For students at Eagle Hill, the end of the school day marks the beginning of something equally valuable: life in a close-knit, nurturing community. Our 5-day boarding program is a home away from home where students build connections, develop independence, and form friendships that often last a lifetime.
From the moment they arrive, students are surrounded by adults who model and support community living. “I think it’s all about teamwork,” says Jeff Leonard, co-director of the Boarding Program, “and it starts from that first weekend, with our dorm trip to Hershey Park and having fun as a group.”
Evening study halls, shared meals, and casual hangouts on campus all offer opportunities for students to grow both socially and emotionally. Independence is nurtured, not expected overnight. As Natasha Moore, co-director of the Boarding Program, explains, “the individually tailored independence program is set up for each student [and] is designed to help them grow to their maximum potential.”
“I think that for a lot of students who are either the only child, or have a big age gap with their siblings,” adds Leonard, “the dorm offers them an opportunity to really work on their social skills in a setting that is well-managed and facilitated by the adults.”
Beyond structured programming, it’s the relationships that define the Eagle Hill boarding experience: between students and their peers, and between students and faculty. Moore reflects, “The connection to our mission is so apparent in the dorm. Just seeing what happens with the kids- and also the faculty- and the relationships that they build. It’s just been an awesome experience for me.”
That sense of connection carries into every part of school life. “You see it in the interactions between dorm kids during the day program,” Moore shares. “They have each other’s backs.”
Living and working on campus has been a defining part of Leonard’s own Eagle Hill journey. “Joy and Brandon Delisle did a fantastic job of creating a family atmosphere,” he says, referencing the foundational leadership that helped shape the program. “Working in the boarding program at Eagle Hill has been one of my favorite experiences.” He continues, “When my wife and I had kids, my kids had 36 brothers and sisters living on campus… It was one big family.”
And that family spirit lasts long after students graduate. “These connections that [students and faculty] make during these long weekends or, even if it’s just a fishing trip that we’re going on,” Leonard says, “those are the critical connections that you’ll have kids showing up here 30 years later talking to you about.”
Boarding also gives students a chance to prepare for what’s next. “For many of our kids who are looking at potentially moving into a boarding program after they graduate from Eagle Hill, it’s a critical part in being successful in that next stage,” Leonard notes.
The program is designed with flexibility, too. Families exploring the option are welcome to ease in. As Leonard shares, “we have room in the dorm right now, and we are more than happy to give it a trial” of a couple days or weeks.
Whether it’s a short-term experience or a multi-year journey, Eagle Hill’s 5-day boarding program continues to offer something rare and meaningful: a structured, joyful, and deeply connected residential life experience that supports students exactly where they are, and helps them grow into who they’re becoming.
Kara Ashley is the Director of Enrollment at Eagle Hill School. Her roots in independent boarding schools run deep, and she describes the Eagle Hill boarding experience as transformative and joyful.
