East Campus and Camp Massasoit Remain Special to the Boulden Family
At left, Michael Boulden ’96, G’98, Eliza D., and Beth Gibney-Boulden ’96, G’98, share time together on the ropes challenge course at East Campus.
By: Damon Markiewicz
Michael Boulden ’96, G’98, returned to Springfield College during Reunion Weekend 2026, reconnecting with the many people who helped make his years on Alden Street unforgettable. The visit also gave him a chance to reflect on how profoundly his time leading Camp Massasoit at East Campus shaped his life.
Boulden served as director of Camp Massasoit from 2002 to 2007, stepping into the role during a pivotal moment in the camp’s history. His foundation was strong because he had previously worked as a Camp Massasoit counselor, while Ted France ’91, G’93, led the program from 1992 to 1995, giving him firsthand insight into what a thriving, high‑impact camp experience looks and feels like. During his student days at the College, Boulden quickly realized he truly believed in the mission for both East Campus and Camp Massasoit.
“I was working in the Springfield College admissions office as an admissions counselor when I started to have discussions with Gretchen Brockmeyer, G’66; John Wilcox ’67, G’69; and Mary DeAngelo, G’84; about taking advantage of an opportunity that presented to me to step into a leadership role at East Campus and Camp Massasoit,” explained Boulden. “They all knew how much I loved East Campus, and they expressed that they felt I was the right person to take on the challenges of leading East Campus and Camp Massasoit moving forward.”
As a student at the College, Boulden honed his leadership skills while working as a Camp Massasoit counselor and facilitating groups on the East Campus challenge courses. When the opportunity arose to leave his own mark on Camp Massasoit, he drew confidently on the leadership lessons instilled in him by the mentors who shaped his time on campus.
“I was part of the student group that was working under Ted (France) during his time as Camp Massasoit and East Campus director,” explained Boulden. “I worked as a camp counselor my sophomore, junior, and senior years as an undergraduate. I also worked one year as a graduate student. I also worked at East Campus as a facilitator on the challenge courses, and helped with maintenance at East Campus. We were all about making the camp more experiential education-based and more about the outdoors. We were dedicated to making camp enjoyable for all.”
Under Boulden’s leadership, Camp Massasoit thrived, and the lively summertime buzz of young people exploring the College’s outdoor learning center became the soundtrack he cherished most.
“When I get asked what a successful camp day looks like, I usually describe that when campers are looking for you to tell you about something they did and accomplished that day, that is a great feeling,” explained Boulden. “Just as important from my perspective, a successful camp is also about camp counselors looking for help and finding ways to overcome challenges. Helping counselors find their way and talking about their plans that worked out and didn’t work out. Helping them learn from their experiences while holding them accountable, there is a lot of satisfaction in that part of camp.”
Providing the proper perspective of what Camp Massasoit means to the participating families was also very important for Boulden to express to his staff. This was a very important topic when Boulden was training counselors in preparation for the start of camp.
“During the first day of training, I had all of the counselors bring in something that was extremely important to them,” explained Boulden. “I placed all of the items in a bag for the day after they announced what it was. I explained that I had responsibility for the items, and they would get the items back at the end of the day. We did a full day of training, and we revisited the items at the end of the day. For the next 40 days of summer, I explained to the counselors that we would be taking someone’s most prized possession, their children, and I wanted them to think about how the parents would feel when they dropped off their kids for the day. This was a way to give the counselors an idea of what the parent perspective is as we went through the summer.”
As Camp Massasoit continued to blossom under Boulden’s guidance, the timing was right to talk about adding to the East Campus staff. Similar to when Boulden was approached by Brockmeyer, Wilcox, and DeAngelo, Boulden had a similar mindset when looking for the right candidates to add to the East Campus leadership staff.
“I recommended to Gretchen (Brockmeyer) that we needed to hire an assistant camp director because of the pace of everything at camp,” explained Boulden. “Ben Taylor ’99, G’16, interviewed very well and everybody on the search committee thought he would be a perfect fit. Prior to the hiring of Ben, we also hired Angela Veatch, G’07, as a graduate assistant. I am proud to say I hired the right people.”
Having worked for France during his time as director, there was a natural link being established between France, Boulden, Taylor, and Veatch, which was setting up East Campus and Camp Massasoit to have decades of solid leadership that would lead to success. The responsibility to ensure a healthy emotional experience for the campers is a big responsibility. It takes special educators to make sure the kids attending camp are having both successful intellectual and emotional learning experiences, and they are remembering those positive emotions. Positive emotional embodied experiences begin at a really young age. Boulden, France, Taylor, and Veatch, displayed a knack for handling the responsibilities that come with overseeing positive emotional embodied learning very well. It’s just one example as to why Brockmeyer referred to them as the “East Campus Angels.”
“When you see kids enjoying themselves in the picnic grove, and they are learning by doing, those are moments when you know it’s been a successful camp day. You see it and you feel it,” expressed Boulden. “There is a spirit about Camp Massasoit and East Campus that can help both mental and physical health.”
When Boulden was recently back on campus, he had the opportunity to spend time with his wife Beth Gibney-Boulden ’96, G’98, and many of their friends and classmates, as they all took a heartfelt trip down memory lane. For Michael and Beth, East Campus has always been more than an outdoor space; it’s a place that shaped them, supported them, and ultimately became part of their family story.
“East Campus is where I solidified friendships that are still active to this day, and it’s a place where Beth and I had some of our first conversations,” expressed Michael. “My best friend John and I were in the same Freshman Camp group. Thinking back, some of our favorite memories are the opening and closing camp-fires at Outdoor Pursuits. Witnessing the progress made by the students and seeing their growth. East Campus draws people into the present moment so easily. It will always have a special place in our hearts.”
During Boulden’s time as a student, he explored multiple majors, but no matter what his academic concentration was, he was always willing to stay patient during the journey because he knew Springfield College was the right place to be.
“I knew I really loved Springfield College right away, and eventually I found my major in human services administration, with a focus on how to run a YMCA,” explained Boulden. “I enjoyed learning about group behavior. It was very relatable when I was working with groups on the ropes course, or working Outdoor Pursuits, or being a part of the Leadership Training Conference (LTC).”
While recently celebrating their 30th reunion, Michael and Beth shared what makes Springfield College, East Campus, and Camp Massasoit special to them.
“With the right people, you don’t have to explain what East Campus means, it’s felt through the experiences they have at camp or through East Campus programming,” explained Michael. “Being a part of the naming of the East Campus Outdoor Learning Center and the creation of the logo, it’s a nice feeling knowing that we contributed to things that have outlasted us. Returning to the College for Reunion Weekend, it felt like we were home, but at the same time, it’s exciting to see how East Campus has advanced.”
