ESF Summer Camps at Gilman School
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
ESF Summer Camps offers a diverse curriculum with extensive activities and daily swimming, focusing on personal growth and social skill development. It stands out for its comprehensive activity choices and flexible extended care options, making it attractive for working parents seeking a wide range of engaging experiences for their children.
Key Highlights
- ✓Kids experience significant personal growth and overcome fears, supported by "AMAZING" coaches and counselors.
- ✓Opportunity for daily swimming, including dedicated lessons to strengthen skills.
- ✓A "plethora" of activities offered, including yoga, martial arts, music, and sports.
- ✓Provides pre- and post-camp care, enabling parents to work a full day without early pickups.
- ✓Facilitates making new friends and reuniting returning campers with their friends from previous years.
- ✓Perceived to offer "substantially more" in comparison to other camps.
Standout Features
- ⭐Extended pre- and post-camp care for working parents.
- ⭐Daily swimming opportunities with the option for swimming lessons.
- ⭐Broad range of activities, including unique offerings like yoga, martial arts, and music.
- ⭐Supportive coaches and counselors who actively help kids overcome fears and learn new things.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Utilize the pre- and post-camp care options if you require extended childcare coverage.
- →Inquire specifically about the camp's policies and staff training regarding bullying and conflict resolution.
- →Prepare your child for potential prolonged exposure to hot outdoor conditions.
- →If considering the camp for an older child, investigate "Senior Camp" specifics further due to a negative recommendation.
- →Pack extra layers or discuss pool temperature with your child, as the water is described as "freezing cold" and swim time is limited.
- →Discuss the large campus size and potential travel times between activities with your child if they are sensitive to transitions.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Reports of poor management, lack of oversight, accountability, and little to no communication.
- ⚠Significant issues with rampant bullying that camp staff reportedly do not address effectively or impactfully.
- ⚠Children spending almost the whole day outside in high temperatures (e.g., 90°F).
- ⚠Pool is described as "freezing cold" and only available for short durations (e.g., 20 minutes).
- ⚠Some counselors are reported as "not that great."
- ⚠The campus is "REALLY big," leading to long travel times between activities.
Price & Value
Specific pricing is not mentioned, but one reviewer noted that ESF "offers substantially" more than other camps, implying good value for the cost compared to alternatives.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accommodations mentioned in reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No specific information on food policies, meal plans, or outside food rules mentioned in reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •No specific information on parking availability or cost mentioned in reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •No specific information on crowd levels or busy times mentioned in reviews.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Reported lack of staff training and ineffective handling of "rampant bullying" raises significant concerns regarding child safety and well-being.
- •Conversely, positive feedback about coaches/counselors helping children overcome fears suggests some level of supportive emotional safety from individual staff members.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If your child is sensitive to prolonged exposure to high outdoor temperatures.
- • If your child falls into the "Senior Camp" age group and concerns like cold pool, poor counselors, or large campus are significant deterrents.
- • If effective bullying prevention and resolution are paramount concerns for your child's well-being.
- • If consistent, warm pool access and longer swim times are a key expectation.
- • If you require frequent and detailed communication from camp staff.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Junior Camp
Duration: Summer
Traditional Day Camp experience for younger campers.
Includes:
- •Over 60+ activities
- •sports
- •arts
- •science
- •engineering
- •technology
- •life skills
- •leadership
- •swimming
Traditional Day Camp - Intermediate Division
Duration: Summer
Traditional Day Camp experience.
Includes:
- •Over 60+ activities
- •sports
- •arts
- •science
- •engineering
- •technology
- •life skills
- •leadership
- •swimming
Senior Camp - Lower Division
Duration: Summer
Traditional Day Camp experience.
Includes:
- •Over 60+ activities
- •sports
- •arts
- •science
- •engineering
- •technology
- •life skills
- •leadership
- •swimming
Senior Camp - Upper Division
Duration: Summer
Traditional Day Camp experience.
Includes:
- •Over 60+ activities
- •sports
- •arts
- •science
- •engineering
- •technology
- •life skills
- •leadership
- •swimming
Young Leaders Program (YLP)
Duration: Summer
Program focused on life skills and leadership.
Includes:
- •Leadership development
- •life skills
- •over 60+ activities
- •sports
- •arts
- •science
- •engineering
- •technology
- •swimming
Multi-Sports Camp - Big East Division
Duration: Summer
Sports-focused camp for enthusiasts.
Includes:
- •Sports activities
- •swimming
Multi-Sports Camp - Big Ten Division
Duration: Summer
Sports-focused camp for enthusiasts.
Includes:
- •Sports activities
- •swimming
Multi-Sports Camp - ACC Division
Duration: Summer
Sports-focused camp for enthusiasts.
Includes:
- •Sports activities
- •swimming
Arts Camps
Duration: Summer
Specialty camp focused on arts.
Includes:
- •Arts activities
Science & Engineering Camps
Duration: Summer
Specialty camp focused on science and engineering.
Includes:
- •Science activities
- •Engineering activities
Technology Camps
Duration: Summer
Specialty camp focused on technology.
Includes:
- •Technology activities
Bold Summers
Duration: Summer
Camp focused on fostering leadership and personal growth.
Includes:
- •Life skills
- •leadership
Club OT Extended Day Program
Duration: Extended Day
Extended day program for campers.
Includes:
- •Sports
- •games
- •crafts
- •book club
- •drama
- •afternoon snacks
- •refreshments
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Various Special Events
Throughout the summer
A unique blend of activities, sports, and special events throughout the summer, rain or shine.
🍎Food Policy
- • Afternoon snacks and refreshments are provided with ESF’s Club OT extended day program.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Swimming is supervised by American Red Cross-certified lifeguards and instructors.
- • Safe and fun environments with state-of-the-art facilities.
📅Booking Policy
- • Sign up for Early Access to Summer 2026.
- • View your parent portal for online login.
- • Fill out a short form to request more information.
Photos
What People Say
Areas for Improvement
- Can get crowded during peak times (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Erin McCue
9 months agoMy kids absolutely loved this camp! They both grew tremendously and loved the opportunity to swim every day. It was a great chance to get them used to making new friends, and for my returning camper, to see his friends from previous years. The coaches and counselors are AMAZING and my kids told me about how they helped them overcome a fear or taught them something new. As a working mom, I loved the pre- and post-camp care opportunities to allow me to work a full work day without having to leave early to pick kids up from camp. HIGHLY recommend!!
Shawn Lane
9 months agoGreat summer camp experience for my son. He had not had a bad thing to say about it. We will definitely be coming back again next year.
A S H
a year agoVery poorly run. No oversight, no accountability, little to no communication, bullying is rampant and camp staff are not well trained, they do nothing about it to address the bullying in any impactful way. Lots of “busy” activities probably well suited for adhd kids.
Renee Nathaniel
7 years agoEnrolling my daughter into ESF Summer Camp was one of the best decisions I made. They offer a plethora of activities from yoga, martial arts, music, sports and much more. Children also have the option to swim everyday and receive swimming lessons to strengthen their skills. In comparison to other camps ESF offers substantially which makes it great place for kids.
David Gordon
2 years agoEh. Kind of good. Outside in 90 F almost the whole day, pool is freezing cold and only 20 minutes of it. Counselors are not that great and campus is REALLY big so it takes a while to get from place to place. Try it out but wouldn't really recommend Senior Camp.