“Posy and her new ESF best friend Charlotte loved every part of Mini Camp. They loved splashing around in the tiny Mini Camp pool, and when the camp shows came around, they walked off the stage looking as if they had just won an Emmy. During Project Discovery they went on nature walks with magnifying glasses in their hands to look at the flowers, bugs and leaves they found. By the way they talked about them, it was as if they had gone on a safari!”

“Now after watching Gracyn go through the past few summers at camp, I’ve seen such a profound change in her. ESF has helped her develop personally, in ways that absolutely amazed me. The way I see it, she’s spending her summer learning, growing, and becoming a better person. The way she sees it, she’s making friends and having a lot of fun. Everyone is happy, and I love that.”

“Max was a part of a team in Sports Camp. He thrived and worked with his coaches and teammates to master the fundamentals and technical skills in each sport he played. He was able to try several different sports this summer. That variety gave everyone a chance to shine. When Max was playing a sport he really loved, he was able to help his teammates who might not have as much experience in it, and when he was learning a sport for the first time, his teammates stepped up to help him. That type of teamwork is something he hasn’t found anywhere else.”

“Sophia has developed her leadership skills through various traditions and opportunities that camp has provided. She has always been someone who loves to give back, and she has thrived being able to participate in the Apprentice Program where she mentors Day Campers and plans community service projects. This summer, the campers collected supplies for a local animal shelter, and it was such a meaningful way for her to showcase her values and leadership skills while having a positive impact on the community. The programs at ESF have provided my child with unique opportunities to grow and develop valuable life skills.”

“Isabella loves to try a little bit of everything. She’s really creative and full of energy. She loves science, sports, dancing, arts and crafts, games—anything that keeps her engaged and active. Every summer presents her with an opportunity to try new things and explore new programs. In Super Cool Science, she had the chance to dissect a pig heart and a cow eye, and for a couple weeks afterwards she’d walk up to everyone she met and say, ‘Hi, have you ever seen a cow eye?!’”

“Patrick grew up cooking with his grandfather, so when ESF offered Vetri Chef Academy for the first time, we immediately enrolled him. It was one of those programs that really empowers kids to learn culinary skills and techniques, like how to properly prepare foods, safely chop ingredients, and sauté vegetables. He learned multiple new recipes every day—foods like gumbo, jambalaya, soft pretzels, pizza, and cheesecake (his favorite ESF Vetri recipe). The camp sparked something in him and cooking has become his passion.”

“Caden has always been innovative. He likes to be engaged, and he’s always looking for something new and interesting. Minecraft has been a creative outlet for him since he started playing a few years ago. He gets to make things, design new worlds, improve on structures he’s already built and invent new ideas. Even with years of previous experience, his counselors were so engaging as they taught him new tips and tricks. He learned something new and exciting every day during Minecraft camp and absolutely loved it.”

“Once Patrick tried Tennis Camp for the first time, he knew that’s where he wanted to spend his entire summer. The coaches were so skilled and attentive in teaching him the techniques, the rules, the strokes, that he began developing into a real tennis player. He looked up to his coaches, and he came home talking about them every day. They were who he wanted to be – incredible, confident players. They encouraged him to improve and push his abilities while making it fun at the same time.”

“On Trainer’s first day of camp, I told the ESF team members that I didn’t think they’d ever get him into the pool. We had taken multiple swimming classes at our local pool. I could rarely get him off the wall, and when I did, he clutched onto me for dear life. The aquatics staff at ESF worked really closely with him. They all knew his name, and every day when I came to pick him up after camp, they’d be there giving him high fives and saying how great he did in the pool that day. When Trainer came home and told me he had practiced bobs one day, I honestly couldn’t believe it. Not only did he get off the wall, but he put his head underwater!”