|
As we move out of spooky season and into the season of thanks, we have a lot to be grateful for. From crisp days for hiking and biking to time with family and friends, nature reminds us, amid the chaos, to slow down as the weather cools.
Hale is always here when you need a brisk walk or a scenic view to reset. If you want to put something specific on the calendar, this month's community events include:
Thinking ahead to school breaks, Hale School Vacation Days invites school-age kids to take a break from movies and video games and spend time hunting for icicles and building forts. So book your kiddo's spot now and, while you're at it, enter to win a spot in future programs.
Do colder temps and rainy days inspire you to begin planning fair weather adventures? Registration for Hale Summer Camps opened last month, and we're thrilled to see so many new and returning campers already signed up for Hale Day Camp, Hale Adventure Camp, and Hale MTB Camp! In addition to three two-week sessions, we're also offering three one-week sessions this year. Spots are filling fast, so secure your camper's spot today!
Hale's Family & Community Program’s 2027 season passes are also available now and make a great experience gift for the special people in your life who love swimming, hiking, fishing, and all the nostalgia of a summer spent outside.
Hale's trails, ponds, and meadows are a great place to take a breath and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors as the holiday season begins. Our main entrance at 80 Carby Street is open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM. Please keep four-legged friends on leashes and check our Visitor Guidelines before your visit.
| |
| |
Camp Registration Is Open!
Summer may seem far away, but your future self will thank you for planning your child’s camp experience now. So, text the parent group today and pin down your preferred dates for Hale Day Camp, Hale Adventure Camp, and Hale MTB Camp. The gift of time outside is priceless, and so is the relief of not having to plan it later!
| | | | Everything Has a Job: What Mushrooms Teach Us About a Healthy Forest | | |
Walk through the woods in October, and it can look like the natural world is winding down. Leaves cover the forest floor. Fallen branches and logs begin to soften and decay. Plants that were green just weeks ago have turned brown. And seemingly overnight, mushrooms appear, pushing through leaves, growing from old wood, and popping up in places where there seemed to be nothing before.
But look a little closer. The forest isn’t shutting down. Some of its most important work is still happening, much of it out of sight. Mushrooms offer a fascinating window into the work happening in the cooler seasons. That perspective can shift how we experience the outdoors in deep fall. In nature, everything has a job to do.
| |
|
Team Hale’s charity bibs for the 2027 Bank of America Boston Marathon Official Charity Program are officially filled.
But the good news doesn’t stop there: We’re still welcoming qualified runners to join the team and make their miles matter. Boston-qualified runners aren’t held to the charity fundraising minimum, but still enjoy all the Team Hale perks — access to our experienced coaches, a bright and spirited team singlet, fun race weekend events, and the opportunity to support outdoor education and recreation programs that make a lasting impact on youth and families.
If you or a Boston-qualified friend would like to be part of this inspiring team, please contact Sam Ronan at sronan@hale.education for details.
| | | | |
We are thrilled to once again be partnering with CityLab Innovation High School! This school year, CityLab's 10th-grade students are visiting Hale twice a week from September through mid-January, building outdoor skills, exploring new activities, and completing place-based learning projects that improve Hale.
During the Choose Your Own Adventure block, students enjoy things like archery and fishing. Last month, Intrepid Academy at Hale students worked on their biking skills, based on their experience: one student was learning to ride for the first time, four were building confidence on larger downhills, and five were ready to take on more challenging trails. By the end, the beginning rider was balancing independently, the downhill group confidently tackled a large descent, and the advanced riders took on several challenging trails, all while cheering each other on!
Once a month, students spend a full day on in-depth outdoor leadership activities like cross-country skiing, canoeing, and outdoor cooking. The four-month experience will culminate in a Project Showcase this winter, where families and school leaders travel by bus to Hale and join other Hale program staff to see students present their work.
Students can build skills, confidence, and a connection to the outdoors through this extended program, and we’re proud to help them discover what they’re capable of.
| |
A Hearty Thank You!
Next time you take a stroll toward the ACLC barn, you may spy a new addition: We recently installed a plaque thanking the many community members who contributed to the Campaign for Kids, Conservation, and Community. Overlooking the Arnold Family Community Circle and the orchard, it invites you to pause and admire a vista that has been protected in perpetuity through the time, talent, and treasure of the individuals and foundations listed there.
| | | | |
A Psychologist Says This Exercise Can Make You More Hopeful in 14 Days from Washington Post. This article explores how taking time to notice and appreciate everyday moments in nature can increase gratitude, improve well-being, and foster hope, even during difficult times.
America's Hiking Culture is Based on Ego from The Guardian. Indigenous writer and former wilderness ranger Joe Whittle reflects on how American hiking culture often prioritizes personal achievements over respecting the land, its ecosystems, and the Indigenous peoples who have cared for it for generations.
Hale's 1,100 Conservation Win Offers Lessons for South Shore from South Shore Times. Hale's achievement offers a model for conservation for the region while emphasizing that protecting open space also means ensuring everyone feels a sense of welcome and belonging in the outdoors.
| | | |
Westwood Community Trails
Sat. Nov. 7
| Meet hikers at 39 Powisset Street in Dover for a 3–4–mile hike over mixed terrain at Powisset Farm. No registration is required; just show up! Free. Learn more. | | | |
Fall Family Scavenger Hunt
Fri. Nov. 27
| Join us for our eleventh annual Fall Family Scavenger Hunt. This self-guided adventure begins at South Beach and invites explorers to hike scenic trails, complete fun activities, learn about the outdoors, and find prizes along the way! 8 AM–4 PM. Free. Register today. | | | |
Southeast MA NEMBA's Turkey Afterburner
Sun. Nov. 29
| Join Southeast MA NEMBA and Hale Education, Inc. for one of New England’s most beloved mountain biking traditions: the Turkey Afterburner Mountain Bike Festival. Enjoy a full day of bikes, music, food and community! The late fall riding in New England is at its best, to close out the season with a bang. 8 AM to 4 PM. Register today. | | | |
December School Vacation Days
Mon. Dec. 28 to Wed. Dec. 30
| From icicle hunts to snow forts and sledding, December School Vacation Days hold a special seasonal magic. If the weather is less wintry, we also fill our days with hikes, s'mores, nature lessons, crafts, games, and more. It's a great way for the kids to get outside after lots of cozy inside time this holiday season, plus bus service is available to simplify your commute. 9 AM to 3 PM daily. Register today. | | Hale believes nature, education, and recreation inspire us to learn, empower us to lead, and challenge us all to create a world in which people, place, and purpose are united. | | | | |
