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ESF Summer Camps at Gilman School
3.0(10)3.0 out of 5 stars, 10 reviews Baltimore, MD
About ESF Summer Camps at Gilman School
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.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Working parents needing reliable and flexible extended childcare.Children who thrive with a diverse curriculum and multiple activity choices (sports, arts, swimming).Kids looking for opportunities to make new friends and build social confidence.Families seeking a camp with structured skill-building activities like swimming lessons and martial arts.Generally suitable for children looking to develop social skills and engage in varied activities.
Why families love it
- 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.
Insider tips
- 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.
Good to know before you go
- 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.
- 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
- No specific accommodations mentioned in reviews.
- Safety
- Reported lack of staff training and ineffective handling of "rampant bullying" raises significant concerns regarding child safety and well-being.
What parents say
"My 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!!"
9 months ago
"Great 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."
9 months ago
"Very 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."
a year ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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