Running Brook believes in the dignity and the intrinsic worth of every human being. We welcome, affirm, and support young people and adults of all abilities and disabilities, experiences, races, ethnicities, immigration or citizenship status, socio-economic background, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, religion and non-religion, and any other category people use to define themselves or others. At Running Brook Camps, everyone is welcome.
For over thirty years, Running Brook has operated on the scenic, forty acre campus of the Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School in Waltham, Massachusetts. Our campers play and explore on open fields, under the shade of trees, and around the beautiful waterway that bisects our campus. In addition to the beautiful natural setting, our facility includes: two outdoor swimming pools, a challenge course, an air-conditioned dining hall, a newly-renovated arts building with a theater, dance studio, ceramics studio, visual arts studio, and digital arts lab, and an air-conditioned gymnasium.
Day camp includes a variety of activities for all campers — Arts & Crafts, Camp Games, Core Value Challenge, Drama, and Gym Games. Younger campers (preschool through first grade) also enjoy Music, Nature, and Yoga. Campers who have completed second grade and higher add Archery, Challenge Course, Creative Movement, Creation Station, and STEM. Electives are available for campers who have completed third grade and higher.
Our Extended Day program offers families the option of having their campers with us at camp for a longer day to accommodate their schedules. AM Extended Day runs from 7:15am to 8:15am with activities including art projects and board games. PM Extended Day runs from 4:00pm to 6:00pm and includes a snack, art projects, swimming, and field games.
Swim program — leveled, Red Cross certified, all programs included
All of our programs now include a swimming component. Our Day Camp programming includes free swim and swimming lessons. All other programs feature opportunities for free swim in our campus pools. The swim program is leveled — lifeguards will evaluate campers on the first day of the session to ensure that they are in the correct lesson and/or pool placement. Campers are grouped by skill, not age. This program will be staffed by Red Cross certified lifeguards and swim instructors.
Running Brook Camps is proud to be Accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA). ACA accreditation is focused on the health, safety, and risk management practices in camps. It goes beyond simply requiring criminal background checks. Our standards include practices for screening and interviewing staff, staff training, supervision ratios, minimizing one-on-one interactions, emergency procedures and supervision. Accredited camps voluntarily submit to the accreditation process, which includes a site visit from a trained peer in the camp community.
Authorized pick-up and camper release safety policy
We will never release a camper to you or any other adult without having them check out through the Camp Office. Only adults who are on your camper's Authorized Grown-Up list can pick your camper up. For the safety of all our campers, our staff will not release your camper to anyone who you have not previously authorized by following this process.
Bus transportation — Local Motion, safety procedures
We offer bus transportation to several local communities through Local Motion bus company. It will be a standard size, yellow school bus with a laminated Running Brook Camps logo on the window. For your child's safety, all changes to bus arrangements need to be made through the Camp Office — the bus monitor is not responsible for approving changes. Please call the Camp Office at 781-314-0994.
We have tuition assistance available to families for our summer camp programs. The application must be submitted to the Camp Office along with a copy of a full tax return by January 31st. You must contact the Camp Office about your application prior to completing the online camper registration. Final decisions on disbursement of funds will be made by February 15th.
