ESF Team Members Share Their Stories!
Gene Coletta
The Haverford School
During his first week of camp, I took notice that one of my day campers (we were the oldest day camp group—8-year-olds) wouldn't swim with the rest of the campers during our time at the pool. It wasn't that he was unable to swim; it was that he was scared to put his head under water. I spent time each day with this particular child in the shallow end - usually encouraging him to overcome his fear - but even more importantly, trying to understand the reason behind his fear. As the summer progressed, and I continued to spend more and more time with him in the pool, he began making promises to me such as going under water for 1 second, then 2, and so on. However, I began to realize that these promises were empty.
The next week, I decided to talk to his mother about this behavior and told her what I had been doing with him during swim time. I told her that I wanted to continue working with her son (in an attempt to help him overcome his fear), and she told me to go for it. She also told me that it was starting to become a social problem for him, since all of his friends would go swimming, reaching the point where he would decline invitations.
That week I started asking him more questions as to why he had this fear--to which he responded, "I'm afraid of drowning." After thinking for a couple days of the best approach to this issue, I finally came up with a method that I thought may work. The next day I showed him that I would go under water and that I'd be okay when I came back up. Now that he saw that I could do it and be okay, he was eager to participate. Our deal was that I would go underwater for 10 seconds and, in return, he would go under water for 1 second that Friday. He was still a little scared, and he agreed to go under only if I held him as we took the plunge. I did...and we did...and it was amazing! We formed a friendship from this single event. Because of the impact that I had on him, I have become close with his family and still manage to find time to see him once in a while!
It's truly amazing what can be accomplished when you show a child that you believe in him. Encouragement and trust go a long way!
Travon Morgan
Gilman School
As part of the Gilman Aquatics Staff, I met a Sports Camper by the name of Sam during week 2. Sam is a very likeable little guy and always smiling, even if something doesn't work out for him. I worked with 8 wonderful boys that week and Sam said to me, "I never passed the deep water test and I would like to pass so I can hang with my best friend in the deep end." I told Sam that me and the other 7 boys would work on all the strokes to refine all of their skills, but specifically the strokes required to pass the deep water test. Sam agreed and the other boys made me extremely proud because they supported him tirelessly.
Friday came and Sam attempted the test. He made it 15m and had to stop because he was too tired to complete the test. I pulled Sam to the side, as he was visibly frustrated, and consoled him. Most importantly I showed him how far he had made it up the pool and we would aim to go a little further the next time. Well, the next time came, and Sam made it 20m, the next, 25m.
After several weeks had passed, I decided to send a Camper-O-Gram to Sam and his family, so that the family could be involved in the process of encouraging him. During week 7, Sam came back and told me that he received the message, but informed me that he wouldn't be able to take the test the upcoming week because he was going to see Cal Ripken, his baseball favorite player, inducted into the Hall of Fame. I told Sam that when he did come back, the other guys would stand on the side and cheer him on as he took the test. Again, the guys did just so, and, in fact, one volunteered to swim with Sam. I thanked this camper, but I wanted him to cheer along with the others. Sam swam 10m, 15m, 20m, 25m...35m, 45m, until he made it up and back. But, of course, he was tired with the treading of water still to come.
Huffing and puffing, Sam made it through 15 seconds, 30seconds, and I thought he was going to go under, but he reached the required 60 seconds! Sam had PASSED the deep water test! The boys in his group cheered and were so elated with his triumph. As I helped him to the ladder, Sam said, "That was my thirteenth time trying to pass the test, and I passed! I thought 13 was an unlucky number!"
For me, I saw myself as the "teacher" in my favorite quote:
A Mediocre Teacher Tells
A Good Teacher Explains
A Superior Teacher Demonstrates
A GREAT Teacher INSPIRES!
His, and his group's success, was very fulfilling for me. I could not have been more proud to swim Sam to the ladder and have the privilege of snapping the deep water band onto Sam's arm!
Will Melvin
Norwood-Fontbonne Academy at Chestnut Hill College
This past summer I was the Pathfinders’ counselor, our oldest Senior Camp group. Being the oldest group’s counselor comes with certain special responsibilities, not the least of which is participating in the camp sleepover.
