Intrepid Academy at Hale

Intrepid Academy at Hale (IAH) is a joint venture launched by Hale Reservation and the Boston Public Schools. The mission of IAH is to provide an outdoor learning school that will combine exercise, nature, and rigorous academics on Hale's 1137 acre campus. This is a full day, semester experience of the sort usually reserved for independent school students paying tuition as high as $27,000 for a single semester. IAH will be tuition-free for students from the Boston Public Schools. In this, its inaugural cohort, it encompasses the entire 11th grade class of Another Course to College.

What is Intrepid Academy at Hale?

Intrepid Academy at Hale will provide an opportunity for students to learn the benefits of exercise and spending time outdoors in nature while also engaging in rigorous academics.

Why Exercise?

Everyone knows that exercise is good for physical health but research suggests that exercise is even better for the brain. Every school that has implemented regular daily exercise has seen its standardized test scores rise significantly and the number of its discipline problems drop dramatically.

Why Nature?

There is a nature gap in this country. A recent study showed that three out of four urban children spend less time outdoors than what is required by law for prison inmates. Scientific studies have shown that exposure to nature is good for the brain while also significantly reducing stress levels.

Why Rigorous Academics?

When our students go to college they will compete against students from exam schools, private schools, and suburban schools. IAH students deserve to be challenged in high school as rigorously as their suburban and private school peers.

Why did we develop our Humanities Curriculum?

There are great inequalities in the United States and around the world. Why are some people and countries wealthier and more advanced than others? Are some groups of people biologically superior to others or are there other reasons that some societies advanced in technology faster than others? What role has race played in all of this? Our curriculum will look deeply into these issues and give students an excellent opportunity to construct their own answers to these questions.

Why Green Chemistry?

We have developed a plan be able to do Chemistry using the 1137 acres of natural woodlands, ponds, lakes, and marshes rather than just learn about Chemistry in a classroom. For example, students will examine the woodlands at Hale to examine and learn how trees use chemistry to communicate for the purpose of the well being of the entire forest.

The How?

IAH is a unique concept in the BPS and the staff and faculty will be experimenting with very creative approaches to education based on extensive research and experience. Because we will be different, students will be asked, at times, to step out of their comfort zones and try new things. We will ask them to keep an open mind and be adventurous with the goal of creating an intrepid spirit inside of them.

How can you help?

Your contribution will help support our curriculum, our equipment, our gear, our computers, our transportation. Thank you for your support. Donate HERE.

Sydney Howland (left), a graduate of Boston University, is an avid hiker and biker and has been climbing mountains since she was four years old. She enjoyed working for the Italian Home for Children as a therapeutic mentor and looks forward to mentoring and guiding IAH students. Photo: hiking in Banff, Canadian Rockies

Lead Guide Dylan Gschwind (center), a graduate of Pomona College, has led many Rocky Mountain wilderness expeditions with high school students while working at the High Mountain Institute in Colorado. He has also directed his own summer academic program for students from the Chicago public schools. Photo: climbing Mount Albert, the tallest mountain in the Rockies

Geidy Romero (right), a graduate of UMass Amherst, is also an alumna of ACC where she was a star on the moot court team, winning local and regional tournaments. Geidy, a native of the Dominican Republic, also studied and did community service in Ecuador while she was in college. Photo: hiking to the top of Machu Picchu

Noanet Pond at Hale in late October

Hale is a private, non-profit education organization that manages 1,137 acres of adventure in Westwood and Dover, Massachusetts. Widely recognized for its day camp, summer club, and team building programs, Hale serves more than 15,000 children and families from 70 Greater Boston communities. It also welcomes the general public and encourages visitors to enjoy its woodlands, meadows, and ponds. Hale’s programs and land management practices are the legacy of its founder, Robert Sever Hale, who permitted use of his land “so long as it is charitable and benevolent in nature… to provide education which will develop intelligent, capable and responsible citizens.”

Seamus Foy is a 2015 Boston Teacher of the Year and is a founding member of Intrepid Academy at Hale. For the past ten years, Seamus has been doing the research that contributed to the founding principles of IAH. He is a successful ultramarathoner and looks forward to teaching students how to flourish by making exercise and nature part of their regular routine.

Josh Katzman, a ten year veteran in the BPS, shares the same passion for the benefits of exercise and nature as Seamus does. Josh joined Seamus as a founding member and in doing the research for the guiding principles of Intrepid Academy. They met in 2012 while training for ulramarathons.

Emily Calnan joined the faculty at ACC in 2016 as a Chemistry teacher for juniors and seniors. She is very excited for the opportunity to create an outdoor Chemistry class, taking full advantage of the ponds, streams, and wooded areas on the Hale campus.

Interested in donating, helping, or asking questions? Contact us!

Jerry Howland, Program Director jhowland@halereservation.org

Eric Arnold, Executive Director, Hale Inc. earnold@halereservation.org

To learn more about Hale click here To donate to Hale click here

Intrepid Academy at Hale Design Team

During the creating of IAH, a talented and committed group volunteered to serve as members of a Design Team. They met many times over the past several years and provided great guidance and direction in developing the IAH concept. Now that IAH is up and running, the Design team will now transition to becoming the IAH Advisory Team.

Jennifer Antonucci (Director of Professional Development, Teachers21), Spencer Blasdale (Executive Director, Academy of he Pacific Rim), Bill Chamberlin (Retired Business Manager, Noble and Greenough), Alexandra Oliver Davila (Executive Director, Sociedad Latina, Boston School Committee Member), Phil Jackson (Boston After School and Beyond), Emily Parks (Superintendent, Westwood Public Schools), Joe McConaughy (EF Education and world record holder for Appalachian Trail)

Week #1 of Intrepid Academy at Hale

At the end of the day on Friday, we gave the students an evaluation form to complete. The last question was:

"If someone were to ask you about your impression of Intrepid, would would you tell them?"

Every student answer was positive. The following are representative of the group:

Laura: "It’s a very eye opening experience where you can improve your academic skills and physical health along with psychological health."

Taysha: "I would tell them that it is fun and that it is better than being in a classroom all day. I sleep better at night and it is making me want to stay in school and come to school on time."

Emily: "It is a combination of beautiful scenery and a great feeling you’ve never experienced being back at school.

Thomas: "I would tell people: 'Too bad you’re not in it.'”

Jennifer: "It’s fun and very active and changes your mindset."

Ashara: "I would say it is a very nice place. It is very peaceful in the woods and you can learn stuff and find yourself."

Zayden: "Best experience of my teenage life."

Perla: "I stepped out of my comfort zone and conquered one of my fears today. The week was amazing."

First Week Photos