During the summer, ESF camp is a home away from home for our campers. Counselors and coaches fill the role of caregiver and friend, offering constant encouragement and support. They cheer campers on as they tackle new challenges, give high-fives in recognition of their efforts, and celebrate their amazing talents and accomplishments. The ESF team serves as role models, mentors, and teachers to our campers while building community at camp.

Community is one of our 8 ESF Virtues that foster character muscles in our campers. We celebrate and build community while encouraging friendships, teamwork and sportsmanship. Our summer-long service learning initiatives provide opportunities to focus on local and global communities, with an emphasis on empathy and service to others.

Jen Evans, who has been Day Camp Director at ESF Haverford for the past four years, has sons who attend our camp. She said, “ESF is more to us than just a summer camp, it is family. Every summer, for 9 weeks, the boys go to a place where they feel safe, welcomed, and fully supported. They learn to take risks and trust their peers. The coaches become their best friends, and they end the summer bursting with love and pride. There is no better way we can imagine spending our summers, and we are so thankful for the unforgettable memories.”

ESF Haverford site director Rob Dieckert couldn’t agree more. “The kindness our counselors and coaches show toward our campers foster connections and create such a strong bond. I see it year after year!” said Dieckert. “It’s just such a transformation! At the beginning of the summer, campers come into camp not knowing their counselors and coaches. At the end, there is such a buzz and sense of excitement when you see a camper ask for their favorite team member’s shirt, name tag, Bravo Zulu, or ESF cap. It’s moments like these that fuel the happiness and positive energy at camp!”

The bond between campers and the swim instructors on our Aquatics team is especially strong. “Learning to swim is a very important life skill. Campers come to us with various levels of ability and work very hard to progress through our developmental skill levels. The unique sense of trust that develops in this environment enables campers to feel secure and confident in the water. They’re willing to try new things because they know they are safe,” said Dieckert.

These strong connections often inspire campers to become counselors themselves. Meg Frantz, a Day Camp Counselor, was also an ESF camper growing up. “I looked up to my counselors so much when I was a camper, and I wanted to be that role model for someone else,” Frantz said. “As a camper, I looked forward each year to meeting my counselors at Family Orientation, performing in the camp shows, playing all different sports, swimming, competing for the Spirit Stick or Oracle, and so much more. ESF was, and still is, such a happy and positive environment that it made every moment at camp fun and memorable.”

Just as Meg asked her favorite counselors for their name tags, Bravo Zulus and ESF shirts at the end of the summer, now she has campers asking for hers. It’s a bond that continues year after year, as counselors give campers the support and encouragement to grow while having fun at the same time.