Camp Office: 301-493-2525 IS SPENDING YOUR SUMMER AT ESF CAMPS! 2024 CAMP HANDBOOK THE ACADEMY OF THE HOLY CROSS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR CAMP AT LAUGH TOGETHER LEARN TOGETHER GROW TOGETHER
Dear ESF Families,
At ESF, our mission is to provide the finest education, sports, and fun experiences that ignite optimism and happiness in young minds and those young at heart. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to watch your campers grow and flourish, and we hold the responsibility of caring for their health and well-being with the utmost privilege
We are more than just an organization or a company; we are a team of extraordinary individuals driven by our Core Values: Dreamers, Believers, Achievers, Learners, and Doers. These values are the foundation of everything we do, shaping our approach and guiding our commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others
This year, we are proud to introduce the concept of “MAX JOY” to our community. MAX JOY represents our unwavering desire to live life to the fullest It is more than just a lifestyle; it’s an ideology, an attitude, and a way of embracing every moment. For over 43 years, ESF has been home to individuals dedicated to maximizing their own joy and the joy of others. Living the MAX JOY lifestyle is about creating a tapestry of unforgettable memories, cherishing high-quality experiences, and celebrating the sparkle and shine of each precious moment.
Now, as we approach another summer, we eagerly anticipate reuniting with your family We deeply value your continued support and appreciate the opportunity to spend the summer with your child The wait is almost over, and the countdown has begun! If there is anything we can do to ensure you have the most enriching ESF camp experience, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at wecare@esfcamps.com or call us anytime at 1-800-529-CAMP (2267)
Our commitment remains unwavering—to deliver a summer filled with extraordinary experiences that enable your campers to discover the joys of the season and embrace their ultimate “MAX JOY” by having fun, playing together, learning new skills, and forging lifelong memories with friends
We eagerly await your arrival!
See you soon!
MICHAEL J. ROUSE
Executive Director & Co-Founder
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2024 CAMP HANDBOOK
5 5 5 5 5 5 Daily Operations Lunch, Snacks & Refreshments Hydration ............................................................................................................ Outdoor Facilities ............................................................................................ Inclement Weather Protocol Swimming Sunscreen Tips
What to Bring/Wear to Camp
Drop Off & Pick Up Extended Day Services .................................................................................. After Care............................................................................................................. Prevention & Surveillance Mandatory Medical Clearance Medication........................................................................................ Family Commitments..................................................................... Code of Conduct............................................................................. Visitors
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Table of Contents
Camp Office: Camp Email: Camp Website: 301-493-2525 | holycross@esfcamps com | esfcamps.com/bethesda 7 7 8 8 8 8 10 12 12 12 12
PREVENTION/SURVEILLANCE
MANDATORY MEDICAL CLEARANCE
Duetostatehealthguidelines,campersmaynotattend campwithoutacompleted2024MandatoryMedical Clearanceform.
Clickheretodownloadamedicalclearanceformforyour healthcarepractitionertocompleteandsign Allmedical clearanceformsarerequired.
MEDICATION
Ifyourchildwillbetakinganymedicationatcamp,pleasemake sureyourHealthCareprovidercompletestheMedication ConsentSectionoftheMedicalClearanceform.
ESFNursesaretheonlyteammemberswhocanaccept medicationandcanonlyacceptmedicationforwhichwehave authorizedmedicationconsent
MedicationmustbegivendirectlytoourCampNurseon/before yourchild’sfirstdayofcamp.
Medicationmustbeinitsoriginalcontainerwithyourchild’s nameontheprescriptionlabel.
Anursewillbeavailableon-siteatalltimeswhencampisin operationandourCampDoctorwillbeon-callduringthecamp day
FAMILY COMMITMENTS
Inordertomakesurethatthissummerissafeandenjoyable foreveryone,weaskourfamiliestopartnerwithustoprotect ourcampcommunity.
Submityourchild’sMedicalClearanceFormsaspartofthe registrationprocess
CommunicatedirectlywiththeESFCampNurseopenlyabout anyhealthconcernsorillnesses.
FollowallESFpoliciesandprocedurestosupportahealthy community
CODE OF CONDUCT
ESF encourages fun, friendship and safety in a positive atmosphere. We have established behavior guidelines that revolve around the “Three R’s” that all campers, families and staff follow: Respect for yourself. 1. Respect for others. 2. Respect for our camp environment. 3.
VISITORS
Visitors will be allowed for Summer 2024 All visitors must be pre-approved by the Site Director, Assistant Site Director, Nurse or Administrative Specialist and must check-in at the Camp Office.
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COOL KIDS ZONE
IT’S COOL TO BE KIND
SAFE CAMP SITE
DAILY OPERATIONS
LUNCH, SNACKS & REFRESHMENTS
Optional Lunch
We offer an optional Lunch Program for an additional cost Preregistration will be available through your online account The cutoff for ordering lunch for the following week of camp is Wednesday of the prior week. Please note: campers with documented food allergies* may not participate in the lunch program.
*Campers with documented food allergies will need to bring their own lunch and snack to camp since our food service provider cannot guarantee meals or snacks that are peanut-free, tree-nutfree, free from other common food allergens (dairy, gluten, soy, wheat, etc ), or free from any cross-contamination
Bringing Lunch from Home
Campers who wish to bring lunch from home should bring a lunch in an insulated bag/cooler to keep food items cold Be sure to mark lunches with your child’s name and group clearly.
