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Comments
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11/30/23 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
It was amazing, giving me a taste of college experience with summer camp feelings. The classes didn’t feel like school, so they were very fun to attend to. I was able to make friends and connection with everyone, including staff members.
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10/13/19 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
I hated this camp sooo much! I attended Explo at Wheaton for 3 weeks and im NEVER going back. They are soo strict, the activities are boring, the food is gross, and the dorms/bathrooms are nasty. The people there are so mean and judgmental. Someone in my hall went through my stuff while I was asleep and when I told the counselours they did nothing about it. I met some nice people but I am never ever going back.
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*
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7/9/19 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Our daughter loves this camp. She has learned so much and flourished in many ways. The plethora of courses and workshops are so well organized. There are so many options for kids to chose. The weekends are full of trips for all campers to find something exciting. The staff are engaging and make everything fun. Very happy we chose EXPLO...
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5/12/19 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Explo is horrible and a waste of your money. Honestly, I had a good time my first year. But then I went back and it literally ruined my life because the staff were abusive and when I tried to go to the administration about it, they kicked me out of the camp. When we tried to report them, they told the people in my living group that if they contacted me, they'd be kicked out. My friends from explo are amazing but there were a lot of toxic people there as well. The activities are so juvenile and poorly executed. I ended up at a different program the next summer and it made me realize how terrible explo is. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY.
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9/9/18 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Going to this summer camp may have been the best decision of my life. First of all, I was so nervous before I came. I didn't know what to pack, I thought everyone would hate me, I thought there would be no fun people like me, and I thought the counselours would be mean. But oh boy was I wrong. They give you a list of items to pack, I met so many amazing people, and the conselours were so dang nice. I met some of the greatest people ever there. They were all so amazing and nice, everyone bawled on the last day. EVERYONE! Everyone is super including and the courses are so much fun as well. I reccomend the New York Trip, it was one of the biggest highlights of the camp. I wish it lasted forever because it was so fun. I could go on and on and on about how amazing it was but I only have 200 characters left. So, all in all explo at wellesley was the best thing that ever happened to me and I recommend it for EVERYONE. Thank you explo for the best summer ever! I will be going to Yale next yr!
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10/4/17 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
My daughter attended Explo Wellesley the summer before 8th grade (session 1). SHE LOVED IT! We felt welcome from the moment we stepped on campus. The communication was great with daily photos and blogs, as well as a copy of camp activities for parents to review. My daughter enjoyed her classes and met friends from all over the world. She cannot wait to go back!
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*
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10/3/17 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
My daughter had such a positive experience that she is currently working three afternoons a week after school to earn money towards next year's tuition.
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8/8/17 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
Just avoid....my son missed a week for surgery and they were wholly insensitive to his situation. They didn't honor the insurance policy making up some silly reason for not paying back for the missed week even though he was in ICU at Yale....
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1/25/15 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
This place changed my life for the better in so many ways that I can't possibly fit it into 1000 characters. However, I will address all of you who are concerned about the inconsistency of reviews - some are great, some are awful, and there is no in between. This is because Explo is set up in a way to give kids a lot of freedom. With freedom comes responsibilities - the responsibility to control yourself, to get to places on time, etc. The staff give warnings, but if you can't follow the basic rules, consequences do pile up. Don't blame the staff-if they didn't do this, then they wouldn't be able to offer any freedom. Some people had particular problems with staff members-there will always be people you don't get along with, and with as diverse a group of people as there is at Explo, it is impossible not to find someone you disagree with. Overall, the staff selection process is very intense and the staff members who don't follow rules or who are complained about are not allowed back.
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12/19/12 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
I have gone to EXPLO for 6 years and found it to be the greatest, most fun, and most influential experience of my life. The students and staff are from around the world and the environment they create is one of friendliness and kindness. Above all, EXPLO fosters "Curiosity in Action." Where else can a student explore their passion for learning in a fun, engaging, and educational environment with peers who feel the same way. I took courses in everything from the Stock Market, to Improv Comedy, to Philosophy of Physics. Outside of the courses that span the gambit for intriguing topics, EXPLO boasts a myriad of fun and engaging activities for students to do in their free time. Whether it's ultimate frisbee on the quad, or joining the Disney Choir, there is never a dull moment at EXPLO. I highly recommend this program to others. It changed my life and I hope it has the same incredible impact on you as well. =)
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*
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7/17/12 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Nice place but totally unsuitable for 13 year olds. There is absolutely NO academic componant.
