About Sewataro

The Sewataro property is 44 acres of Town-owned land on Liberty Ledge in Sudbury — two cold water spring-fed ponds, pine groves, playing fields, and a summer day camp that has run here since 1960. Outside camp hours, the property is open space the whole town can use.

Camp Sewataro is successfully run by an independent camp operator, Scott Brody, with enrollment full each year and a wait list. Scott signed his initial agreement with the Town in February 2020 for two years. A five-year operating agreement extension is currently in place from 2022 to 2027, which outlines the revenue share with the Town and property maintenance provided by the Operator.

The second and next 5-year renewal agreement extension opens for negotation in Q1 2027, for the 2028 Summer Camp session.

What’s on the Sewataro property

A sandy-bottom one-acre swimming pond
A three-acre fishing pond (separate of the swimming pond)
Four pools, two tennis courts, and two basketball courts
A barn with five stalls, seven large shelters, and open playing fields
Room for 700 campers and 300 staff at full summer capacity

Activities include archery, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, gardening, cooking, high and low ropes, climbing tower, zip line, pottery and woodworking, and several sports — plus swimming in the pond and pools.

Why Sewataro is worth keeping

Sudbury’s Sewataro park consists largely of trails, woods, activities, and fields. Sewataro is the Town’s unique outdoor gathering place in a beautiful park setting, for residents of all ages. Beyond summer camp, the property offers daily resident access to hiking, walking, fishing, court and field sports—In the winter, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding. Several groups utilize the space currently to host events. Other communities have created similar successful spaces —Acton’s NARA Park, Wayland Town Beach, Concord’s White Pond, and Lincoln’s Codman Pool.

A little history

The land was once part of Josiah Haynes’s holdings, one of Sudbury’s original settlers, and stayed in the Haynes family until Franklin Secatore bought it in the 1930s. It was heavily forested then, with a swamp in the low ground; it took Secatore about fifteen years — with one other man — to clear the meadows at the center of the grounds. The property took the name “Liberty Ledge,” after Flag Pole Hill, the second-highest point in Sudbury and a colonial signal point in the Revolution. In the 1950s came the wells and, after nine months of dredging, the swim pond, still fed by the same underground stream.

Camp Sewataro opened for its first season in 1960, run by the three Secatore sisters — Gloria Walsh, Alba Taylor, and Paula Romano — with their father keeping up the land. The name Sewataro blends the first two letters of each sister’s last name. That first year there were 25 campers and three counselors. It grew from there into the camp Sudbury families know today.

How the Town acquired Sewataro

On June 4, 2019, Sudbury voters approved acquiring the Sewataro property in a special election — 2,561 yes to 2,196 no, a turnout of 37% of registered voters. The alternative was a 31-home residential development. Families, conservation advocates, and recreation supporters came together to keep it whole, and the Town bought the 44 acres for $11.3 million. The camp has operated since under short-term agreements with the current operator.

Holding signs in Town Center in 2019

Now, in 2026, the Select Board and the Liberty Ledge/Sewataro Advisory Committee is evaluating the property’s future. With some Town bodies expressing interest in housing on the site, the Friends of Sewataro has reorganized to preserve the property and keep the land intact.

We urge the Select Board to extend a long term operating agreement to allow the Camp to continue to successfully evolve and grow, providing much needed child care during Summer months for working families.

How does the Town use the Sewataro property?

The Town makes the property available to the public for daily use, and also offers residential recreation & enrichment programming. In addition, the Town hosts a few events each year – In the Fall, the annual Festival with 350 – 400 attendees. Local fundraising events, such as the Fishing Derby, provide fun and community engagement.

Fall Spectacular Festival will be held on Sunday, October 25, 2026 from 2pm to 4pm at the Sewataro property at 1 Liberty Ledge. It is free for Sudbury residents to join the fun!

* Petting zoo * Pony rides * Inflatables

* Face painting * Crafts * Baked goods & treats

* Creepy Crawlies with the Sudbury Board of Health

* Fun & Games with Sudbury Parks & Recreation

Sudbury Parks and Recreation announced Fall 2026 children enrichment programming, please use the link for pricing info and registration:

Intro to fishing (ages 4-10 years, Sept 26 to Nov 7th)

Nature Explorers (ages 6-11 years, Sept 26 to Nov 7th)

Puddlestompers (ages 3-5 years, Sept 22nd to Nov 3rd)

Sudbury Park and Recreation : Programs Programs & Memberships

Lincoln Sudbury Adult & Community Education hosted a family fishing clinic on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026 (5-7pm) for all ages. MA Wildlife Angler Education program brought the equipment necessary to teach the basics of baiting, casting and fishing.

LS Adult & Community Education brochure: Home – Lincoln-Sudbury Adult & Community Education

Can I use the Sewataro property daily?

Yes! Enjoy hiking or walking amongst the trees, trails and around the ponds. Walk your dog on a leash (waste disposal bags and trash cans are onsite), bike, fish (catch and release). Bring your yoga mat, picnic at a table, or simply relax on one of the benches. During the winter months, enjoy sledding, snowshoeing or cross country skiing. The property is open daily dawn to dusk, when camp is not in session. When camp is in session during the Summer, the property is open 6pm to dusk.

Can I host my event on the property?

Yes! The stunning Sewataro property may be the perfect place to host your event! There are covered pavilions to enjoy the park views, fresh air and the outdoors, without worrying about rain. Want to play some sports, then enjoy a catered banquet? Need to host an awards ceremony for 100 or 150 people? Family reunion luncheon? Outdoor wedding with dancing on a pavilion? If the Girl Scouts have plenty of space for 250 attendees, you will likely find space here. What is the cost? Currently, it is free!

For inquiries to host your next event, check our calendar & learn more: Reservations@sewataro.com

Who we are

Friends of Sewataro is a group of Sudbury residents who want the whole property kept as it is — the camp, the ponds, and the open land. We’re not against affordable housing; we think Sudbury can meet its housing goals somewhere other than Sewataro. If you feel the same way, here’s how to help.