Fall Work Weekend October 16th to 18th.

A message from Aaron Dushku, Camp Hale Alumni President.

On behalf of the Camp Hale Alumni Association and extended community, I’m writing to tell you about our fall Work Weekend at Camp Hale.

Hello!

This is an incredibly rewarding experience where participants can lend the sweat of their brows and fruits of their labor in support of the special place that we all know and love. All of this hard work and sacrifice happens under the beautiful pines and alongside the majestic and picturesque Squam Lake. Please join us!

When

Friday, Oct 16 to Sunday, Oct 18, 2026

Where

Camp Hale, 92 Millbridge Rd, Sandwich, NH 03227 

  -YOU will need to arrange for your own transportation but we can help connect you with a ride if you let us know.

Accommodations

You will sleep in a military-house style bunkhouse with anywhere from 2-8 other volunteers.  Indoor hot, running water in shared bathrooms (some showers are outside).  Three meals/day in dining commons with others. Bring a warm sleeping bag and pillow for your bed.

Evenings

A warm fire, a few songs maybe, laughs with new friends and a million brilliant stars above (weather permitting! 🤞). Loon songs echoing across the lake will be your lullaby.

What work?

Putting Camp Hale to bed for the winter in partnership with a diverse range of dedicated volunteers.  Work may include: disassembling and removing beds and boats, rebuilding log seating, loading trucks, helping clean the kitchen, helping prepare meals,  patching screens, closing shutters, pulling in docks.

Who are we?  

The Camp Hale Alumni Association (CHAA) is an all volunteer 501c3 organization that works in partnership with Camp Hale’s owner/operator the United South End Settlements (USES).

I am Aaron Dushku, CHAA President, 2nd generation Camp Haler and parent of 3rd gen Halers. 

CHAA and our events are open to all and our membership includes adults with long experience at camp, or others who know and love them, and just liked hanging out with us enough to join in the good work. Our ages range from 18-85.

Why?

Camp Hale and USES are nonprofit and mission-driven organizations serving Boston’s lowest wage-earners and their children. Participants in the Camp Hale program often live under difficult and unsafe conditions at home and this unique place and its happy traditions have proudly offered refuge and solace for such people since 1900.

Over all these years, we’ve learned that time in nature is a medicine and healing like this brings people together in lifelong friendship. This is what drives us to return year after year to lend a hand. We are the final destination of the Camp Hale pipeline and this is what we do.

Fine print

Whether the kids are in session or not, Camp Hale is a safe environment for all.

We adhere to a strict code of ethics and conduct at CHAA and harmful behavior or actions will not be tolerated. As one of America’s oldest summer camps, we have been operating since 1900 and we take our stewardship of the place and it’s reputation very seriously.

No participants under 18.

No pets or animals.

No smoking in buildings.

No littering of any kind.

You will have to sign a waiver on arrival.

Don’t be a hero. If it’s not safe, don’t do it. We’ll all have a talk about safety when you arrive but it’s important.

Questions? Email us at CampHaleAlumni@gmail.com

Ready to sign up? Email me, AaronDushku@gmail.com