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*
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4/7/12 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Horrible. For seven summers of my life I have gone to one camp for seven weeks, and they fly by, but for this one summer I tried Explo, 3 weeks felt long. The place was strict like the military, and that made the horrible programming 10 times worse to bare. The food was inedible, and the staff was horrible. The teachers were idiots, and they literally lock the building. I have never been anywhere more restrictive in my life. I felt like I was in a prison. The kids were the only bright spot to the whole program. Do not go!!
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1/26/12 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
I can't put everything I'd love to say in 1000 characters. I've got three kids..all LOVE it and have gone more than once <three for one!!>. Staff is supportive, caring, enthusiastic. While you need to bring a fan, dorms are so historic they didn't care. ACTIVITIES are creative, keep everyone happy and busy and make wonderful memories. While we thought it was a stretch for our budget, the happiness our kids have each summer and the weeks, months, YEARS that follow were worth every penny. Go on Facebook...there is a fan page that was created by a former Explo camper "MLIE "My Life Is Explo...it really gives you the flavor of the camp. Amazing just doesn't cover it all.... :)
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7/27/11 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
I had the WORST experience of my life at Explo - so bad that I left early. The moment I got off the plane, the "greeter" was so unbelievably rude to me. I was grouped with a bunch of kids who could barely speak English, so making friends was ridiculously hard. The classes are taught by college students, so the classes are pretty out of control at times, and the curriculum was not what I expected; it felt like they were teaching elementary school stuff the way it was presented in my classes. There is NO a/c or fans & the temperature was constantly over 100, so that was miserable. There were 2 showers and 2 toilets for an entire floor (40 people) which was just horrible. The admin is the worst I've seen - I was very upset, homesick one day and the lady was so rude, uncaring, and was obviously very bothered that she was having to "deal with" something like that. They would say they would call my parents, but twist my words, tell lies, or not tell me what my parents said to them. SO AWFUL
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1/3/09 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
AMAZING!!! it really is just amazing!! i suggest you go!!! There are so many great things to do and sooo many new people to meet!
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1/2/09 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
This is the best camp in the country. The facilities are the best I have seen in a camp. You stay in college dorm rooms, check-ins are frequent but not tedious. The staff are down to earth and funny. There's a ton of diversity since there are many international campers from china, kenya, spain and so on. You get let out of your rooms at around 6:00am and you have an hour before courses start and then including lunch, break and other stuff you have over 4 hours of free time per day. If you're not social you can get very bored tho.
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9/5/08 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
In every respect our childs experience exceeded both ours and her expectation.The people were friendly the programs were flexible and the setting was charming.
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7/21/08 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
Extremely strict. Heavy on disipline. Check in three times a day. Miss three check-in's and you are kicked out. It seems as they are always looking for a way to kick people out of the program.
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5/6/08 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
Wow. this is the BEST camp for kids who enjoy a range of new activities. You get small classes of subjects not available in school. There are weekend trips and activities. Children have responsability and freedom. The campus is on Wellesley College in the intermediate Program, the one I went to. RA's are helpful and give everyone attention. The trips are amazing too!
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3/30/08 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
I absolutely love this camp! This coming summer will be my fourth year. the classes are great, the teachers are wonderful, and i made sooooo many friends!
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1/19/08 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
The people at Explo are AMAZINGGG!! some courses are better than othersbut overall its very funn. you get loaddsss of free time, but you check-in about every 5 minutes. overall itsa blasttttt
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1/2/08 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
It might seem expensive to some, but we found it to be worth every penny. The self-confidence and independence our son gained was invaluable. The staff was energetic, intelligent and caring. He is looking forward to going back again this year.
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1/1/08 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
This was the first time I had ever been to a sleep away camp and i had the most AMAZING time. I made SOOOOO many friends from all around the world and I learned so much about not only the topics I was studying, but also about myself. They counselors were so nice and were so much fun to hang with. They made everyone feel comfortable and safe. EXPLO also had an awesome selection of classes and mini courses. I was able to try things that I had never done before which broadened my abilities. The weekend trips were also fantastic. We were able to choose from 4 or 5 trips every saturday and 4 or 5 more on sunday. I went to amusement parks, movie theaters, museams, and aquariums. I learned a lot and was able to spend the day with all the new friends I had made, while also picking up even more new friends along the way. The food wasnt bad either. while it wasnt as great as homemade food, it was NO WHERE near as aweful as cafeteria food and there was a wide selection of choices. I LOVE EXPLO!!!
