travel to some beautiful places in the world and lead hiking and backpacking trips for middle schoolers through high schoolers. I fell in love with Overland because of the amazing community it builds. I have never been in a place with so many like-minded people around me. The memories you create during an overland summer are also unbeatable, something as small as cooking 40 grilled cheeses on a small camp stove in Rocky Mountain national park at sunset is something I will never forget.
What I wish was different
Advice
Go into this experience accepting that this will be one of the hardest yet most rewarding summer ever. You will have to navigate how to work with one other individual for 6 straight weeks while supervising 3 groups of 12 kids, all while showing them how amazing it is to be out in nature.
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Trip Leader
June - August 2019 • Yosemite National Park, CA
What I liked
Very rewarding experience that taught me valuable leadership skills.
What I wish was different
As a leader, you are working 24/7 during trips and it is very difficult to take any time off.
Advice
Very important to have a strong relationship with co-workers.
1
One person found this helpful
Trip Leader
June - August 2019 • Williamstown, MA
What I liked
I was able to grow as a leader, learn to work closely, cooperate, and live with my co-leaders, work with kids in the outdoors, and independently work through logistics, difficult situations and real-life problem solving.
What I wish was different
Advice
You will grow so much as a person and learn so much about working through difficult situations. It is really important to be very flexible and open everything!
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Outdoor Adventure Leader
June - August 2019 • Williamstown, MA
What I liked
This is a job where you spend nearly all of your time outside, being the primary caregiver for 12 young students while pushing them to explore and enjoy time outdoors. I learned a lot about myself as a leader and had a lot of fun.
What I wish was different
I wish that I had more time off this summer but the experience with Overland was well worth a busy summer.
Advice
Be prepared to do a lot of work, but also have the most fun you’ve had in a while.
1
One person found this helpful
Camp Trip Counselor
June - August 2018 • Williamstown, MA
What I liked
Seeing new places, spending time with kids and co-counselors, enjoying nature.
What I wish was different
Advice
If you want to work with kids and see the world, but you don't need to make a lot of money for the summer, this is a great opportunity! You also have a much better chance of getting a cool trip if you are 21+
1
One person found this helpful
Trip Leader
June - August 2017 • Denver, CO
What I liked
Being outdoors, getting to interact with students outside of a classroom.
What I wish was different
Don't really have control over this, but less problematic kids on the trips.
Advice
Have some prior experience working with kids or a desire to work with kids.
1
One person found this helpful
Trip Leader
June - August 2018 • Pérez Zeledón, San José Province
What I liked
I got paid to travel! All of my expenses were paid for, and I got paid on top of it. I was in Costa Rica for 6 weeks and Massachusetts for 2 weeks for opening/closing. During training we took a 4 day backpacking trip through Vermont.
What I wish was different
N/A
Advice
It was more work than I thought it was going to be. You never stop working for 8 weeks.
