OUR HISTORY

The ESF Dream continues to burn brightly, fueled by the hard work, commitment, and vision of the Rouse brothers and the ESF Team of dedicated professionals.

1982

A dream is born. The Rouse brothers, Michael (age 15) and Bill (age 11), start their first camp at The Haverford School in Haverford, Pennsylvania.

Their first camp is a two week tennis camp. The brothers set up a camp office in the family basement.

1983

The Rouse brothers extend their camp to three weeks and hold tennis tournaments on the weekends. Tennis Camp is sold-out.

1984

Tennis camp extends to four weeks. The camp is an immediate success and sells out.

1985

Tennis camp extends to six weeks and has an extensive waiting list.

Michael graduates from The Haverford School and heads to Villanova University.

1986

New concept Day Camp format for younger children (ages 4-8) is developed by Rouse Brothers which includes swimming, science, art, sports and creative expression.

1987

In addition to the Tennis and Day Camps, ESF creates a new concept Multi-Sports Camp, which features ten different sports for children ages 7 to 14. 

1988

Pro-athletes and college coaches visit the Sports Camp throughout the summer for the first time.

1989

Michael graduates from Villanova University. Bill graduates from The Haverford School and heads for Villanova.

1990

The Main Line Times endorses the camps as "The Main Line's Premier Summer Camps For Children."

A waiting list begins for sold-out Tennis Camp and Day Camp at Haverford.

1991

On June 16, ESF celebrates its inaugural summer at Norwood-Fontbonne Academy, in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, with a Day and Sports Camp.

Debbie Russo directs the Norwood Camps and later joins the company as ESF's first full-time employee.

1992

On June 15, ESF establishes camp programs at The Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, with a Day and Sports Camp.

Christine Rouse joins ESF and introduces Kids R Kids, a disabled awareness program, to all camps.

Michael Rouse is invited to tour behind the scenes at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, for three days of meetings and tours which becomes the first of many "benchmarking" trips.

1993

New concept "Senior Camp" is founded at the Haverford, Lawrenceville, and Norwood sites.

On June 21, ESF establishes camp programs at Greenwich Academy in Greenwich, Connecticut, with Day and Sports Camps. The inaugural camps sell-out and a waiting list begins.

ESF develops an Internship and Cooperative Education Program with local universities.

Greg Ackerman joins the company as first Admissions Director full-time employee.

1994

On June 20, ESF establishes camp programs at Gilman School in Baltimore, MD, with a Day and Sports Camp.

The 13th Annual Better Business Awards Dinner honors Michael and Bill for the outstanding "quality service" that has come to be synonymous with the name ESF.

ESF Team creates new concept "Mini Camp."

1995

ESF benchmarks with the Disney Company for the next 3 years.

Chris Landosky works at Lawrenceville site and later joins the company as ESF's first "operations" full-time employee.

1996

On June 24, ESF establishes camp programs at The Episcopal Academy in Devon, Pennsylvania with a Day, Sports, and Senior Camp.

1997

Premiering June 23, ESF and The Philadelphia Phillies launch The Phillies Baseball Academy at eight locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

1998

On June 22, ESF kicks off the inaugural camp season at Moorestown Friends School in Moorestown, New Jersey.

On June 29, ESF launches "Dream Camp" at Trinity College in Hartford, CT, a tuition free, scholarship camp for underprivileged youth from the Hartford community.

Due to major construction, half of The Haverford School camps relocate temporarily to Waldron Mercy Academy.

1999

On January 5, ESF moves into its own building which becomes the new "Team Headquarters" for ESF's year-round operations.

On August 21, ESF launches The Girard Sports Camp at Girard College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A one-week tuition free, scholarship camp for underprivileged youth from the Philadelphia community.

2000

On January 31, ESF launches the Dream Camp Mentoring Program at Trinity College in Hartford, CT for all campers. The program is a huge success.

The Main Line Tennis Camp relocates to Rosemont College, Rosemont, PA. due to major construction at The Haverford School. 

2001

Premiering January 17, ESF launches "The Phillies Phantasy Camp" at the Phillies Spring Training Facility in Clearwater, Florida.

ESF benchmarks with Lt. Gen. Marty Steele, USMC on leadership development.

2002

On July 1, ESF launches "Dream Camp" at Girard College in Philadelphia. The program for underprivileged children will offer a 5 week camp experience and year-round mentoring program.

2003

On June 30, ESF is selected by Trinity College's Board of Directors to direct the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) at Trinity College in Hartford, CT. This program enables teenage youth from low-income families to enhance the quality of their lives through sports and education.

ESF offers teachers the opportunity to earn credit for professional development hours in PA and NJ.

2004

ESF benchmarks with Bluechip private sector firms and creates a unique Leadership Development Program.

ESF adds Connecticut to the list of states that offer teachers the opportunity to earn credit for professional development hours.

Christine Rouse launches Acting Without Boundaries (AWB), a unique year-round theatre workshop for the disabled.

2005

On June 20, ESF launches its inaugural summer at Montgomery School in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania with a Day and Senior Camp.

Larry Bossidy and Phil Martelli are featured guest speakers at Team Leadership Conference.

ESF benchmarks with Cirque du Soleil (Creative Thinking and Community Outreach) in Montreal, CA.

2006

NYSP merges into Dream Camp Sports Camp at Trinity College with record attendance.

ESF benchmarks with The Four Seasons Hotel (Customer Service).

ESF launches the Young Leaders Program (YLP) with an inaugural class of four young adults at ESF Dream Camp Philadelphia.

2007

In November, ESF celebrates its 25th anniversary at the Phillies' Citizen Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA and invites camp alum, families and staff. ESF gets the stadium exclusively thanks to the Phillies Organization.

Dream Camp at Trinity College celebrates its 10th Anniversary!

In June 2007, ESF expands its programs at Norwood-Fontbonne Academy to Chestnut Hill College in Chestnut Hill, PA due to construction.

ESF honored as "runner up" for the Philadelphia Business Journal's "Best Places to Work Award".

2008

ESF benchmarks with the USMC Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Quantico, VA for leadership development.

ESF wins the Philadelphia Business Journal's "Best Places to Work Award".

2009

On June 15, ESF launches a new site at Georgetown Prep in North Bethesda, MD with a Day and Senior Camp.

On August 3, ESF and The Washington Nationals launch Washington Nationals Baseball Camp at Georgetown Prep.

2010

ESF launches a brand new camp - The Innovation Project - at its Haverford, Chestnut Hill, Moorestown and Lawrenceville sites.  A new ground-breaking summer experience.  The Innovation Project aims to reshape the way campers, age 10 to 16, think and learn, and brings in professional experts as teachers.

ESF benchmarked with IDEO and Stanford University D. School.

Dream Camp, Philadelphia launches a new Health and Wellness program with the help of award winning chef, Marc Vetri.  Vetri is helping to design and prepare the menu for the 250+ Dream Campers.

2011

ESF joins forces with the Philadelphia Union to launch the Union Soccer Schools, for boys and girls ages 6-14.

The Leadership Apprentice Program launches at ESF Headquarters.