Hancock Information for Students and Families

Students are expected to attend fall Hancock, though we understand if some unavoidable commitments make doing so impossible. If students cannot attend, they (or their parents/guardians) should reach out to Ms. Borman. Students must also complete the Hancock RSVP Form to confirm their participation and transportation.

Students RSVP Now

• Kingswood landline: 603-989-5556
• Jackson Elliott: 617-888-2518, jelliott@commschool.org
• Rebecca Jackman: 617-680-8682, rjackman@commschool.org
• Jennifer Borman: jborman@commschool.org
• Stephanie Poynter: 617-266-7525, spoynter@commschool.org

Note: Cell phone reception at the camp is poor, but there is a landline (603-989-5556) and WiFi (available only to faculty and staff). If you need to reach your child, we recommend calling the Kingswood landline and emailing the Commonwealth contacts above. We also encourage students to limit use of smartphones over the weekend, so please resist the temptation to text or call your child unless absolutely necessary.

Address: Kingswood Camp for Boys, 949 New Hampshire Rte 25C, Piermont, NH 03779

We are excited to return to Kingswood, a well-regarded lakefront summer camp and popular event venue well-suited for Hancock. 

Please see the Kingswood website for directions.

This year’s fall Hancock will take place from Tuesday, September 24–Friday, September 27. Classes will resume as normal on Monday, September 30.

Departure: Tuesday, September 24, 2024

• 7:30 a.m.: Day Heads and Bus Loaders arrive at Commonwealth School
• 7:45 a.m.: Food Czars and Tech Crew arrive at Commonwealth School
• 8:00 a.m.: All other students arrive at Commonwealth School (not 8:15 a.m., as previously stated)

All students taking the coach buses should be at the school no later than 8:00 a.m. (Buses will depart Commonwealth promptly at 9:00 a.m.) Be sure to contact the front office (617-266-7525) if you are sick or running late. In addition, please label all belongings—and pack a hearty lunch! The first meal served at camp will be dinner.

Alternatively, students may arrange their own transportation to Kingswood if necessary; they should plan to arrive at the camp Tuesday afternoon. Please note that students cannot drive themselves or other students. Students will indicate whether they will take the bus or arrange alternate transportation to and from Kingswood in the Hancock RSVP Form.

Return: Friday, September 27, 2024

The buses will return to Commonwealth on Friday, September 27, between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., when students will unload them per usual. We will then follow the pick-up protocol below, which returning students and families will recall from previous Hancocks: 

• When the buses arrive at school, we will notify parents and guardians via our text and email alert system with specific pick-up windows by grade; 9s and 10s will have a ~30-minute pick up window, followed by a ~30-minute pick up window for 11s and 12s. Please refrain from coordinating an earlier pick-up, because it creates unnecessary traffic on Commonwealth Avenue, and we need all students to help unload the buses.
• If the pick-up windows pose a hardship, the building will remain open until 4:00 p.m. to accommodate later pick ups. If needed, students taking public transportation may leave their bags at school over the weekend; bags must be picked up Monday, September 30.
• Students will be given the opportunity to make their own bagged lunch before we leave camp, and they can hang out at school while they wait for rides. 

Parents/guardians who pick students up at Commonwealth on Friday are asked: 

• to not park by the school along Dartmouth Street, as the buses need to park there;
• to not double-park on Commonwealth Avenue (though a quick stop is okay); and
• to confirm they have all baggage and gear. 

Alternatively, students may arrange their own transportation from Camp Kingswood if necessary; they must be picked up by 9:00 a.m. on Friday if so, checking in with a faculty or staff member before they leave. Please note that students cannot drive themselves or other students. Students will indicate whether they will take the bus or arrange alternate transportation to and from Camp Kingswood in the Hancock RSVP Form.

Because Kingswood is at a fairly high elevation, the temperature can be quite cold, especially at night. Accordingly, we want to emphasize the importance that EVERY student bring a VERY warm sleeping bag (or two!) and warm clothing.

We also strongly recommend labeling belongings, particularly duffle bags, sleeping bags, tents, and otherwise nondescript bags! 

Essential Gear

• Bagged lunch for Tuesday 
• One winter-weight sleeping bag or two summer-weight bags (Please contact Jackson Elliott if you need to borrow a sleeping bag.)
• Tent—only needed if sleeping outside
• Extra tarp—only needed if sleeping outside
• Insect repellant (one effective against mosquitoes, ticks, and black flies; also see “Health and Safety” below)
• Sunscreen
• Raincoat
• Warm jacket
• Toilet articles
• Flashlight
• Towel(s)
• Two pairs of solid shoes
• Several changes of warm clothes
• Pillow and pillow case
• High-quality mask (also see “Health and Safety” below)

Optional Gear 

• Reusable water bottle and/or mug 
• Sleeping pad
• Warm hat and gloves
• Watch
• Camera
• Compass
• Binoculars
• Musical instruments
• Books
• Games
• Sports equipment
• Plastic bags (for field clothes; also see “Health and Safety” below)
• Rapid antigen COVID test 

Gear Check/Inspection

For those camping, we strongly recommend conducting a thorough gear check as you pack: Do you have all of your tent stakes? Are there any holes in the outer tent/rain fly? Etc.

