Campus & Local Info

UMass Amherst COVID-19 Safety Information

Campus COVID-19 Dashboard - Tracking COVID-19 on campus through positive tests reported by individuals and wastewater testing.

FAQ: Face Masks - Campus policy on face masks.  Masks will be made available to campers all three days.

FAQ: Air Quality - North Residences are specifically mentioned as having a good exterior air exchange rate.  Other buildings that campers will spend time in include Worcester Dining Hall, the Campus Center, and the Science and Engineering Library in the Lederle Graduate Research Center lowrise.  I will add information on their air handling as as it becomes available.  

Accommodations

Dorms

Our rooms  this year will be in the the North Residences, the same dorms as the last time Boot Camp was at Umass Amherst in 2017.  Rooms are arranged into suites.  Suites offer individual bedrooms and shared kitchen, bathroom, and lounge.  Your key will let you into the suite and into your bedroom.  You can indicate a gender preference in your suitemates on the UMass Registration website.

Nearby Hotels

If you choose not to camp out in the dorms, there are several nearby hotels that may have availability.  Secure your room, then register with the Commuter option to remove the dorm from your registration.

Hotel UMass
Same building as the catered dinner and reception.
Price range around $180 per night.

UMass Amherst maintains a page of area accommodations.

Parking Info

Free parking for Boot Camp is available in Purple Lot 44.  It is immediately adjacent to the North Residences, and a 5-10 minute  walk to the dining commons, lecture room, or Science and Engineering Library.  

Accessibility

Please indicate on your Registration form any accommodation that would improve your experience of Boot Camp.

Buildings

The dorms and dining commons are located in fully accessible buildings.  The capstone, lecture room and catered dinner are in accessible spaces within older buildings: while not all spaces in those buildings are fully accessible, Boot Camp spaces can be reached by elevator and accessible bathrooms are available.    

The Glassblowing Lab and North Chiller Plant Wednesday morning tours have limited accessibility.  Not all spaces on either tour are able to accommodate a wheelchair or crutches due to both stairs and tight spaces.  The Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory and Gardens for the Friday field trip is a fully accessible facility.

Parking

Vehicles with a disability license plate or placard can use any accessibility marked parking space on campus.

Lactation Rooms

There are three rooms near to the Boot Camp buildings.  The Lederle Graduate Research Tower has room 1115C and the Physical Sciences Building has room 288, and there is one just down the hall from the presentation room, on the second floor of the Lederle lowrise.  The Lederle Tower and Physical Sciences Building are immediately adjacent to the Science and Engineering Library, and a short walk from the other Boot Camp buildings.  Please consult the Lactation Room Map below for more detail.

Wireless Access

UMass Amherst runs eduroam wireless service.  If your home institution uses eduroam, you should have access to our network with your regular credentials.

If you do not have an eduroam account, a UMass guest account will be created for you.  Login and password information will be supplied to you as part of your campus packet.

Directions

By Car

UMass Amherst parking lots are available in Google Maps as destinations: type in Lot 44 UMass Amherst and it will offer the correct location. 
If using a different GPS, here is the lat/long: 42.39797338090894, -72.52480636548366

There will be lawn signs once your reach campus directing you to the correct parking lot as well.


From the North
From I-91 South, take exit 36 in Deerfield. At the end of the ramp, turn left and follow road to the intersection. Turn right onto Routes 5 & 10 South. Go 1 mile, then turn left onto Route 116 South. Follow 8 miles to the UMass exit.

From the East
Via Route 2 West to Exit 71 (Belchertown/Amherst). From Route 2 take Route 202 South for about 15 miles to a blinking yellow light at Amherst Road. (You will see signs "to Rt 9 and Rt 116"). Turn right and follow Amherst Road (becomes Pelham Road after about 4 miles) for 7 miles to Amherst center. 

From the South
From I-91 North, take Exit 25 in Northampton. From the exit ramp, turn right onto Route 9. Travel approximately 4.5 miles to Route 116 North (turn left at traffic lights). The UMass exit is 1 mile up. 

From the West
From Route 2 East, follow to Greenfield/I-91 exit. Take I-91 South to Exit 36, Deerfield. At the end of the ramp turn left and follow the road to the intersection. Turn right onto Routes 5 & 10 South. Go 1 mile, then turn left onto Route 116 South. Follow for 8 miles to the UMass exit.

From I-90 (Mass Pike)

If you are a first-time visitor and traveling from the east or west on I-90 (Mass Pike), we recommend avoiding Exit 63 off of the Mass Pike, and instead following the directions to Exit 45 listed below.

Take Exit 45 (West Springfield). Follow I-91 North to Exit 25. From the exit ramp, turn right onto Route 9. Travel approximately 4.5 miles to Route 116 North (turn left at traffic lights). The UMass exit is 1 mile up.

Planes, Trains & Buses

Please consult the UMass Amherst Visitor Info page for guidance. 

Camping in the Dorms

What to Bring


What Will Be Supplied

Near-Campus Dining

Meals are only covered as part of Boot Camp registration from Wednesday lunch through Friday lunch.  For those arriving Tuesday or staying through Friday night, here are (just a few!) local favorites.

Breakfast

Cushman Market & Cafe (Amherst)

7:30 am - 2:00 pm

The Works Cafe (Amherst)

7:00 am - 8:00 pm

The Stables Restaurant (Hadley)

6:00 am - 2:00 pm

Lunch

Bueno y Sano (Amherst)

11:00 am - 8:00 pm

Antonio's Pizza (Amherst)

11:00 am - 9:00 pm

The Black Sheep Deli & Bakery (Amherst)

8:00 am - 2:00 pm

Dinner

The Taste Thai Cuisine (Amherst)

11:30 am - 9:00 pm

Hangar Pub and Grill a.k.a. Wings Over Amherst

W 4:00 pm - 11:00 pm -- TH 12:00 pm - 11:00 pm -- F 12:00 pm - 12:00 am

Johnny's Tavern (Amherst)

W-TH 4:30 pm - 9:00 pm -- F 12:00 pm - 9:30 pm 


Popular chain restaurants are also available in Amherst and Hadley, as well as a wealth of additional local faves in Northampton.  If you are looking for a specific cuisine or in need of dietary accommodations, please don't hesitate to email or ask your hosts Melanie Radik and Anne Graham.