Camp Activities

When you filled out your camper's paperwork, you signed forms regarding activity eligibility. Due to the nature of some of our programming 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 have the final say regarding program participation ability.  

Examples of program restrictions include: 

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 may be denied a chance to do archery if staff members deem them to be untrustworthy with a bow and arrow.  

Boating: 

• Participants must be able to follow verbal instructions, especially when 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 of 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 provides 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/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 Programming 

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.