Swimming Instruction

The Headfirst swimming program is an integral and fun part of Headfirst’s Day Camp, Multi-Sport Camps and Specialty Camps at our locations with swimming pools. Designed for young swimmers of all levels, swimming instruction is geared towards helping children improve their skills in the water while becoming confident and safe swimmers. Our experienced swimming instructors teach children water skills and strokes one step at a time and at their own pace, with an emphasis on water safety. Of course, we also give the children time to just have fun cooling off and playing in the pool under the supervision of our trained lifeguards.

Please read below for more information on the Headfirst Swimming Program:

The Headfirst Camps Swim Program is centered on safety, instruction, and fun. Under the constant supervision of certified water safety instructors and lifeguards, campers will learn swimming and safety skills they can use for the entire summer and the rest of their lives.

• Swim Program Goals
• The Headfirst Approach
• Headfirst Skill Levels
• Headfirst Skills & Achievement Awards
• Mandatory Swim Test
• After The Swim Test; What We Do During The Week
• Important Notes

Swim Program Goals

• SAFETY: maintain safety & uphold the pool rules at all times.
• DEVELOP: help campers develop and improve their swim skills in a relaxed, non-pressured environment.
• FUN & CONFIDENCE: building confidence while encouraging campers to try new skills. When we accomplish this goal, swimming becomes more and more fun!

The Headfirst Approach

• The pool is always staffed with an abundance of alert lifeguards and water safety instructors.
• All campers, regardless of experience, are swim-tested at Headfirst Camps.
• Each one of our instructors is a teacher and friend to all of the campers in the swimming pool.
• Headfirst Campers 9 years old and younger have the opportunity to progress through a well-maintained skill level program. Each level is specifically designed to teach, improve, and develop swim strokes. When a camper completes one level, the camper is then encouraged to move onto the next level. {back to top}

Headfirst Skill Levels

Headfirst Camps has two swim instruction programs:

• Level A: Guppy
• Level B: Goldfish
• Level C: Gomer Fish

• Level 1: Starfish
• Level 2: Sea Horse
• Level 3: Stingray
• Level 4: Tiger Fish
• Level 5: Blue Whale
• Level 6: Super Squid

Campers over 10 years old will enjoy free swim throughout the week. {back to top}

Headfirst Skills & Achievement Awards

• Campers who graduate to new levels: awarded ribbons, medals, or certificates when a new skill level is completed.
• Campers who do not graduate, but show improvement, uphold safety, and display a positive attitude: recognized and honored with ribbons, medals, or certificates. {back to top}

Mandatory Swim Test

• For children 3½ to 9 years old we test to determine a camper’s current skill level and establish a starting point for swim instruction.
• For children 10 years old and up we test to determine which campers can safely swim in the pool without a flotation device during their free swim.

On the first day of camp Headfirst Camps will swim-test each camper who wants to participate in swimming. Once a camper passes our swim test they will no longer be required to take the test again that summer.

If a camper does not pass the swim test or opts out of the test then school facility/pool rules state he or she must either 1) not swim that day or 2) swim with a flotation device.

Campers who do not pass or opt out of the swim test always have the opportunity to take the test again on the following day. {back to top}

After The Swim Test; What We Do During The Week

For campers age 3½ to 9 years old, Headfirst will group children in the appropriate skill level. A ratio of 1:4 staff to camper is our goal during instruction. Our Water Safety Instructor is typically on the deck of the pool while the other instructors are in the pool with the children. Lifeguards are present at all times as well.

Campers 10 years old and up will enjoy supervised free swim. {back to top}

• 3½ to 5 years old: Instructional swim all five days of the camp week.
• 6 to 9 years old: Instructional swim followed by free swim on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; free swim only on Wednesday and Friday.
• 10 years old and up: Free swim all five days of the camp week.

Important Notes

• Locations with a pool include St. Albans in DC and Mater Dei in Bethesda, Maryland. Saint Luke in McLean, Virginia does not have a pool, so campers enjoy water play and water slides instead.
• Swimming is only available for Day Camps, Multi-Sports Camps, and Specialty Camps. Single-sport camps do not have swimming or water play built into their program schedules. Please call the office for more information or clarification.
• Swimming is not mandatory. Parents and campers can opt out of swimming or water play any and all days if they desire. Headfirst always offers campers an alternative activity during pool time.
• Not all of our summer camp sites have a swimming pool, so instead we offer water play with water slides and sprinklers.
• Swimming is not available during winter break camp or spring break camps. {back to top}

• Mater Dei, Bethesda MD
• St. Albans, Washington DC