ESF Summer Camps has been a vital influence in summer camps since it was founded in 1982. The ESF Dream was an inspiration of brothers Michael and Bill Rouse. The brothers’ motive was to create a camp filled with non-stop action and pure fun for children of all ages. Michael and Bill created their first camp for children in the Summer of 1982 at The Haverford School in Haverford, PA. The two-week camp was sold-out and so the idea for ESF Summer Camps (which stands for Education, Sports, and Fun) was born.

After that summer, the Rouse brothers continued developing a series of summer camp programs. Their motivation? “The letters we received from parents that told us how our camp had changed their children’s lives, how we helped them learn, and how they discovered experiences that they enjoyed and excelled in,” says Michael. The rest is history. Today the letters keep pouring in, and Michael, Bill and the ESF Team continue to be driven by the desire to create wonderful experiences for children of all ages.

As the reputation of ESF began to spread and as a few of ESF’s families moved away from the Haverford area, requests started coming in to open camps at additional locations. As a result, over the past 20 years, we have opened additional camps at prestigious institutions which include The Episcopal Academy (Devon, PA), Norwood-Fontbonne Academy (Chestnut Hill, PA), Montgomery School (Chester Springs, PA), Rosemont College (Rosemont, PA), Girard College (Philadelphia, PA), The Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville, NJ), Moorestown Friends School (Moorestown, NJ), Greenwich Academy (Greenwich, CT), Trinity College (Hartford, CT) and Gilman School (Baltimore, MD). In 1997, we were also selected by the Philadelphia Phillies to direct their baseball camps for children and adults in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Florida.

Those who attend ESF understand that ESF is far more than just a season at camp. It is a place where campers feel at home their very first year, where new experiences can be tried and old skills improved. At ESF, our campers learn, have fun, realize their talents and dreams, and string together a series of memories that will last a lifetime. Our traditional values and goals are reflected in every aspect of our camp. From our carefully planned programs and premiere facilities, to our emphasis on individual achievement in a family atmosphere, ESF is truly a special place for our campers and their families. That is why such a high percentage of our families return year after year.

As ESF has grown, Michael and Bill have assembled a team of dedicated professionals who remain in the forefront of their respective fields and are motivated by the same passion for superior performance and q uality service that has characterized ESF since it’s inception. Together, the ESF Team continues to keep the dream alive and bring ultimate adventures to children of all ages. Over the years, we have witnessed thousands of children complete their camp experience with us; an experience rich in tradition that has expanded their imagination, developed their self-confidence, and kindled their adventurous spirit. We are an organization that works to make a difference in people's lives.