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.
For example, our hiking trip in Colorado, Rocky Mountain Explorer, starts with a few days of introductory hikes with light packs in Rocky Mountain National Park to acclimatize before heading into the backcountry for a remote wilderness experience. At the end of the backcountry, the group has a break from the trail as they spend two days on a rafting trip on the Arkansas River. The final days find the group taking on their last challenge: climbing Mount Yale, one of Colorado’s famous 14ers. Standing atop Mount Yale’s 14,192 ft. summit is a fitting end to the trip – an exciting and thoroughly satisfying high point.
For students in grades 8-12 there are three options out West and all are three weeks long: Yellowstone Teton Explorer (a 6); High Sierra Explorer (a 7); and Alaska Explorer (a 7). All of these programs spend eight to ten days in the backcountry in addition to kayaking, rafting, rock climbing, or mountaineering.
In Dar es Salaam, we’ll pay a visit to the US Embassy, where our students will have the opportunity to meet government officials who will brief them on the challenges facing Tanzania. We’ll meet the head of the language school we’ve partnered with for introductory Swahili lessons and check out our group’s accommodations in the city. In Lushoto, we’ll scout the day hikes and find the best markets for our groups to shop for groceries at.
In short, it’s a lot of logistical details and this scouting trip is the perfect way to tie it all together. For the two groups of twelve teenagers who will join us for five adventure-filled weeks in Tanzania, my job is to give them all the tools they’ll need to have the experience of a lifetime. Want to join them? Two spots remain so give us a call and I’d be happy to answer any questions you have about this incredible new program.
