Email Eric | Connect with Eric on LinkedIn

As Hale’s fourth executive director—a position he’s held since 2001—Eric focuses on strategic leadership, fundraising, and partnership development to expand access to outdoor learning opportunities and close the nature and achievement gaps. His parents owned a camp in the early 1970s and he came to love the industry so much, he never left it! Earlier in his career, Eric taught at Beaver Country Day School and directed several camps in Maine, where he launched a small outdoor education center. Eric is a former president of both the Massachusetts Camping Association and the American Camp Association of New England. He currently serves on the advisory board of Philanthropy Massachusetts’ Summer Fund and is a member of the Generation Success leadership team facilitated by the Opportunity Agenda. In his spare time, you’ll find him on family adventures, mountain biking, skiing, trail running, and playing music. Eric earned a B.A. in Mass Communications and Geography from the University of Denver and an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Lesley University.

Email Emerson | Connect with Emerson on LinkedIn

Emerson has served as a facilitator on Hale’s challenge courses since 2019 and joined us year-round in 2021. Previously, he worked with Project Adventure and the YMCA, most recently as the Assistant Camp and Youth Director at YMCA Camp Ingersoll in Connecticut. At Hale, Emerson supports challenge course operations throughout the year, including hiring and training facilitators, designing programs, and ensuring regulatory compliance. He also helps oversee Vacation Days and other programs. Outside Hale, Emerson stays active by playing competitive volleyball, running, and hiking. He graduated from Springfield College in 2013 with a B.S. in Sports Management and a minor in Business Administration. He holds several certifications: Challenge Course Manager, Level 1 Archery Instructor, American Red Cross Lifeguard, and Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aider.

Email Jocelyn | Connect with Jocelyn on LinkedIn

Bio coming soon.

Email John | Connect with John on LinkedIn

John is a senior management and operations executive with more than 25 years of experience across several industries. He is best known for bridging finance and core business operations to develop productive cross-company alliances. John feels fortunate to have found Hale “as a young lad,” when he learned to swim and developed a lasting appreciation of the outdoors here. An avid sports fan, he’s an incurable homer who enjoys all local teams—he even coached and led girls’ softball and basketball in Rockland for a decade. In his spare time, John’s a passionate cook and gardener.

Email Will C.

Will C. develops program curricula, teaches, and coaches educational leaders at the Perrone-Sizer Center for Creative Leadership at Hale. He also provides consulting services for Hale’s Impact Partners (schools and organizations that collaborate on extended learning initiatives). When he’s not at Hale, Will C. is a university professor and international performer, trainer, and administrator of Playback Theatre. He’s a respected poet and creative event planner who engages communities through the arts. In his free time, Will C. enjoys traveling, eating, cooking, surrounding himself by nature, and “building authentic relationships through existential conversations with empathetically reflective individuals.” He earned a B.A. in Theater Arts from Brandeis University and an M.Ed. in Arts in Education from Harvard University.

Email Diane | Connect with Diane on LinkedIn

Diane manages financial operations including payroll, benefits administration, bookkeeping, and audits—and with 30 years of experience here, she’s the resident expert on all things Hale. Her adult sons, Michael and Matthew, both attended Hale Day Camp as children and joined its staff as teenagers. Fall is her favorite season at Hale because she especially loves brilliant foliage. Outside of work, she enjoys walking, watching movies, playing games, and spending time with her family. She and her husband Patrick currently reside in Franklin. Diane earned her Certificate of General Accounting from Bentley College.

Gary splits his time between greeting visitors at Hale’s main entrance and tending to the property with our Buildings & Grounds team. He lives in neighboring Canton with his family, and while he wasn’t familiar with Hale prior to joining the staff, he is now an experienced hiker on many of Hale’s trails. His knowledge of which routes are best suited to various activities is invaluable. Be sure to ask him for navigation tips.

Email Sue

Sue works with a wide variety of schools and organizations to design programs that achieve their learning objectives. Lovingly known as “Super Sue” to tens of thousands of participants, she’s a master facilitator with 25 years of experience in challenge course design, operations, and administration. A former teacher, she specializes in behavior modification and teambuilding and is certified by Project Adventure and High 5 Adventure Learning Center. Sue earned a B.S. in Geology from Acadia University.

Email Tom

One of three resident employees, Tom’s been with Hale since 1986 and has seen a tremendous amount of change in that time. From shifts in biodiversity—he was thrilled to see bald eagles return—to new buildings and programs, he feels lucky to bear witness to it all. It will come as no surprise that Tom enjoys hiking (the ABC Trail is one of his favorites), and he dabbles in wildlife photography when he isn’t tending to Hale’s buildings and grounds. Tom earned a B.S. in Social Sciences with an emphasis on Park Management from Unity College.

