ESF Summer Camps at The Academy of the Holy Cross
Academy of the Holy Cross, 4920 Strathmore Ave, Kensington, MD 20895
About
ESF Summer Camps at The Academy of the Holy Cross offers a wide range of activities, including acting, drama and improv, dance and cheer, digital music production, movie making, photography, and karaoke. Campers can take part in sports and games such as baseball, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, tennis, volleyball, flag football, street hockey, European team handball, pickleball, track and field, Frisbee golf, gaga, Nerf hockey, and Ultimate Games. The program also includes activities like coding, robotics, Minecraft and Roblox, Lego engineering, Littlebits, Micro:bit technology, marine biology, makerspace projects, ceramics and clay sculptures, multi-media art, fashion design, jewelry making, crafts, slime, tie dye, gardening, nature exploration, and summer reading, along with special events such as camp carnivals, foam parties, inflatable obstacle courses and water slides, water play, a Water Festival, Color Fun Run, Neon Glow Dance Party, Tropical Beach Bash, Ice Cream Party, Taco Tuesday Party, dance parties, pep rallies, award ceremonies, and theme days.
• Ages: 3–16 years old
• Schedule: June 22 – August 7, 2026
ESF Summer Camps at The Academy of the Holy Cross features instructional swimming and recreational swimming, including Free Swim Friday, supervised by American Red Cross-certified lifeguards and instructors. Additional activities include an Alpine Tower, rockwall, archery, Big Wheel Alley, Imagination Playground, Bubbleology, Cupstacking with Speed Stacks, inflatable water slides, parachute games, Morning Assembly, Spirit Stick Challenges, Captain Respectacular, Oracle Challenge, World League Championship, Movin’ Up Ceremony, Sleep Under Pajama Party, Late Night Pizza Party, camp carnivals, and a Lego Lobby. The Club OT extended day program offers specialized activities such as sports, games, crafts, book club, drama, and more, and provides afternoon snacks and refreshments.
The program describes itself as a HAPPY PLACE where every child is free to explore their curiosity and power their potential, and states that a summer at ESF will have a lasting impact on each child’s happiness, growth, and personal development. ESF refers to its programs as award-winning and notes an excellent track record of positive results. ESF uses its MAXJOY framework as a proprietary guiding philosophy, described as designed to boost confidence, deepen friendships, and ignite positivity. Every ESF camp location is supported by a full-time, onsite camp nurse with an on-call physician available at all times.
ESF Summer Camps at The Academy of the Holy Cross includes traditional day camps with Junior Camp (Mini Division for grades PreS and PreK, Intermediate Division for grades K–2), Senior Camp (Lower Division for grades 3–5, Upper Division for grades 6–8), and a leadership-focused Young Leaders Program for rising grades 9–10. Sports options include Multi-Sports Camp with the Big East Division (grades 1–3), Big Ten Division (grades 4–5), and ACC Division (grades 6–9). Specialty STEAM options include arts camps (grades K–6), science and engineering camps (grades K–6), technology camps (grades 1–7), and Bold Summers (grades 9–12). ESF operates on 12 premier locations on campuses in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, New York, Connecticut, and Florida.
The camp is celebrating 19 years in the Bethesda community, and since 2021 its camp home has been on the 28-acre campus of The Academy of the Holy Cross. The 2026 season will mark Site Director Adam Webber’s 17th summer with ESF and his first as Site Director; he graduated from Towson University with a double major in English and Cultural Studies, earned a teaching certificate from San Diego State University, and has been teaching at Gaithersburg High School for 17 years. One alum reports that ESF has been part of her life for 13 years and that it is where she has grown up.
Parent and alum testimonials describe the campus as safe and secure, with facilities suited for all activities and counselors who are positive, inclusive, and fun. Parents note that their children were able to swim every day and describe the experience as excellent and highly recommendable. Other testimonials describe ESF as a terrific camp experience run by an enthusiastic staff with diverse programs, and mention staff who are mature, professional, and passionate. One testimonial from a camper-turned-entrepreneur states that ESF empowered her to do things she never imagined, and another from a parent notes that an after-camp fencing clinic in 2010 led to her child later competing as one of the youngest in the Fencing Junior Olympics.
Last updated July 20, 2026.
• Ages: 3–16 years old
• Schedule: June 22 – August 7, 2026
ESF Summer Camps at The Academy of the Holy Cross features instructional swimming and recreational swimming, including Free Swim Friday, supervised by American Red Cross-certified lifeguards and instructors. Additional activities include an Alpine Tower, rockwall, archery, Big Wheel Alley, Imagination Playground, Bubbleology, Cupstacking with Speed Stacks, inflatable water slides, parachute games, Morning Assembly, Spirit Stick Challenges, Captain Respectacular, Oracle Challenge, World League Championship, Movin’ Up Ceremony, Sleep Under Pajama Party, Late Night Pizza Party, camp carnivals, and a Lego Lobby. The Club OT extended day program offers specialized activities such as sports, games, crafts, book club, drama, and more, and provides afternoon snacks and refreshments.
The program describes itself as a HAPPY PLACE where every child is free to explore their curiosity and power their potential, and states that a summer at ESF will have a lasting impact on each child’s happiness, growth, and personal development. ESF refers to its programs as award-winning and notes an excellent track record of positive results. ESF uses its MAXJOY framework as a proprietary guiding philosophy, described as designed to boost confidence, deepen friendships, and ignite positivity. Every ESF camp location is supported by a full-time, onsite camp nurse with an on-call physician available at all times.
ESF Summer Camps at The Academy of the Holy Cross includes traditional day camps with Junior Camp (Mini Division for grades PreS and PreK, Intermediate Division for grades K–2), Senior Camp (Lower Division for grades 3–5, Upper Division for grades 6–8), and a leadership-focused Young Leaders Program for rising grades 9–10. Sports options include Multi-Sports Camp with the Big East Division (grades 1–3), Big Ten Division (grades 4–5), and ACC Division (grades 6–9). Specialty STEAM options include arts camps (grades K–6), science and engineering camps (grades K–6), technology camps (grades 1–7), and Bold Summers (grades 9–12). ESF operates on 12 premier locations on campuses in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, New York, Connecticut, and Florida.
The camp is celebrating 19 years in the Bethesda community, and since 2021 its camp home has been on the 28-acre campus of The Academy of the Holy Cross. The 2026 season will mark Site Director Adam Webber’s 17th summer with ESF and his first as Site Director; he graduated from Towson University with a double major in English and Cultural Studies, earned a teaching certificate from San Diego State University, and has been teaching at Gaithersburg High School for 17 years. One alum reports that ESF has been part of her life for 13 years and that it is where she has grown up.
Parent and alum testimonials describe the campus as safe and secure, with facilities suited for all activities and counselors who are positive, inclusive, and fun. Parents note that their children were able to swim every day and describe the experience as excellent and highly recommendable. Other testimonials describe ESF as a terrific camp experience run by an enthusiastic staff with diverse programs, and mention staff who are mature, professional, and passionate. One testimonial from a camper-turned-entrepreneur states that ESF empowered her to do things she never imagined, and another from a parent notes that an after-camp fencing clinic in 2010 led to her child later competing as one of the youngest in the Fencing Junior Olympics.
Last updated July 20, 2026.
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