ESF Dream Camp Foundation

tors tend to stay in school, avoid gang involvement, and avoid drug use. Dream Camp understands the importance of mentoring and our students reap the benefits. Our exceptional team of educational professionals and college students are committed to the well-being and development of our children. Dream Camp mentors are advocates, role models, teachers, sounding boards, authority figures and friends. They work with parents and schools to ensure each child’s needs are met. What We Do

Dream Camp has provided thousands of underserved children what they need most: a chance. Our innovative and award-winning program allows children to recognize their potential, teaches them the skills to reach their goals, and gives them the confidence to dream big. From the outset, Dream Camp’s mission has been clear. It is our job to nurture, educate and inspire our Dream Campers. Whether in our classrooms, on our stages or on our playing fields, our dedicated staff cultivates an environment where our children can overcome obstacles and learn to succeed. After School Program

Studies have shown that participation in after-school programs has many positive effects on student educational outcomes. Benefits include increased reading and math scores, improved school attendance, and greater likelihood of high school graduation and college attendance. Dream Camp students are the beneficiaries of these positive educational outcomes. Children enrolled in the Academy Experience, our after-school program, are teamed up with mentors who focus on both academic and non-academic skills. Students receive homework help, get specialized reading and writing tutoring, and participate in math enrichment activities. They can also choose to play chess, work in an organic garden, or learn a new language among other activities. Summer Program

In a study completed by RAND Corporation in 2011, it was found that elementary students lose a month of their skills over the summer months. The decline, however, is more significant for underserved children. Even more alarming, the study showed that summer learning loss has a cumulative effect, which plays a major role in perpetuating the achievement gap. Dream Camp is mitigating the effect of summer learning loss by ensuring that our students stay focused, engaged and are learning during the summer. Children enrolled in Dream Camp’s Summer Program, the Summer Experience, participate in a unique blend of educational and recreational activities. For five weeks, campers practice sports fundamentals, channel their inner artists with various visual arts, crafts and performing arts projects, and continue to hone their academic skills by taking part in the camp’s literacy curriculum.

• Swimming (Hartford only)
• Dance
• World Cultures and Languages
• True Life Adventures
• Creative and Performing Arts
• Gourmet Cooking
• Literary Arts
• Math Enrichment
• Outdoor Adventure
• Leadership Development
• Counselors-in-Training
• Organic Gardening (Philadelphia only)
• Technical Skill Development
• Music Recording & Production

Young Leaders Program (YLP) and Mentors in Training (MIT) Programs

Dream Camp’s YLP and MIT Program offer our older teens the opportunity to engage in leadership roles during the summer. Through these unique courses, our students learn how their positive behavior can have a tremendous impact on their younger counterparts. They also learn how to navigate through difficult situations in life outside of Dream Camp by reflecting on how they handled trying interactions with their young campers.