Camp Activities

Archery

Campers six years old and above get access to archery where hand-eye coordination, patience, and focus all come together. Archery is taught with the supervision of a certified staff member with a Level 1 (or higher) certification from USA Archery.

Arts and Crafts, Maker Space

Campers become artists, inventors, architects, and scientists at camp. Arts and crafts include activities like weaving friendship bracelets, painting, and making tie-dye t-shirts, while more long-term projects in the maker space leave a lasting impact on the community.

Boating

All campers have access to boating on their schedule. Campers learn to row in kayaks, canoes, and row boats. Certified lifeguards who are trained in these specific watercraft facilitate time on the water. Ratios of lifeguards to campers is 1:10 to maximize safety on the water. Campers that pass the deep-end test during swim time are permitted to kayak on their own.

Dance, Movement, and Music

Campers are moving all day, but at movement, we teach them new, fun ways to stay active beyond camp! Activities like dancing, yoga, relay races and obstacle courses give kids active ways to have fun. Specialists will consider how to teach campers healthy living and inspire them to keep moving.

Drama and Talent Show

Whether it's singing, dancing, acting, performing jokes, or playing an instrument, we get to celebrate our Hale Day campers' many talents on the big stage!

Fishing and Ponding

Nature exploration is a vital aspect of our camp culture. When we're fishing or ponding, campers get to interact with the environment in a whole new way. Fishing poles allow campers an opportunity to get up close with fish that live in our ponds. We teach catch and release as a way to show respect to nature while engaging with it to learn.

Gaga Ball

Gaga ball is a camp favorite. Think dodgeball, but the players stand inside a fenced area and if a player gets hit below the knees, they’re out of the game and the last person standing wins. If you haven't heard of it yet, you will by the end of your camper's experience this summer!

High Ropes

If your camper is 8 years old or older, they will get to experience our high ropes course. This activity is led by certified instructors who lead through the challenge by choice (CBC) philosophy where an individual decides their own level of participation in any given activity. Staff encourage campers to step out of their comfort zones and into their growth zones!

Nature and Exploration

We are surrounded by it and we also engage with it! Nature education and exploration is at the core of Hale's mission, and we instill a deep respect for nature in all of our campers.

Outdoor Skills

With access to 1200+ acres of land, campers are in the perfect setting to learn to live with nature. Campers learn the basics of wildlife and plant life, how to practice Leave No Trace principles, and wilderness safety skills. From fire building, shelter building, knot tying and campfire cooking, campers learn outdoor skills that last a lifetime.

Sports

Our campers are active all day, but during sports, they engage in team-based games where we facilitate good sportsmanship and teamwork. Camps have access to field spaces where groups can spread out, run and play. From classic field games and sports, to uniquely crafted games from our camp staff, campers are guaranteed group fun.

Swimming

Whether your camper a new swimmer or a swim team all-star, all campers are invited to get in the water at Hale. Every day, campers participate in swim lessons to develop their skills, and work toward moving up swim levels. We end the activity block with free swim within the areas designated for their current skill level. All swim lessons are taught by American Red Cross certified Water Safety Instructors and supervised by American Red Cross Lifeguards.

Activity Eligibility

When you filled out your camper's paperwork, you signed forms regarding activity eligibility. Due to the nature of some of our programs at Hale, your camper may not be eligible to participate in all the activities we provide. When determining eligibility, we consider the age, experience, and physical, cognitive, and emotional health of all participants, as well as trip length, location, and skill level(s) required. If your camper does not meet the specific criteria to participate in an activity, they will not be able to participate. There may be cases where they may be able to participate partially in a program. Camp staff members are trained to make these decisions in the best interest of your camper's health, safety, and experience.

Examples of evaluation criteria include, but are not limited to:

Archery:

Participants must be able to follow verbal instructions.

Participants must have physical control or assisted physical control of their body (i.e. with help from a staff member or aid).