Email Greg | Connect with Greg on LinkedIn

Greg works with staff and board members to build Hale’s brand, broaden awareness of its impact, and encourage everyone to spend more time in the outdoors. He leads digital and print initiatives and partnerships that tell Hale’s story and support program enrollment, membership, and philanthropy. Previously Greg oversaw delivery of Harvard Business School’s flagship experiential learning course, Field Immersion Experiences for Leadership Development, which featured activity-based classes in communication and feedback, global immersion trips that enhanced cultural competence, and a startup incubator that taught design thinking and launched hundreds of student businesses— if you’re a fan of Shark Tank, you might even recognize a few! When he isn’t promoting Hale or teaching at Emerson College, he enjoys hiking, skiing, traveling, and photography. Greg earned a B.S. in Communication with concentrations in Advertising and Psychology from Boston University, and an M.A. in Education from Stanford University.

Email Sydney | Connect with Sydney on LinkedIn

Sydney expands learning by helping high school students explore the outdoors through Intrepid Academy at Hale—she loves inspiring young people to engage in their communities and connect with the natural world. With more than 20 years of experience working with youth, she previously served as a therapeutic mentor at the Italian Home for Children. Sydney enjoys hiking, biking, and running—in fact, there’s a good chance you’ll find her training for an upcoming marathon. She’s also certified in CPR and First Aid by the American Red Cross. Sydney earned a B.S. in Psychology from Boston University.

Email Dustin | Connect with Dustin on LinkedIn

Dustin oversees the many elements of Hale Day Camp. Prior to joining Hale, he worked at a variety of camps throughout New York, New England, and the Mid-Atlantic. When he’s not at Hale, he works in Admissions at Ithaca College and lives in Norwood with his dog Louie. Dustin earned a B.A. in Elementary Education and Theatre from Saint Michael’s College and an Ed.M. in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies from Boston University.

Email Ariel

Email Shannon | Connect with Shannon on LinkedIn

Shannon manages several programs that cater to families and serve the community at large, including Hale Family Camp, Summer Days at Hale, and Outdoor Fitness & Recreation. She oversees staffing and supervision of all three waterfronts during the summer and coordinates rentals and public events throughout the year. Shannon jokes that previously, she worked at Hale (she’s been with us for the first few decades of her professional career, and prior to that, grew up on our beaches and trails). As a certified Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard Instructor, Shannon is authorized to teach Lifeguarding and CPR for the Professional Rescuer and American Red Cross swimming lessons. In her spare time, she competes globally in broomball and travels with teams from Boston, Minnesota, and other U.S. cities. Shannon earned a B.A. in English from Providence College and an M.S. in Psychology from Capella University.

Email Bola | Connect with Bola on LinkedIn

Bio coming soon.

Email Sunny | Connect with Sunny on LinkedIn

A former teacher, administrator, and principal at several Boston Public Schools, Sunny is a seasoned K–12 educator who oversees programs including Hale Outdoor Learning Adventures and Intrepid Academy at Hale, the Perrone-Sizer Center for Creative Leadership at Hale, and dozens of school and professional partnerships that reimagine learning. He also serves as the board president of the Progressive Education Network. Previously, he advanced student-centered learning at Charlestown High School, Boston Arts Academy, Rainier Scholars, and the Media Communications Technology High School. Outside of work, he spends time at home with his wife and two sons in Jamaica Plain, coaches youth baseball, and roots for his beloved New York Yankees. Sunny earned a B.A. in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.Ed. in Teaching and Curriculum from Harvard University, and a C.A.G.S. in Educational Leadership from the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Email Erica | Connect with Erica on LinkedIn

Erica creates empowering semester-school experiences for high school students from Boston Public Schools. Working alongside Intrepid Academy at Hale’s staff, she builds school partnerships, collaborates with BPS teachers, and leads Hale’s Outdoor Guides to create culturally sustainable curricula and pedagogies grounded in outdoor learning. Erica previously worked as a practitioner of diversity, equity, and inclusion at independent schools including Shady Hill and Noble and Greenough; before that, she directed the University of Massachusetts Boston’s Upward Bound program. She independently consults on these topics with several organizations. In her free time, you’ll find Erica grilling or hiking with her son, partner, and two German Shepherds. Erica earned a B.S in Chemistry Education and an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction, both from the University of Connecticut.

Email Erik | Connect with Erik on LinkedIn

Erik facilitates through both School and Professional Programs as well as Camp and Youth Programs at Hale. He also delivers specialized environmental programs for learners of all ages. Erik joined the Hale staff in 2015 and worked in various roles prior to joining it full time. He began his career in outdoor education over a decade ago at The Leadership School in Maine and has been passionate about outdoor education ever since. Erik currently splits his time between Maine and Massachusetts, and when he’s not at Hale, he enjoys traveling around the US by car—he has already seen 47 of the 48 mainland states, with North Dakota still on the list. Erik earned his bachelor’s degree from William Paterson University.

