Campaign for Kids, Conservation, and Community
We met our fundraising goal for conservation in 2024 and are now in the process of filing for one of the largest conservation restrictions in eastern Massachusetts in more than a century.
A Legacy for Generations To Come
Together, more than 50 volunteers inspired 3,000+ individuals, foundations, and corporations to commit over $38MM to Hale’s Campaign for Kids, Conservation, and Community. Their generosity is expanding programs, improving facilities, protecting land in perpetuity, and sustaining our work through an endowment. We sincerely thank them for establishing this philanthropic legacy.
The Campaign’s Impact
Hale’s century-long commitment to reimagining learning and building community has never been stronger. Our work has impacted millions of lives and continues to be rooted in the belief that nature, education, and recreation inspire us to learn, empower us to lead, and challenge us all to create a world in which people, place, and purpose are united. With that in mind, the Campaign for Kids, Conservation, and Community raised awareness of and support for:
- Children—We’re expanding our nationally recognized camps and summer learning opportunities, growing a year-round outdoor academic academy, and educating more children about climate resiliency.
- Facilities—We’re updating, improving, and constructing 20+ facilities that support programs for children and families.
- Conservation & Sustainability—We’re protecting over 1,100 acres of land from future development and investing Hale’s resources to support long-term sustainability.
What’s Next
To complete the conservation effort, we have submitted legal documents that must be approved by local municipalities and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. That process can take anywhere from 6–18 months and, until it’s complete, a Conservation Restriction (CR) has not officially been placed on the property.
Annual support is still needed to sustain Hale’s operations and steward the property. Our Annual Fund guarantees programs thrive and provides over $300K of financial aid to deserving children and families. In addition, facility maintenance and our endowment require ongoing support to keep pace with rising costs. Please consider making a contribution today to support Hale’s work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Approximately 38% of campaign funds are designated for endowment, 31% will to be used to repair and upgrade existing infrastructure and facilities, and 31% supports operational needs for existing programs.
A Conservation Restriction (CR) is a legal tool that permanently limits how privately owned land can be used. CRs typically restrict the development of large parcels of land. A landowner grants a CR to a qualified holder who is responsible for enforcing the CR. In the case of the Hale CR, The Trustees (formerly The Trustees of Reservations) will serve as the holder of the CR.
Conserved land preserves the character of communities. It protects natural open spaces that include watersheds, wildlife habitats, and forests that offer carbon sequestration and mitigate climate change. Outdoor recreation, and the social and physical health benefits it offers, also boosts quality of life.
There are many benefits to placing a CR on Hale’s property.
- Guaranteed Public Access: The Conservation Restriction (CR) will guarantee public access to over 10 miles of trails. Right now, Hale can restrict access however and whenever it wishes. That would not be the case once the CR is complete.
- Property Values: Towns with more open space have higher property values. Regardless of where you live in town, open space in your community increases the value of your property.
- Individual Health: Extensive empirical literature documents the health benefits of nature. The National Library of Medicine has reviewed how nature helps reduce stress, blood pressure, and cortisol levels; boost mood; improve attention and executive functioning; and strengthen immune systems. It has been proven, when nature is in your life, your physical and emotional health improves.
- Decreased Long-Term Costs for Towns: The CR would last forever and eliminate the possibility of residential development on the property. Residential development is known to cost municipalities and public services more than the tax revenue it generates over time. A CR decreases future costs for the town and its taxpayers.
- Enhanced Community Resource: Funding that backs the Hale CR supports a community-based organization whose mission is to provide education and recreation programs for all. The funds will provide better opportunities for the community to enjoy all that Hale has to offer.
Hale’s camps and educational programs have been receiving accolades across the Commonwealth. Even as more educational institutions see the advantages of project-based learning and outdoor education, growing demand does not mean there will be an increase in the number of people at Hale at any given time, especially during the summer.
Hale monitors and limits the number of learners on the property to maintain an optimal outdoor learning environment. Hale’s future plans include spreading programs out over the calendar year by designing more learning opportunities during the fall, winter, and spring.
To implement these program objectives, we need to make some physical plant changes. This does not include new access points to Hale or entirely new camp sites. It does include upgrades to and replacement of older buildings. These older buildings are not accessible for people with disabilities, so we intend to bring them up to code while also making them more welcoming to visitors of all abilities.
The campaign launched with the hope that the municipalities of Westwood and Dover would participate with some funding to purchase the Conservation Restriction. Due to competing projects and legal complexities, the towns were unable to participate within the timeline for completing the campaign. Fortunately, private donors stepped in to make sure the opportunity to protect Hale was not lost.