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10/21/07 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
This camp was a life-changing experience! However, it was only because of the friends made there. The activities weren't that good. 'You Talkin' To Me?' was awesome, but 'School of Rock' could have been a LOT better. All we really did in school of rock was just get into groups and make up songs. For the beginners in the class, it was tough for them because they didn't know HOW to make up a song. It would have a been a lot better to teach them the scales and stuff. Also, on Off-Broadway Night, only one group got to play! No fair. In addition, ALL those check-ins throughout the day were extremely tedious! Seriously, it was a waste of time. In the activities, the first ten minutes consisted of taking attendance and blah blahhh blah. Why can't we just have the morning-attendance E-mailed to all the other counselors so they know who's here? Plus, every single couselor pronounced my sister's name wrong...and she got upset. Hehe. We should just have a sheet where we check off our name.Really!
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7/6/07 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
I LOVE EXPLO!!E TO THE X TO THE PLO EXPLO EXPLO HERE WE GO! I have had the most amazing time here i have made friends left and right!!! The food is great and the counslers could not be better!The classes are great and the comunity meetings are soo much fun!
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6/24/07 |
3 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
explo was SO much fun. from the classes to the dorms to the vil to the trips to the shows, you were never bored. by the end the staff got a little antsy, but overall it was a great experience.
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4/19/07 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
I had an amaazing time at Explo. I made great friends, the classes were really fun, and my counselours were great. Well, one of my original courses wasnt that great, but you can switch. The trips are mostly a lot of fun, but occasionally, if you don't get your top choices, they can really be bad if you dont know anyone. The dorms are nice and its a fun area to be in. Going into town was great.
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2/22/07 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
Although I left Explo having made some terrific friends, it was because of them that I had a fun time, rather than because of the program itself. The program is by far the most strict summer academic program I know. The several check-ins during the day were a waste of time to say it in simplest terms. Some of the classes were enriching, although what the website does NOT say about the classes is that they are taught by college students. Most of these students come from prestigeous schools, but they are still not technically teachers. All of the trips are an additional fee, which can be misleading when paying the tutition, which may at the time see like a bargain. Some of the rules are ridiclious. For example, students are not allowed to use their cell phones, and the counselors literally scared the students into not using them by making up a lie that they could track it and that you could be kicked out. This resulted in students feeling very home sick.
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2/9/07 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
I love this camp so much. I had so much fun learning tons of knew things and I felt that we were given a ton of freedom and respect. i can't wait to go back. I never had good experiences with camps untill this one. It completly changed my outlook on things and I feel liked i gained alot of independence and responsibility from this camp. I made so many friends and learned things I never thought I would. It opened my eyes to so many knew things I can't wait to try them all. Explo is the best thing eve, especially for people who are soon going off to college becuase it gives them so much knowledge of what living without mommy and daddy is like and it's also helpfull when choosing what you want to major in. Also for kids who need to learn how to be more idependent or want to learn and gain more life experience, this is the place to go. There's something for everyone here:)
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1/17/07 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Explo was absolutely amazing. It surpassed any experiences I've ever had at home; I can't wait to go back!
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11/18/06 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
best camp in the country by far. i made so many new best friends and learned a lot about myself. the campus is so pretty and the vil is so much fun. i loved all the trips we took and all the classes we could take. thanks for the best summer of my life!
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8/31/06 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
This is the best camp ever there is not a camp like any where in the world. This camp is so great that peolpe from everywhere come to it like japan, italy, paris and more. Also peolpe come from all different states too. It is so much fun and there are so many activites to chose from there is truly something for every one.
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8/20/06 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
In short, Explo is amazing. I've been there twice before-once at the Intermediate Program, and once at the Senior Program, and both times I had so much fun. I considered the Intermediate Program to be the best three weeks of my life, and that idea ended only once I entered the Senior Program and Explo there became my best experience. I cannot give Explo a higher recommendation.
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8/17/06 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
The camp was really well run and a good variety of activites. It was a bit long but overall the people were awesome and I would recommend the camp.
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6/23/06 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
I've been going here since I was 8 years old. It is my favorite place in the world and I recommend it to EVERYONE! Don't have any doubts; the people are amazing, the staff are amazing, the activites are amazing, and it isn't difficult to make friends at all. You'll make lifelong friends and have the time of your life!
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6/4/06 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Wellesley was tons of fun, I really recomend this camp. I'm going to the senior program this summer and I can't wait.
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4/11/06 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
I went to the Senior Program last summer at Yale University and it was amazing! I had great classes, made lots of friends, went to NYC three times and gained a ton of self-confidence! The only bad thing was no air conditioning in the dorms. Go to this camp!!! (just remember to bring a fan =)
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4/10/06 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
I went to this camp YEARS ago when it was all at Wellesley college & stayed for three summers & brought with me all my friends from home. What a GREAT program, What an AWESOME, IMPRESSIVE staff...they were truly cream of the ivy league crop!!! Great exploring Boston, fascinating courses, killer trips. Ann & Arnie...YOU ROCK!!!
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