Email Wendy | Connect with Wendy on LinkedIn

If you call or visit Hale, there’s a very good chance you’ll be helped by Wendy. She taps into her background in computer programming, sales administration, and registration to answer general questions, responds to rental inquiries, support program enrollment, provides membership services, and keep the office running smoothly! Wendy and her husband live in Westwood and have two teenage daughters and a Shih Tzu named Gracie. In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, reading, solving jigsaw puzzles, and volunteering at Shultz Dog Shelter in Dedham. Wendy earned a B.A. in Anthropology from Bryn Mawr College.

Email Sam | Connect with Sam on LinkedIn

Sam writes grant applications, processes gifts, reconciles donations, manages databases, and is always on the lookout for new funding opportunities. She also works closely with Hale’s Young Professionals Council to expand Hale’s reach among (you guessed it) young professionals. Previously she edited cookbooks at America’s Test Kitchen, and for many summers, she worked at Hale as a lifeguard and swimming lesson instructor. Outside the office, she enjoys trying new recipes and exploring New England with her husband Alec (who she met at Hale), and their kids, James and Rory. Sam earned a B.A. in English with an Irish Studies concentration from Villanova University and a graduate certificate in book publishing from the University of Denver’s Publishing Institute.

Email Jackie | Connect with Jackie on LinkedIn

Jackie oversees the design and implementation of Hale’s summer camps and year-round recreational opportunities for youth. She also manages relationships with the Official Partner Camps of Hale and program delivery for Hale Outdoor Learning Adventures. Previously, she worked in recreation therapy for children and young adults with disabilities and served as the executive director of a nonprofit that provided equine therapy programs. In her spare time, Jackie is an avid runner who loves the outdoors—from marathons to New Hampshire’s 4,000-footers, she’s always finding ways to stay active and get outside (especially with her dog, Duke). She’s certified in CPR and First Aid by the American Red Cross and in Youth Mental Health First Aid; she’s also an accreditation visitor with the American Camp Association and volunteers with Special Olympics Massachusetts. Jackie earned dual B.S. degrees—one in Sport Management; another in Recreation Management— from Springfield College.

Email Shanice

Shanice facilitates through both School and Professional Programs as well as Camp and Youth Programs at Hale. She also provides specialized environmental programs for learners of all ages. Shanice joined Hale from the worlds of marketing, customer service, and retail. When she’s not at Hale, you can find her embracing her love of the arts and literature, and using her talents as a storyteller. She lives in Dorchester.

Email Heron | Connect with Heron on LinkedIn

Heron facilitates outdoor learning and leadership opportunities for Intrepid Academy at Hale cohorts of 9th–12th graders from Boston Public Schools (BPS). She collaborates with BPS teachers on curricula to support community building, leadership development, outdoor skill building, personal growth, and reflection through connections to community and the outdoors.

Email Lisa | Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn

Lisa administers the Perrone-Sizer Institute and supports the management of other school and professional programs that inspire, educate, and attract educational leaders. She has dedicated her career to working with nonprofit organizations that serve adults and children in creative learning environments, including the Center for Artistry and Scholarship, Open Circle Social Competency Program, Courage & Renewal Northeast at Wellesley College, and the Boston Children’s Museum. A painter and sculptor, she enjoys working on and with paper. She grew up in northern Vermont, has lived in Boston most of her adult life, and now resides in Roslindale with her wife. They regularly walk, hike, climb, snowshoe, ski, and otherwise enjoy New England’s diverse landscapes. Lisa earned a B.A. in Government from Smith College and an M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Email Tyler | Connect with Tyler on LinkedIn

Tyler oversees Hale’s Camp and Youth Programs, Family and Community Programs, Buildings and Grounds, and general administration. A man of many talents, he may be found inspecting a dam one minute and querying a database the next. He’s been known to moonlight as both a Fenway Park vendor and Uber driver, and previously administered afterschool and summer programs at the YMCA of Greater Boston. Tyler is a lead visitor with the American Camp Association and serves on the board of directors of the Massachusetts Camping Association. He earned a B.S. in Sports Management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Email Joel | Connect with Joel on LinkedIn

Joel facilitates through both School and Professional Programs as well as Camp and Youth Programs at Hale. He also delivers specialized environmental programs for learners of all ages. After completing a Year Up internship as a Financial Operation student, Joel worked in the finance and health industries prior to joining Hale. He grew up with five siblings in Dorchester and still lives there today. In his spare time, you can find Joel enjoying his favorite pastimes: acting and performing music.

Email Jackie | Connect with Jackie on LinkedIn

Jackie supports Hale’s marketing and fundraising efforts. She manages a growing membership program, coordinates social media, and supports content development, editing, event planning, and more. Jackie joined Hale from the world of banking, where she worked for many years on marketing, communications, and education. In her spare time, you’ll find Jackie in nature with her family—she loves to travel, write, and sample new cuisine. Jackie earned a B.A. in Writing and Literature from Emmanuel College and an M.A. in English from Simmons College. She’s also licensed to teach English Language Learners in Massachusetts.