ADVANCED SAFETY PLAN™

SINCE 1982, SAFETY is our #1 priority

A tremendous collaboration of research and expert medical input went into the creation of our Advanced Safety Plan®. This Plan exceeds recommendations by the CDC, ACA, NIH, and AAP, as well as local and state agencies, which is why for more than 40 years, ESF has been considered one of the safest camps in the U.S. We successfully returned to in-person operations in Summer 2021, serving more than 5,000 families. We will continue to adjust our plan if needed to meet recommended guidelines and requirements as we get closer to the 2022 summer camp season. Below please find ESF’s 6 POINT SYSTEM. We are confident that our in-person camp experiences will continue to be chock-full of enrichment opportunities that are action-packed and FUN!

CHECK OUT OUR 2021 CAMP SAFETY PLAN & PLAYBOOK!

DOWNLOAD PDF

ESF Camps & Experiences

COVID-19 SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT PLAN

Happy Face

Can my camper go to camp today?

(answer each question to the left)

 

ESF COVID-19 Symptom Management Chart

Download COVID-19 Symptom Management Plan (PDF)

Our 6 Point System

 

CAMPER & STAFF SCREENING

  • Pre-camp online registration health & safety questionnaire to be completed prior to the first day of camp (campers will be unable to attend camp without a medical clearance)
  • Health monitoring of all campers and staff throughout the day
  • Face coverings will be worn by campers and staff while indoors, regardless of vaccination status, for certain settings or activities not including eating, drinking, swimming or sports. Masks are optional outdoors. This will be subject to change according to CDC guidelines for the American Camp Association (ACA), and local health department guidelines
  • Awareness of exposure and ability to provide contact tracing information should it be needed

CLEANING, DISINFECTION & HANDWASHING

  • Increased cleaning and disinfection at each camp location
  • Trained sanitation team
  • Cleaning timeliness; staff to wipe down activity areas and equipment between each use
  • Equipment and supply sharing limited; disinfected daily

PREMIER OUTDOOR FACILITIES

  • Indoor and outdoor spaces throughout campus will be modified to ensure reasonable social distancing and limited gatherings of campers and staff
  • Covered and/or shaded outdoor activity areas available for instruction
  • Safe, reasonably socially distanced indoor contingency plan for rainy or heat advisory days when all campers and staff will be indoors
  • Outdoor lunch seating will be available

REASONABLE CONTACT REDUCTION

  • Campers must remain masked (regardless of vaccination status) while inside the Dining Hall until seated with their meal.
  • Activities will take place outdoors as frequently as possible and weather permitting

SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN

  • Trained Medical Staff will assess anyone with possible COVID-related symptoms
  • Quarantine area will be established prior to the first day of camp
  • Strict symptom management (outlined by the CDC) including quarantine, communication, tracing, and post-illness protocol will be enforced to prevent breakthrough symptoms of COVID-19
  • Nurse available on-site at all times when camp is in operation and Camp Doctor on-call during the camp day

SPECIALIZED STAFF SAFETY TRAINING

  • 15+ hours of pre-camp training for each staff member
  • Training throughout the summer to stay up-to-date on new and updated information from ACA, CDC, AAP, local and state authorities
  • Training content and safety protocols developed with industry and subject matter experts

Here’s What Our Parents had to Say:

“I so appreciated that staff (even if vaccinated) modeled mask wearing so that everyone was in the same boat. Our kids loved their counselors and bonded with them quickly. I didn’t expect but loved getting the weekly “reports” to see how the counselors saw our kids.”

“In a COVID world – ESF put safety first! So organized and friendly!”

“Very safe and serious about the COVID precautions.”

“My 13-year-old attended summer camp in July 2021 and really enjoyed the entire experience. The staff was super fun, the program taught him many new skills and was well organized, and the facility offered everything needed for a favorable experience. The COVID protocols were easy for parents, very effective and safe. My son made some great new friends and is excited to attend again next year!”

 

Health & Safety Subject Matter Experts

Dr. Jack Becker

Dr. Becker has been ESF’s Camp Doctor for 20-years. He is a pediatric allergist who graduated from Temple University School of Medicine and completed his Allergy and Immunology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He has held positions on the faculty of MCP/Hahnemann University, Allegheny University, Temple University and Drexel University College of Medicine. He currently runs a private practice in suburban Philadelphia and continues to hold academic titles at St. Christopher’s Hospital and Drexel University College of Medicine.

Dr. Muniya Khanna

Dr. Khanna is an ESF Subject Matter Expert, ESF Camp Parent, former ESF Staff member, and Founder/Director of the OCD & Anxiety Institute and Research Investigator at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She has been involved in some of the most important research trials in the field of childhood anxiety and OCD in the past decade. Dr. Khanna is a pioneer in web-based mental health research for anxiety disorders. Find her online programs to help children and parents manage stress and anxiety on her website: www.copingcatparents.com. Her self-help book for children, “The Worry Workbook for Kids” is available at Amazon and includes activities your child can do at home.

Dr. Jim Loehr

Dr. Loehr, or “Doc” as he is known at ESF Camps, is a world-renowned performance psychologist and author of 17 books including the national bestseller The Power of Full Engagement. His ground-breaking, science-based energy management training system has achieved worldwide recognition and has been chronicled in leading national publications including the Harvard Business Review, Business Week, Fortune, Newsweek, Time, US News and World Report, Success, Fast Company and Omni. He has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Nightline, The CBS Evening News, CBS Morning News and the Oprah Winfrey Show. His new book has just been released – “Leading with Character” – a soon-to-be best seller!