East Campus Updates from Director Ben Taylor ’99, G’16

Springfield College Director of East Campus and Outdoor Programs Ben Taylor ’99, G’16.
Springfield College Director of East Campus and Outdoor Programs Ben Taylor '99, G'16 recently took some time to update our campus community describing how East Campus plays such an important role in enhancing the Springfield College experience for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends.
Question - What does programming look like at East Campus in the fall?
Ben Taylor - East Campus experiences one of its busiest seasons during the fall with program offerings. At the conclusion of Camp Massasoit there is a quick turn in focus to program delivery to programs geared towards the opening of the academic year. Playing host to athletic teams within Springfield College and outside colleges and high schools fills most of the remaining days in August. We support the delivery of PreCamp and NSO as a facility destination as well. September is most focused on academics, hosting classes, teaching classes and supporting academic programs. As Student Life programs launch we do a number of teambuilding programs with those groups. October is our busy stretch with external programs especially. Most days of the month are filled with public school groups coming to Springfield College for a variety of services and experiences. We work with corporate groups and continue to support SC programs and events as well. This trend continues until the Thanksgiving break when the traditionally cooler weather sets in. East Campus continues to offer opportunities to groups for facility events and small group challenge course programming throughout the cooler months. In a year East Campus will play host to as many as 160 events, many of which occur during the fall months. When we include academic class offerings that are hosted at EC, primarily on Tuesdays and Thursdays, there are very few quiet days on property.
Question - What do you enjoy most about helping lead East Campus?
Ben Taylor - Do what you love, love what you do. East Campus has been a place that I am passionate about from day one and continue to be today. I love the day to day challenges and coming up with solutions that are beneficial for all. I get to work with like minded people and we have developed a team approach to running East Campus. Veatch, the Associate Director of EC, and I have been working together for 17 years in our current roles, and 20 years overall. We play to each other’s strengths and share the love of what we do at work. Our internal motivation to constantly innovate in programming, refine existing offerings and enhance the experience for all visitors to East Campus has been unmatched. There is a vision for this facility and the programming that happens here far into the future. I enjoy the creativity that goes into our program designs, making unique features that enhance the property and programs and working with our students. Most of the work I do is behind the scenes allowing our students the opportunity to be the face of East Campus. They run our programs, welcome our visiting groups and assist with the upkeep of the facility. It is this group that remains the focus of everything done at East Campus.
Question - What makes East Campus special to you?
Ben Taylor - East Campus is a place that provides its visitors an opportunity to grow and connect with one’s self. The programs here operate on a Challenge By Choice philosophy which allows an individual to choose their boundaries of comfort. We guide them in pushing those boundaries and engage is self-reflection as to what their perceived limitations are versus their actual limitations. As a result of this process people experience a great deal of growth. The property is used by many as a place to escape the day to day an enjoy a serene environment, exercise in nature or recreate in a state of adventure. Other college’s have outdoor centers located in beautiful locations like East Campus but Springfield College has one that is easily accessible to all students, faculty and staff. Watching these groups move through their journey at East Campus is enjoyable. They forge relationships here, sometimes rekindle old ones that stay with them years after leaving the College.
Question - Are there any exciting new opportunities for East Campus that you can share?
Ben Taylor - We are launching a long overdue restoration/renovation project for the Pueblo at East Campus. Through a generous donor and the College matching this donation we are in the planning phase of restoring the exterior of the Pueblo to its former glory. There will be more information on how our supporters from the Friends of East Campus can play a role in the project but it’s important to know their donations will support this project as well. East Campus is also gearing up to celebrate the 90-year anniversary of Camp Massasoit in the summer of 2026.
Please make your gift to the Friends of East Campus today to support purposefully designed experiential learning opportunities in an out-of-doors setting at Springfield College.