Snacks and Water
ESF will continue to provide all campers with prepackaged individual snacks. Campers should bring their own refillable water bottle to camp each day, as well as a back-up water bottle Designated refill water stations will be available throughout camp and managed by camp staff.
HYDRATION
It is important that our campers stay hydrated, and we encourage them to drink water throughout the day and each night before camp.
Campers should bring their own refillable water bottle to camp each day
Designated water refill stations will be available throughout camp and controlled by camp staff
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OUTDOOR FACILITIES
The majority of your camper’s day will be outdoors Please ensure your child is dressed comfortably for outdoor weather.
INCLEMENT WEATHER PROTOCOL
Campwillbeopeneveryday;rainorshine
Campersarebroughtindoorsatthefirstsightoflightning/sound ofthunderandwillbekeptindoorsuntilitissafetogooutside.
Camperswillbekeptintheirdesignatedgroupswhileindoors andremaindistancedfromotherbunks/groups/teams
SUNSCREEN TIPS
Besuretoliberallyapplysunscreentoyourchildinthemorning beforecamp Useawaterprooforwater-resistantsunscreenwith SPF30+.
Duringthecampday,camperswillbesupervisedwhilereapplying sunscreenduringdesignatedtimes.
Asunscreenapplicationstationwillbeestablishedinadesignated publicarea,adjacenttotheHealthOffice/AreawhereESFCamp. FirstAidPersonneloraDirectorcanoverseetheapplicationof sunscreenbydesignatedESFTeamMembers
SWIMMING
ESFhasresearchedandincludedbestpracticesfromthefollowing organizations:AmericanAcademyofPediatrics(AAP),USA Swimming,USSwimSchoolAssociation,AquaticsCoalition,American CampAssociation(ACA)andAmericanRedCross
INSTRUCTIONALSWIM
Designatedstaffwillbeonthepooldecktomonitor protocolsandtrafficflowinpoolarea
Properpoolchemistrywillbemaintainedandchecked throughouttheday.
Progressreportswillbesenthometofamiliesfor:
a.MiniCampDivision
b.DayCampDivision
c.SportsLab–1stGradersOnly
RECREATIONAL SWIM
Camperswillremainintheirassignedbunk/groups/teamsfor RecreationalSwim.
Camperswillreceiveaninitialdeepwatersafetytestto assesstheirskilllevel.
Lifeguardsarebothinwaterandondeckensuringpool safetyandcamperdistancing
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WHAT TO WEAR & BRING + LOST & FOUND
WHAT TO WEAR TO CAMP
WHAT TO BRING TO CAMP
Sunscreen
Lunch and a Drink Change of clothes
Specialty Major and Tech Camps Do Not Swim (labeled with name) in an insulated lunch box or cooler (unless you are enrolled in our Optional Lunch Program)
Towel
Backpack, tote bag, or duffel bag
ADDITIONAL ITEMS
FOR SPORTSLAB:
1.Baseball glove
2 Soccer Socks
3.Shin Guards (on select days)
WHAT NOT TO BRING TO CAMP
Pool shoes/ sandals
Please be on the lookout for a weekly reminder to check our camp office for any lost & found items
PHONE OR TABLET
TO PROMOTE A HEALTHY CAMP ENVIRONMENT WE ASK THE FOLLOWING:
No cell phones & electronic devices at camp.
If you have an urgent message for your child, please call the camp office.
ESF is not responsible for any electronic devices brought to camp.
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Hat T-Shirt Shorts Sunscreen Socks Closed toe shoes Swimsuit
ELECTRONIC GAMES CHEWING GUM CAMERA
CELL
*PLEASE LABEL
BELONGINGS*
ALL
DROP OFF & PICK UP
ESF’sdrop-offandpick-upproceduresaredesignedtobesafe, easyandconvenient
Ourstaffwillbetherewhenyoupullupandtheywillopenthe cardoor.
Wehaveseveralsecurityproceduresinplaceforthedrop-off andpick-upprocess,andyouwillbeemailedaPickUpCard priortoyourchild’sfirstdayofcamp
WeencourageParents/Guardiannstoremainintheirvehicles.
Just A Few Reminders
YourPick-UpCardwillincludeapick-uptimeforregularpick-up (doesn’tincludeClubOT).
YourPick-UpCardwillbeemailedtoyoupriortocamp Tomakecarlineassafeandefficientaspossible,pleaseprintyour Pick-UpCardandplaceonthedashboardofyourvehicle.
Nocamperwillbereleasedtoanyindividualwhoisnotlistedonthe authorizedpick-uppermissionreport.
Pleasereview,updateandconfirmyourpick-uppermissionsfor2024 inyouronlineaccount.
Pleasedon’tuseyourcellphoneforpersonalusewhilewaitingincar line.
Early Pick Up
Please call the Camp Office to arrange early dismissal (must be prior to 2:30 PM). In the event your child will be leaving early, please call the Camp Office and a staff member will meet you in carline Please refer to our Visitors' Policy on page 5.
Late Camper Arrival
In the event your child will be late, please call the Camp Office and a staff member will meet you in carline Please refer to our Visitors' Policy on page 5.
EXTENDED DAY SERVICES
Extended Day is offered before and after camp Pre-registration is required through your online account. Drop-in service is unavailable.
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