EXPLO (at Yale) is delightful...if you can afford it I attended EXPLO at Yale for three summers. I was a really delightful opportunity. Taking mini-classes on subjects I was truly interested in reminded me of my love for learning. In the U.S. education system, I had started to lose sight of that. I gained incredible knowledge about different countries, political systems, philosophical and sociological theories, and systems of exploitation. I also learned lots of practical skills: how to problem solve, work productively within a group, write a resume and college admissions essay, and navigate life in a big(ger) city (than I had ever lived in up until that point). EXPLO prepared me for college in a way few other practical experiences could have. More than anything, though, the people were the defining feature of my experience. The people are what made it worth it. I have made friends that I still keep in touch with from EXPLO. Having so many curious, intelligent, successful kids all together was rewarding in a way few opportunities were. I felt seen and understood. I'll always be grateful I got to attend EXPLO. However, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the big, obvious problem: the finances. Motherpucker it's expensive. Without help from my very generous grandparents (who valued educational experiences for their grandchildren) there is no shot I would've been able to go. None. It is prohibitively expensive, and I'm sure that the pandemic, recent inflation, and corporate greed have only exacerbated the problem. I honestly don't know what the breakdown of expenses is. Feeding and transporting people to activities for 3 weeks is expensive for sure, but for the price they ask for?? Maybe the rent of the facilities they use takes most of it. It certainly didn't go to our chaperones (they totally deserved the money, too!) The only other complaint I had as a child was that time was super strictly regimented and that the adults could be a tad overbearing. However, for liability and logistical reasons, as an adult I completely understand. They're a consequence of keeping everyone safe and avoiding lawsuits. Those problems never ruined any experience of mine, it was just odd at age 17 to be corralled around sometimes. If you can put those complaints aside, the experience is nearly perfect. I cannot recommend it to those who can afford it enough. For those who cannot, I empathize. I only got to go because of luck. P.S. My last experience with EXPLO was in 2018-2019, so ignore the date of experience for my review!

Delighted parent and camper! My daughter attended EXPLO Junior at Regis College last summer. She has been to many day camps, and this was by far the best. Other camps, she tolerated. This one, she couldn't wait to go. She loved everything - the activities, the staff, and the other campers. One of the staff members wrote her a sweet note at the end, saying how much he enjoyed having her in his course. The course offerings are unlike anything I've seen elsewhere - they stimulate her brain, and also get her moving and making. I can't recommend EXPLO enough. (Disclosure: I am a Board member. But my child doesn't care about that stuff, she just had a great time. :-))

Independence, Resilience, Curiosity and Fun! My kids both learned independence, resilience, empathy, and flexibility and were able to cultivate curiosity and learn all kinds of things they didn't have exposure to in school. They made friends from all over the world. Beyond grateful for the time they spent at Explo.

Well……. Well, we had a wonderful experience last year, and wanted to attend again this year. Unfortunately, we missed a document in our scholarship application and was outright disqualified. Would have appreciated a little bit of consideration.

Great camp Great camp! Fun and instructive.