Admission Process
Your life-changing summer
starts with a simple
summer camp application
Join Associate Director of Admissions, Kate Barnes as they personally guide you through every step of the EXPLO application process. With their expertise and insider knowledge, Kate will ensure that your application journey is seamless and stress-free.
Get ready to embark on an exciting adventure towards your future with EXPLO!
Step 1-Online application
- Decide which program you want to apply to.
- Complete the online application.
- Submit a tuition deposit to reserve your place in the program.
Step 2-Registration forms
Log back into your Student Portal to complete the registration forms. Enrollment will not be complete until we have these forms on file.
- Workshop + elective selection form—choose classes so we can design your perfect schedule. The workshop + elective selection form is only needed if you are attending an EXPLO 360° program.
- Watch this walkthrough video from Kate Barnes, Associate Director of Admission, outlining the process.
- Teacher recommendation—this online form only takes a few minutes for a teacher to complete and helps us get to know you. Teacher recommendations are needed only if you are new to EXPLO.
- Personal essay—we’ll send you a prompt specific to your program and want to hear why you love your chosen topic. The personal essay or reflection is needed only if you are attending a Focus Program.
- English language interview—English is the working language of EXPLO. Students who do not attend an English language-based school may need to complete a video interview with EXPLO.
Bright teens + tweens belong here
At EXPLO, learning is made real and purposeful. Students feel known, at home, and safe to take risks and make mistakes. It is important for families to acknowledge that the program may not suit every student, as it involves a mix of structured and unstructured time, requiring commitment to an active schedule, with opportunities to collaborate, listen, and experiment. The program encourages age-appropriate independence, expecting students to handle responsibilities with maturity. EXPLO values a collaborative relationship with families, and encourages families to reach out to our Admissions Team with any questions about individual fit.
Applying for financial aid
We’re committed to providing grants and scholarships to as many qualified applicants as possible. If cost is a barrier for your family, please indicate your interest in receiving financial aid as part of your online summer camp application (Step 1).
Ask us anything—we’re curious too!
At EXPLO, we love challenges—but the summer camp application process shouldn’t be one of them. That’s why our admission staff is here, eager to guide you through the process and answer any questions you have. And we do mean any, from scheduling and financial aid info to what’s on the menu in the dining halls. Talented and mighty, our Admissions team does it all.
Kate Barnes (they/them), Associate Director of Admissions + Financial Aid
I joined EXPLO full time as part of the Admissions and Financial Aid team in 2021 and have spent two summers working at the Pre-College program, in student life and managing logistics as the Assistant Director of Operations. Holding a BBA in Hospitality Management from SUNY Delhi, I enjoy bringing my creativity, people skills, and love of systems to work every day. In my free time, I love hiking, making silly furniture, and reading sci-fi books.
Matty Wildenberg (he/him), Senior Admission Counselor
I joined EXPLO in 2023 as an Admission Counselor with 10+ years of experience in hospitality. I earned a B.S. in Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts from Johnson + Wales University. Outside of EXPLO, I love learning about bread baking and New England's local flora and fauna. On any random day, I can be found behind the pottery wheel practicing ceramics or hiking a high peak in New Hampshire!
Visit or engage with EXPLO
There’s always more to learn! Come see us in person, or connect online.
EXPLO sets the bar, and no one has met it yet. We have always been impressed with the quality of staff and faculty, the huge breadth of courses and activities, the care with which every staff member approaches students and parents, the quality and variety of evening programming, the weekend trips, and the classy way in which you do everything. I wish I had more words to rave about what you do!