Participants must exhibit trustworthiness to handle a bow and arrow, and may be denied access to archery if staff members deem them to be untrustworthy.

Boating:

Participants must be able to follow verbal instructions, especially regarding safety precautions inside a watercraft.

Participants must have enough physical control over their body to, either individually or assisted, remain seated in the boat without excessive movement that could lead to watercraft capsizing.

Participants must wear a PFD for water safety. Participants who refuse to comply with safety precautions will not be eligible to go boating.

Challenge Course/High Ropes:

Participants must be at least 9 years of age to climb on one of our ropes course elements.

All safety equipment must properly fit, as determined by our challenge course facilitators, and by our local and state operating procedures. A participant who refuses to comply with safety precautions will not be able to climb, even if they meet other qualifications.

Participants must be able to follow instructions given by challenge course facilitators. Challenge course facilitators or camp staff members have the right to decline a participant to climb based on behavior.

Field Trips:

Participants attending field trips must have all required permission forms filled out and turned in by the due date. Participants will not be allowed to attend a field trip without their caregiver's permission. Permission forms must be filled out for field trips on Hale’s property or for an off-site trip.

Prior to the field trip, participants must showcase behavior that staff members deem as appropriate and safe. If at any time a participant showcases behavior that staff members consider unacceptable, the participant may be unable to attend a trip.

Understanding that field trips are planned ahead of time and Hale does its best to be accommodating of all abilities, if a field trip requires significant physical participation that interferes with a participant’s temporary or permanent disability or illness, the camp will do its best to find ways for said camper to participate in all ways possible. If Hale is unable to accommodate this participant, we will communicate with caregivers to decide if we can arrange for them to stay at camp that day or if they should remain at home.

Understanding that field trips are planned ahead of time and Hale does it’s best to be accommodating of all abilities, if a field trip requires significant cognitive participation, including excessive use of social/emotional skills, which interferes with a participant’s temporary or permanent disability or illness, the camp will do its best to find ways for said camper to participate in all ways possible. If Hale is unable to accommodate this participant, we will communicate with caregivers to decide if we can arrange for them to stay at camp that day or if they should remain at home.

Mountain Biking

Participants must be able to ride a bicycle.

Participants must be able to follow verbal instructions.

Mountain biking involves significant in-the-moment processing skills. If a participant has processing delays that would interfere with their safety, they will not be eligible to participate.

Participants who have coordination issues that impact their ability to ride a bike or that impact their ability to stay on a bike may be ineligible to participate in mountain biking.

Participants must wear safety gear, especially a helmet. If a participant refuses to comply with safety precautions, they are unable to participate.

Swimming

Hale staff provide swimming lessons for all summer program participants, regardless of swimming ability.

Participants must be able to follow verbal instructions given by water safety instructors, lifeguards, and general camp staff.

Participants must follow the rules of the beach and/or water. If a participant shows inability or refusal to follow water safety rules, they will be unable to swim.

On the first day of the session, campers will take a swim test to place them in the appropriate ‘bin’ (shallow water, middle depth water, deep end) that lets the participant and lifeguards/staff know which area the participant can swim. The failure of the participant to stay in the area(s) they are allowed to swim in will result in the participant being disqualified from swimming (until they can comply with the safety regulations).

If a participant is causing unsafe conditions for other swimmers, they will be temporarily ineligible to swim until they can demonstrate that they can be trusted in the water and contribute to a safe swimming environment.

We welcome all abilities to get in the water at Hale. If a participant needs one-on-one support, we will do our best to accommodate this need. If we cannot provide this supervision, this participant may not be able to participate until supervision can be acquired.

General Activities

Each day our campers participate in various activities that require them to follow rules, some of which are in place for safety purposes.

If a participant cannot follow rules at an activity area, especially ones that are in place for the safety of others, they will be asked to sit out until they can demonstrate the ability to contribute safely. “Safety” can be related to the physical, emotional, and/or social safety of other participants or staff members.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding activity eligibility, please contact summercamps@hale.education.

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