Swimming Program

The Headfirst swimming program is an integral and fun part of the Headfirst Day Camp 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 to our Swimming Program

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 Day Campers 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

Our skills program for day campers consists of seven levels

Level 1: Gomer Fish
Level 2: Starfish
Level 3: Sea Horse
Level 4: Stingray
Level 5: Tiger Fish
Level 6: Blue Whale
Level 7: Super Squid

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Headfirst Skills & Achievement Awards

Headfirst recognizes campers two ways:

Campers who graduate to new levels receive a passing feedback report and a ribbon color that signifies the next level.
Campers who do not graduate, but show improvement, uphold safety, and display a positive attitude receive a feedback report on skills to work on and a ribbon color for the same level. {back to top}

Mandatory Swim Test

Headfirst tests Day Camp campers for two reasons:

To determine a camper's current skill level and establish a starting point for swim instruction.
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 free swim test they will no longer be required to take the test again that summer.

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

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

Day campers are grouped with children in the appropriate skill level. We aim for a ratio of 5:1 camper to staff 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.

Swim Schedule:

Day Campers: Instructional swim takes place on four days of the camp week. Typically Friday is a well-supervised and organized swimming game/activity day for the 5-6 year old Day Camp campers where campers may enjoy a more relaxed, non-instruction environment as a reward for their hard work during the week. {back to top}

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 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.
Our staff is accustomed to working with Day Camp campers whose parents may wish for them to swim, but the campers do not. Through patience, positive encouragement and gradual steps, we do our best to work with all campers and their individual needs and comfort levels to get them involved in our instructional swim program. {back to top}

My son came home with the biggest smile on his face after he learned the backstroke, and his brother has proudly displayed his first swimming “ribbon.” We’ll all be back next summer for more Gomer and icees.

Siobhan Abell

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