The sleepover is a time for the oldest group to spend the night at camp with their friends and counselors. As I had a hand in the planning of the event, I was overjoyed to see how much the campers enjoyed the sleepover, especially the scavenger hunt. Some said that it was the best time they had all summer. That single event helped to unite the oldest group for the rest of the summer
Since the event went so well, I wanted to capture it in someway. It would be a lasting memory for that group and it would also give the younger groups something to look forward to. With that in mind, I created a poster montage of the scavenger hunt highlights and pinned it to the Pathfinders’ sign. This created a special buzz for the older campers, as they gathered around the sign at morning assembly. The smiles on their faces were priceless. Moreover, the younger groups asked them questions about their night and became excited for future summers at ESF. The oldest group became role models.
This experience sticks out to me for two reasons. First, I will never forget how much fun my campers had at the sleepover. Their laughter and their big smiles are constant rewards for the hard work we put in at camp. Further, the bond created that night was something that lasted for the rest of the summer. Secondly, this experience showed me the rewards of going the extra mile for your campers. Constantly thinking of ways to make camp fun can create everlasting memories for campers. And that is what ESF is all about.
Joe Leach
The Episcopal Academy
As the summer of 2005 started to inch closer, I was in need of a summer job. I was surfing the Web for camps with a focus on sports and fun. Low and behold I got a hit from a camp called Education, Sports and Fun (ESF). I started to read about how the camp started and its many locations and offerings. I realized this could be a great opportunity and a change of pace, as I work with children with disabilities during the school year. So I decided I would give it a shot and filled out an application with the intent of hopefully becoming a Sports Camp Coach.
I remember making my way to ESF Headquarters for my interview and being in awe. There was so much going on and all the pictures on the walls showed smiling and happy campers and Team members. The questions and info in the interview all pointed to an organization that truly only wants the best of the best. As the interview went on, it was brought to my attention that all the Sports Camp coaching position had been filled. I could, however, be a Sports Specialist for Senior Camp at The Episcopal Academy.
After attending Team Training at The Haverford School, I knew ESF was special. Team members were extremely friendly and sincere. As the Dry Run took place, I saw that ESF places safety for campers and Team in the highest regard. And at the slideshow at the end of the summer, I realized that many of those photos I saw on the wall in Headquarters truly are real! For the past 3 summers I could look back and find something almost every day that made me smile. There may have been some rough spots like pushing out cars in the mud or cleaning up a hydro toilet, but the great days always outweighed the not-so-good days!
Rachel White
Gilman School
My name is Rachel White and I am currently a sophomore at Bloomsburg University majoring in Elementary and Special Education. This summer working at ESF was the best job I have ever had. I loved the hands on experience with the kids. I learned so much from 7-8 year-old children than I could have ever imagined. I enjoyed going to work and I even waking up every morning at 7:30am to see everyone! I grew so close to the children that I worked with, more than I thought I would. They taught me so much about patience and fun and encouraged me to want to be a teacher more than ever. I loved making my tribe smile and laughing with them all day. It was an experience that I will never forget.
I also really enjoyed working with my fellow co-counselors. We were completely different but I couldn't have been happier with the people with whom I was paired. The experience with them taught me a lot about teamwork. I made a lot of friends throughout ESF Gilman and I still talk to most of them. At times this job was hard because it had early hours and screaming children, but it was all worth it. For the experience that I gained, I would do it all over again. Finally, working with Stephanie and Greg was amazing! They are two great people!
Kevin Scholla
The Phillies Baseball Academy
I have coached for The Phillies Baseball Academy since 2005. PBA, and ESF as a whole, is all about teaching young people the importance of teamwork and how to do things the right way. One story always pops into my head whenever I think about that mission.
Every week at PBA we spend part of the final day holding skills competitions. Kids take part in several events in the hope of winning the coveted “gamers” (Phillies pins that campers usually display proudly on their caps). Back in 2006, one of my campers named Grant went on a torrid hitting streak and walked away with the Home Run Derby title. Afterward, when Grant was presented with his gamer for winning, he did something that surprised many of us and made all of us quite proud. Even though he spoke all day about his desire to win a gamer, Grant gave his award to another camper--his friend, Henri. Grant explained, "Henri was cheering me on during the Derby and I couldn't have done it without him. He helped me win."
This type of selflessness is not always seen in today's world. We can all learn from this act about what is really important when it comes to sports, friendship and life. I like to think PBA and ESF help instill important values in the lives of children. This story proves it.
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