Pre-Camp Programs

Seasonal staff members are carefully selected from the teaching profession, top college and graduate schools, and local public and private high schools. Every applicant is personally interviewed, three or more reference checks are required, and work histories are carefully reviewed. Hale also completes criminal background (CORI) and sex offender (SORI) checks on all of its hires.

Our counselors are enthusiastic, creative role models who understand children and love the outdoors. Activity specialists have extensive experience in their respective activities (and receive additional training prior to camp).

All staff members who work directly with campers are certified in CPR and First Aid. Hale Adventure Camp and Hale MTB Camp staff members often hold more advanced Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness Advanced First Aid, or Wilderness First Responder certifications, and often have many years and hundreds (if not thousands) of miles of experience hiking and riding terrain throughout New England. Hale Outdoor Learning Adventures staff members work with certified teachers from Boston Public Schools.

During a typical season, Kindercamp’s is 1:5. Lower Camp’s is 1:6. Middle Camp’s is 1:8. Teen Camp’s is 1:10. Additionally, program specialists staff every activity area. Hale Adventure Camp’s and Hale MTB Camp’s ratios are 1:6. HOLA’s ratio is 1:8. Overall, Hale’s staff-to-camper ratio is 1:5.

Some wait lists are longer than others, but people’s plans change. We enroll as many campers as possible in the order they signed up, so don’t delay—join a wait list today!

Parents and supporters often ask: Why can’t you simply hire more counselors and create additional groups? Massachusetts regulations and ACA guidelines require that specific camper-to-counselor ratios be maintained and that enrollment not exceed the capacity limits of current facilities.

Please review our Refund Policies. To change or cancel a registration, please email Wendy Rands at wrands@hale.education.

Pre-Camp Programs offer a week-long introduction to Hale Summer Camps. These are not required for participation, but are a fun, relaxing way to jump into summer and experience different parts of Hale before everyone arrives.

We group Summer Sprouts together and then our Outdoor Explores are in groups by age. Our Send’ers and Trailbreakers stay in their own groups.

Pre-Camp Programs are based at South Beach, so campers get to explore a unique part of Hale that’s unavailable to them through our two-week Summer Camps! Summer Sprouts and Outdoor Explorers get a taste of Hale Day Camp as they participate in free swim, archery, teambuilding, sports, nature, and more. Summer Send’ers hop on their bikes and warm up in the field before hitting the trails, visiting MTB Camp’s site, and exploring Hale’s MTB Skills Park. Trailbreakers learn to navigate as they find their way around Noanet Pond, ascend small peaks, and learn important outdoor safety skills.

While we generally follow the adage, “There is no bad weather, only bad clothing choices,” sometimes Mother Nature can make the outdoors feel a little too adventurous. All of our campers have access to covered pavilions and cabins that provide safe shelter.