Electronic Devices

We aim to maximize social interactions at Hancock. To that end, we discourage students from bringing electronic devices, other than a phone. Some students and faculty elect to go device-free while we are there. 

Weather Forecast

Please check the weather forecast for Piermont, New Hampshire, as you pack for the trip—and note the temperature is often 5–10 degrees Fahrenheit colder at camp. If rain is likely, make sure that sleeping bags and suitcases are in labeled plastic bags so they don't get wet.

All ninth graders will sleep in faculty-assigned cabins. Tenth, eleventh, and twelfth graders will be given the option of sleeping in a cabin or tent. The school can provide some tents, if needed. All returning students will be given the opportunity to request cabin/tent groups. They will then be assigned to sleeping spaces, confirmed the week of Hancock, with their preferences taken into consideration. After arriving at Hancock, students cannot change their sleeping arrangements unless they have special permission from our “Night Owl” (evening/overnight chaperone), Mr. Letarte.

With the exception of the bagged lunch on Tuesday, which students need to supply themselves, all meals will be provided by student kitchen crews. They will prepare each meal with faculty or staff supervision in a commercial kitchen. Snacks will be provided as well.

Please note: 

• Students with severe allergies and food restrictions should coordinate their needs with Ms. Dale and Mr. Hodgkins before departure and Ms. Shu and Ms. Sundberg while at Hancock.
• Students are welcome to bring their own food if they wish, including food that meets special dietary needs. They can store perishables in the camp kitchen refrigerator as well. 
• Please do not bring any foods containing nuts or nut extracts, even personal snacks.
• Beverages, including water and hot coffee, tea, and cocoa, will be available. We recommend packing a water bottle as well as a canteen or mug for hot beverages. 

Coach buses will transport students, along with faculty and staff chaperones. Buses will leave the school promptly at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 24. Please contact the front office (617-266-7525) if you are sick or running late.

Alternatively, students may arrange their own transportation to and from Hancock if needed. Please note that students cannot drive themselves or other students. Students will indicate whether they will take the bus or arrange alternate transportation to and from Kingswood in the Hancock RSVP Form.

Note: In the event that a student becomes symptomatic and tests positive for COVID while at Kingswood, their emergency contact will be called to come pick them up. If you think you may be unable to pick up your child at Hancock, please arrange for a designated alternate driver. The student will wait in a quarantined area until their ride arrives.

Student jobs/crew assignments and daily schedules of activities will be shared with students in advance of the trip. Students may reach out to Mr. Sherry or Mr. Elliott with questions in the interim. 

In addition to morning activities, unstructured time in the afternoons, and the traditional talent show and dance, students might join faculty and staff for:

• Hiking
• Soccer
• Ping Pong
• Gab
• Card games
• Playing music (bring your instruments!)

Boating may also be available with faculty/staff supervision and depending on the weather.

Medical Care

A registered nurse will be at the camp for the duration of the trip. Students should contact the nurse or the nearest faculty or staff member IMMEDIATELY if they begin to feel unwell at any point.

We will call 911 in the case of a medical emergency. The nearest emergency medical facility is Cottage Hospital in Woodsville, New Hampshire. 

Mosquitos and Ticks

Given the recent instances of mosquito-borne illnesses Triple E (eastern equine encephalitis) and West Nile virus in New England, it is especially prudent to bring strong bug spray designed to fend off mosquitos.

• We recommend all students bring their own bug spray if at all possible, though some will be available. Repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, or IR3535 have been proven effective against mosquitoes.
• Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts.
• Limit outside activity during dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.

Ticks are also common to the woods of New Hampshire, and it is important to take precautions to limit tick exposure, including the following: 

• Pants should be tucked into socks or boots to prevent open areas for tick-to-skin contact. 
• Students should pack extra pairs of long pants and socks, insect repellent for ticks, and permethrin for treating the outside of their tent if they are going to field tent.
• Students who have been out in the fields or woods should do self-tick checks as soon as they come in, shower, and put on clean clothes. Worn field clothes should get tied up in plastic bags, and kept separate from their clean clothes. 
• Students should conduct a thorough tick check upon returning home, as ticks can remain attached for up to 36 hours.

We will remind students about procedures to prevent exposure to ticks, and we encourage families to do so, as well.

COVID

We recommend students pack a high-quality mask (e.g., KN95, N95, etc.) should the need arise. Otherwise, masks will be optional. As they would for any other school day, students, faculty, and staff must stay home if they exhibit COVID symptoms.

If an individual tests positive while at Hancock, that person will be taken to a designated isolation area, and a student's emergency contact will be called to pick them up. Our expectation is that students will be picked up as soon as possible. If you think you may be unable to pick up your child at Hancock should the need arise, please arrange for a designated alternate driver. 

Water Safety

Boating may be available with Commonwealth faculty/staff supervision, weather permitting. Otherwise, there is absolutely no going in the water without supervision.