Hale Day Camp | Information

Camp Phone: 781-329-8107

Situated on 1,100 acres of unspoiled woodlands, winding streams, extensive hiking trails and scenic ponds, Hale Day Camp offers the perfect backdrop for a summer of outdoor exploration, learning and fun for children from 4 to 15 years old. Hale’s ‘backyard’ consists of two large playing fields, a private swimming beach, outdoor activity pavilions, an arts and crafts cabin, and a lodge. We offer a complete range of activities that reward each camper with challenges, a sense of accomplishment, and most of all, FUN!

Day Camp 8:30am – 3:45pm
Extended Day Option 3:45pm – 6:00pm

CAMP WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAY, JULY 4th.

Session 1: June 23 – July 3
Week 1A: June 23 – June 27 (5 days)
Week 1B: June 30 – July 3 (4 days)

Session 2: July 7 – July 18

Session 3: July 21 – August 1

Session 4: August 4 – August 15

Session 5: August 18 – August 22 (5 days)

We will begin taking registrations in January.

During Session 1 we are offering two sampler programs. This is a great opportunity to try out Hale Day Camp, especially for those parents who aren't sure if their child is ready for a regular two week session. Campers will participate in all the basic activities such as swimming, boating, archery, sports, nature and creative arts. They will participate along side the regular two week campers. This is open to Lower and Middle Campers only.

This one week program is only open to campers who have attended at least one other session at Hale Day Camp. Since this falls at the end of the summer we have less staff and therefore less campers so we will be combining age groups and have less specialty programs available.Archery and Swimming Lessons are not offered during Session 5.

Afternoon Extended Day runs from 3:45pm – 6:00pm. Parents can pick up and sign out their child at any time from an activity. Campers and counselors continue their day with swimming and games.

Buses are included in the fee, and are available to all campers during regular camp hours. Buses arrive at camp at 8:15am and are dismissed at 3:45pm. Bus transportation is NOT available to campers staying for extended day OR during Session Five. The tentative bus routes include stops in the following towns: West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Walpole, Norwood, Medfield, Wellesley, Needham, Dedham, Dover, and Westwood.

Please visit our table at the following Camp Fairs:

Saturday January 12, 2008 (11:00am – 2:00pm) The Clay Center at Dexter and Southfield School,
20 Newton Street, Brookline. Sponsored by Boston Parents Paper.

Sunday January 27, 2008 (12:00am – 3:00pm) Brookline HS Cafeteria, Brookline. Sponsored by Steps-to-Success.

Saturdays, February 2, March 8, and April 12 (1:00pm – 3:00pm)
Join us for an open house and meet Hale Day Camp staff, take a tour of camp, and learn what Hale Day Camp is all about. Staff will be on hand to help complete camper registrations and answer all your camp questions.

Camp Director: Christa Semerjian (781)326-1770, Ext. 15 csemerjian@HaleReservation.org

(Hale Day Camp is a fully accredited day camp by the American Camp Association.)

For Lower Campers (Pre-K to 1st graders) the new additions of a pop up playhut, crawl through tunnels, foam play mats, puppets and a marble game turned creative play time (after lunch and group time) into one of the campers’ favorite times of the day. They also enjoyed swimming, creative arts and archery.

Middle Campers (2nd-3rd graders) really enjoyed the overdays this summer. Campers stayed until 7:00pm and were treated to a cookout, a hike to different pond on the reservation, an extra swim time and s’mores.

Upper Campers (4th-5th graders) had a blast with the new equipment purchased this summer. You could often find them playing Big Box Hockey, a giant version of Jenga and Kubb (a Viking game of strategy and knocking down blocks)

Coyotes (6th graders) joined the Leadership Division this year and planned many of their own activities such as a canoe trip across Noanet Pond carrying everything they would need for an overnight on North Beach. They also ventured through the woods of Hale Reservation to visit Powissett Farm and learn about its inner workings.

Adventure Program (7th-8th graders) The Adventure Camp embarked on a canoeing expedition on the Saco River for the second year in a row where they spent 3 days and two nights camping along the river. Other big hits were the new raft building equipment and the GPS units they used to conduct a massive treasure hunt across Hale Reservation.

The CIT/LITs had some awesome field trips including navigating a giant corn maze and trying out the flying trapeze at Jordan’s Furniture. They also had a special training with Outdoor Explorations all about including persons with all abilities in outdoor activities.

Special Events, put together by our Program Director and leadership team, were the highlight of each session. Egypt Day saw campers building pyramids and Harry Potter Day showed campers that the Sorting Hat really could talk. (a walkie talkie was hidden in the top of the hat and as it was held over a camper the ‘hat’ not only new the camper’s name it also told them which ‘Hogwart’s House’ they belonged in) The looks on the youngest camper’s faces were priceless. Hale Day Camp also hosted a Storytelling program done by a former HDC staff member and Funtastic Fables put on a show at our new stage (formerly the fire circle by Powissett Lodge)

“My daughter really enjoyed camp this summer. She loves swimming and just being with her friends. She is really looking forward to returning next summer.” Parent of an Adventure Camper

“This was my son’s first camp experience and every morning he had reservations about being in a new place without friends he previously knew. And every evening when he returned form camp he didn’t want to come home. During the times at camp when he was missing home the staff was very reassuring to him.” Parent of a Lower Division Camper

“My son did not know anyone at the camp to start with and your staff was wonderful at including him and getting him started.” Parent of a Middle Division Camper

“My daughter loves the whole experience of your camp. Her favorite activity is fishing! Every weekend she asks us to take her…she’ll even the bait the hook! THANK YOU.” Parent of an Upper Division Camper

“A highlight of the summer was the smile on my son's face at the end of the summer when we went to a friends pool and he showed us how he could dive off the diving board and swim to the other end of the pool - it was priceless! The previous year, he could barely float and needed someone to catch him when jumping off of the diving board.” Parent of a Middle Division Camper

Hale is more than “just a camp”, we create a safe and trusting community that campers and staff return to year after year. Through our programs we believe campers and staff will:

Develop a sense of responsibility towards themselves, the community, and their environment

In doing this Hale Day Camp campers will:

Learn to care for themselves and their belongings

Become comfortable with people of different cultural, racial and/or ethnic backgrounds

Participate in a recycling program and learn about conserving and maintaining our natural resources and facilities

Build lasting friendships with people of all ages

In doing this Hale Day Camp campers will:

Build new friendships and will work as a team by using the buddy system and finding peaceful resolutions where everyone wins

Be accepted and appreciated for who they are

Feel safe and cared for by staff

Discover and explore their talents, interests and values

Hale Day Camp campers will:

Try activities they have never done before, learn new skills and improve current ones

Make decision about themselves and activities through choice and apprenticeship programs

Be encouraged to go beyond their perceived limits in order to achieve more

Leave camp with something exciting to share

Hale Day Camp campers will:

Complete 2 or more arts projects that they can take home

Meet in small groups at the end of the day to discuss what they liked, disliked and
accomplished at camp so that they can share that information with their families

Bring home a progress report about their swimming abilities at the end of each session

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Registration Form & Enrollment Agreement (Required)

CIT Application Form (for ALL campers entering 10th grade and registering for CIT program)

Health History, Emergency Contact & Release Form (Required)

Immunization History Record & Physician Medical Form (Required)

 Permission Form for Children with Prescription Inhalers and/or Epi-Pens & Medication Administration Form (for ALL children bringing Inhalers and/or Epi-Pens to camp AND for ALL children bringing any medication to camp)

Financial Aid Form (for camp families wanting to apply for Financial Aid)