WINTER 2007 - 2008|  Volume 4 : Issue 1

ESF Embarks on an Exciting New Endeavor: Family Retreat Days!

For 25 years, ESF has been providing top-notch camp experiences for tens of thousands of children.  This fall, the Executive Team broadened its horizons to extend that one-of-a-kind camp experience to families, in the hopes that they could share in the camp experience together.

On October 21st, ESF Executive Team members and several all-star summer Team members welcomed the Young Presidents Organization to The Episcopal Academy in Devon for an unforgettable day of fun.  The Young Presidents Organization (YPO) is a prestigious international group comprised of company leaders from a wide range of industries.  YPO selected ESF Summer Camps to produce a parent/child camp for one day.  ESF has previously run pilot programs for family retreat days that spanned a week, but until this had never attempted to create the camp experience in one day.  With that challenge in mind, ESF set out to defy its own expectations!

Parents and children began their day with a trademark Morning Assembly, complete with music and cheers.  Counselors were introduced to the crowd and led their groups through a day of exciting activities.  Both parents and children became campers as they climbed the high and low ropes courses, painted pumpkins, ran an oooey gooey science lab, participated in field day and sports activities, and were treated to an exciting wildlife presentation complete with a hawk, an owl, and a skunk!  Also joining the Team was Lt. General Martin Steele, who conducted a parents only discussion.  The day concluded with a 70’s-tastic awards ceremony, in which each group won a plaque for exhibiting such qualities as Teamwork, Leadership, and Respect.  Amid pumpkins, sunshine, and blue skies, ESF delivered an unforgettable day of camp for over 40 families.

According to the organization, ESF executed the highest rated event in the history of YPO-sponsored events.  Family evaluations reflected the high level of satisfaction:

“There is nothing better than spending quality time with your family in a relaxed environment!”

“Best YPO event I’ve been to in years!”

“All the details were in place.  Lots of thought and effort went into it and it showed!”

ESF could not be more proud of the exceptional day the YPO families experienced.  Through the teamwork, effort, and dedication of our amazing staff, ESF has proven to be the leader in providing premier camp experiences to campers of all ages!