VIDEO: Hale Program Combines Camp Life, Academics

The following is part of a weekly series running this summer that profiles the various camps and programs offered at Hale Reservation during the summer months.

's summer programs - such as and the - are among numerous camps that descend upon the Westwood lot each year. 

But this year, a new program has sprung. 

Hale Outdoor Learning Adventures (HOLA) is a brand new program this summer that features 41 students from three Boston Public Schools: Clapp Innovation School, Henry Grew School and Russell Elementary School.

All students are heading into fourth grade, and engage in various traditional camp-style activities. But HOLA also provides an academic element that aims to fill a gap during the summer, in which several Boston area students don't have the chance to keep up with their academics. 

"We're trying to make sure that they go into the fourth grade real strong because that gap from third to fourth grade, if kids fall behind, it can be pretty harmful for the rest of their academic career," said HOLA Director Matt Altieri. "So we're doing some project-based learning with them."

Any given day includes morning games, breakfast, as well as academic lessons such as creating "How To" guides, and even data collection of certain disstances on trails and analysis of various elements of Hale's natural resources. 

"We go into the woods and see a lot of stuff. We see fish, worms, and spiders," said Jose Berihuete, 9, a student at Russel School.