Summer 2025

Registration

Financial Aid

The Graceanna Hawley Scholarship Program & The Philip Hawley Fund

History of the Funds

Over the years, Graceanna Hawley created a generous program of scholarship assistance that has helped hundreds of members attend the conference.

In 2010, the Northfield Conference honored her by naming the existing scholarship program after her. At that time, she had recently resigned as the conference’s beloved Registrar and Treasurer after more than five decades of service. During this time, she single-handedly managed our relationship with the Northfield-Mt.Hermon School and helped us develop a sustainable financial model that has responded to changes in conference numbers and circumstances.

In addition, she established the Philip Hawley Fund in memory of her husband, who often joined her at the conference. She asked that it be directed toward helping folks who need more assistance than our scholarship program provides.

The Conference generally awards up to 50% of the cost of room and board to applicants who have registered for the full week of the conference and applied for financial aid by May 22nd. Depending on funds allocated, applications received after this date may or may not receive aid. Applicants who send in this form before May 10th will receive confirmations about their assistance within a few days.

To apply for financial assistance for the June conference please send an email to the Registrar and Treasurer with FA and your last name in the subject line. Include the names and ages of the folks you’re applying for and the percentage of aid that you’re requesting. Please summarize your reasons for requesting assistance.

Step 3

Dietary Needs

This step is optional

Please familiarize yourself with NMH’s Food Policy.
If needed, please fill out this form:

Cathy Grisby is our Food Liaison with the kitchen. All feedback must go through her and not directly to the kitchen.

Step 4

Newcomers

We are so happy that you will be joining us this summer. Here is extra information that may be helpful to you. Before you arrive at Northfield, please take the time to read the Newcomer’s Booklet.

We look forward to seeing you at the newcomer’s meeting at 4:00 pm on Saturday. Location is to be determined. Here you will learn the ins and outs of Northfield as well as connect with other Newcomers and your Buddy. Your Newcomer Coordinator is Ellie Weinstein. She can be reached at ellieweinstein@gmail.com.

‘Families’
Every morning we meet in small groups that we call ‘Families’ to get to know each other, to talk, to share, to play. “Families” are intergenerational. Please let us know of anyone at the Conference to whom you are very close or related to, as you will not be placed in the same group. Scott Giarla, head Coordinator, will receive this information.

Hello Northfield Families with Children!

What to Pack:
Be sure to bring clothing suitable for outdoor activities—whether it’s sunny, rainy, hot, or cool—as we aim to spend as much time outside as possible. Don’t forget sunscreen and insect repellent!

Children’s Program:
Available for children aged 3 to 13. If your child is under 3, a babysitter is required during morning hours (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM). You’re welcome to bring a babysitter from home, and if you do, the Conference will waive their registration fee.

Teens aged 14 and older are invited to join the adult morning schedule, which includes Conference Hour and Family time.

Important Parent Meeting:
There will be a required meeting for all parents, children, and staff on Sunday at 8:00 AM in the Dining Hall. Please bring your breakfast. We’ll introduce the staff, review the daily schedule, and go over the Conference ground rules related to families with children. This is also a time to share any special considerations (such as health or dietary needs, medications, etc.) and to ask last-minute questions.

Step 5

Evenings for Families with Children

To help parents enjoy evening activities, the Conference pays for hall-monitors in the children’s dorm between 8 pm and 11 pm. The hall-monitors are not responsible for putting children to bed. Parents must return to their rooms by 11:00 pm or share this responsibility with other parents on your floor. Please fill out this form below by June 1st.

The Daily Routine

9am-12pm: The Children’s Program begins at 9 am where they meet their group at Blake.

Beveridge Hall is the “base camp” for children the activities begin. Snack is served at 10 am. Children should bring only what is necessary, as we move around and items can get misplaced. Water is supplied during snack time, and water bottles are encouraged as we will often be outside and on the go. Children are welcome to bring a small backpack for personal items. Sunscreen and bug spray should be applied in the morning before the program begins. Bug spray should be applied outside and be fragrance-free.

The Conference does not offer organized care for children in the afternoons.

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Organized sports and games (basketball, soccer, Frisbee, capture the flag, etc.) are offered to all after lunch.

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Parents/guardians can attend multigenerational workshops. Should parents or guardians wish to attend adult only workshops they can hire local babysitters, interested conference teenagers or, as most often done, share childcare responsibilities with other families. Note: Multigenerational workshops may require that an adult accompany children under 10.

The indoor pool (with lifeguards) is open the following hours. Sun, Mon, Wed: 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm; Tues, Thurs 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm. The times may vary depending on the lifeguard availability.

Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Feel free to bring sports equipment from home for your kids to share with others during any free time. Bicycles, scooters, skateboards, roller blades, tennis racquets (yes- there are courts!), etc. may be used in pre-approved areas. Helmets must be worn.

Parents can network ahead of time with other conference parents, new and returning, on the Facebook page.

The indoor pool (with lifeguards) is open the following hours. Sun, Mon, Wed : 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm; Tues, Thurs 1 pm – 3:30 pm.

Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Sacred Circle 6:45 pm – 7:30 pm

Children are both welcomed and encouraged to attend our daily “Sacred Circle” gathering, and are expected to listen and respect the sacredness of our shared community time. We ask that parents/guardians supervise their children during Sacred Circle.

8:00 pm – 11:00pm

The Conference pays for hall-monitors in the children’s dorm between 8 pm and 11 pm. The hall-monitors are not responsible for putting your children to bed. Parents must return to their rooms by 11:00 or share this responsibility between parents on your floor.

Note to Parents/Grandparents About Children’s Safety

The Mount Hermon campus is a remarkable facility for a family conference: it has playing fields, an olympic swimming pool, endless grass, little traffic, great food, and wonderful places to play and be outside. As those of you who have been to the conference know, there is an incredible variety of activities for young and old alike.

Parents/ guardians are responsible for the safety of their children at all times during the conference. The Conference provides supervision for children aged 3 to 13 during the morning program from 9 am to 12 pm and may assign hall-monitors in the dorms in the evenings as needed. At all other times parents are required to supervise their children. This responsibility cannot be transferred to others, to the Conference or school.