FAQs

Where are your camp locations?
What are the camp hours?
What does my child need to bring with them to camp?
Do you separate children by age and grade?
Who is your camp mascot, Gomer?
How do I register for a Headfirst Summer Camp?
Should my camper enroll in multiple weeks of camp?
Do you offer discounts?
Do you accept “walk up” registrations?
Do I receive a confirmation when I register?
Do I need to complete any health forms for my child to participate?
What is the counselor to camper ratio at Headfirst Summer Camps?
How do you handle inclement weather?
What precautions do you take to handle the summer heat?
Can Headfirst accommodate children with peanut or life-threatening allergies?

Where are your camp locations?: Our camps are located at the premier facilities of St. Albans School in Northwest DC, Mater Dei School in Bethesda, MD and Saint Luke School in McLean, VA. {back to top}
What are the camp hours?: Camp goes from 9:00 – 3:00, and optional extended care is available before and after camp. {back to top}
What does my child need to bring to camp?: It depends on the camp program. Click here for more information on what to bring to camp. Don’t forget to clearly label all of your child’s belongings with their full name as we have a camp-wide goal of no lost items each day {back to top}
Do you separate children by age and grade?: We do. All Headfirst campers are appropriately separated into groups by age and grade. For sports camps we take into consideration physical strength and ability. Occasionally Headfirst will move a camper up/down an age group in sport related camps. Please understand and respect that this move will be decided upon by the Site Director and Program Director of the camp and not by the parents. {back to top}
Who is your camp mascot, Gomer?: A favorite of our younger campers, Gomer is the beloved Headfirst professional mascot! When Gomer is not eating his many required meals per day, he may be found at our summer camps with scheduled and surprise visits throughout the camp week. Gomer can also be found at winter break camps, spring break camps and other Headfirst events and clinics. Gomer has also attended the National Zoo's Guppy Gala, local camp fairs, and other premier events. Young or old – Gomer is a big hit at Headfirst Camps. {back to top}
How do I register for a Headfirst Summer Camp?: It’s easy to register online. All programs are one-week sessions and must be paid for in full upon enrollment. There are no registration fees; only the camp tuition is due when you enroll. Since the majority of our summer programs have limited enrollment, we encourage you to register early. {back to top}
Should my camper enroll in multiple weeks of camp?: Yes! Headfirst has a wide variety of camps for every interest and our average camper enrolls in 3-4 one-week sessions per summer. We offer one-week sessions to allow Headfirst families to cater their summer camp experience to their own schedule and interest. {back to top}
Do you offer discounts?: We offer Early Bird discounts, sibling discounts, and group/team discounts. Check our Discounts Page for more information. {back to top}
Do you accept “walk up” registrations?: We do. Always check the website or call the camp office for availability as camp programs do sell out. Parents are encouraged to register weeks in advance, but we understand that for unforeseen reasons, parents sometimes need to register at the last minute. If you find yourself in this situation, we encourage you to enroll online up until the 8:30 am on the Monday before camp begins. If you enroll at the camp location, a walk-up fee may be charged in addition to the regular camp tuition. {back to top}
Do I receive a confirmation when I register?: Once you register and pay for your camp program(s), you will receive a camp confirmation email for your own records. You will not receive a confirmation telephone call or any USPS correspondence. However, you will receive an informational email on the Wednesday morning prior to the upcoming camp week. This email will provide you with all necessary information including: carpool, what to bring to camp, directions, and more. {back to top}
Do I need to complete any health forms for my child to participate?: All first-time attending campers will have to complete the necessary camp forms in order to participate in Headfirst Camps. These forms are required by both the County and the State in some of our camp locations. {back to top}
What is the counselor to camper ratio at Headfirst Summer Camps?: In each Headfirst Camp we aim to “over-staff” our programs to provide a unique environment where campers are able to benefit from individual and small group learning and instruction. For our younger campers (5 and under), we aim to maintain a counselor to camper ratio of approximately 6:1. For older campers (6 and up), the approximate ratio is 8:1. All Day Camp programs average a ratio of 4:1. {back to top}
How do you handle inclement weather?: Regardless of weather, camp will never be canceled or rained out! If the camp encounters heavy rains or thunderstorms or if the fields are too damp to play on, we will temporarily move the outdoor camp programs inside. Indoor-based camp programs should never be affected by inclement weather. If we see lightning or hear even the slightest sound of thunder, outdoor camp programs are immediately brought inside as we take extreme precaution to ensure that all outdoor camp programs are safe. {back to top}
What precautions do you take to handle the summer heat?: Headfirst is well aware that the summer heat can drain a camper throughout the day and week. Water is always available for each camp program and campers are encouraged to take water breaks approximately every 15-20 minutes. We take the heat, the humidity index, and the air quality index seriously. Daily, the Executive Director of Headfirst Camps communicates with the Site Directors at each camp location to discuss the heat and air index. On extremely hot days (Code Red) and for those campers spending the majority of their time playing outdoors, participants will take mandatory and extended breaks throughout the day, an extended lunch break (indoors in air conditioning), plenty of water and misting fan breaks, and lower impact activities during the day. {back to top}
Can Headfirst accommodate children with peanut or life-threatening allergies?: Yes. Families with children who have peanut or nut allergies can feel safe and comfortable at Headfirst Camps. We are well aware of the dangers and concerns with all children allergies and take our allergy procedures and systems seriously. Upon registration (and in the morning of each camp day), Headfirst directors take special note of the children with allergies by placing a mandatory, but inconspicuous, colored paper bracelet around the child’s wrist marked with the child’s name for identification purposes (in case of EpiPen use, etc). During both lunch and snack breaks, we have a separate “nut free” area, taking special care not to make the campers with allergies feel alienated during our eating breaks. At the end of each eating period, we demand all campers wash their hands with soap and warm water to ensure they thoroughly clean their hands. If you have any questions about our policies, please feel free to contact the camp office at anytime or see the Site-Director on location. If your child requires an EpiPen at camp, please be sure to place the EpiPen in a clear plastic bag along with a head shot photo of the child and with the name of the camper on the bag. This bag (and any necessary instructions) should be presented to the location Site-Director upon check-in on Monday morning. The EpiPen should stay on location throughout the week and then picked up on Friday. All counselors in charge of campers with life-threatening allergies wear a first aid fanny pack at all times containing EpiPens. {back to top}

Headfirst is definitely ‘heads’ and shoulders above most of the other sports camps in the areas. I’ve sent all four of my kids, and they have always enjoyed the extra camp activities, as well as the core sport the camp was focusing on. I really like the new Passport concept that teaches kids values about being good leaders and teammates. You really can’t go wrong with Headfirst!

Katherine McGreivy

Headfirst offers Sibling and Team/Group discounts all summer long! Learn more