EXPLORE.DISCOVER.CONNECT
WEEKLY THEMES
Lots of camps have themes. We bring them to life.
We immerse campers in a story from the second they arrive, taking them on a journey to another place, where anything is possible and each child’s personal best can be redefined through unique challenges and obstacles. We do this by infusing story and theme into every facet of the camp day, from our art and STEM projects, to our team-building exercises, to our props and vocabulary.
Woven into each week’s theme is one of our Super Six, which campers practice over the course of the week, with each day’s lesson building on the day before. This same thread runs throughout all camps on site, so that every camper everywhere is working to earn a wristband representing the same skill by the end of the week.
Because each week is different in theme, story, and activities, your child can enjoy multiple weeks without ever doing the same thing twice!
- Welcome to the Jungle
- Kid Explorer Justice League
- Once Upon a Time
- H Marks the Spot
- Campers of the Round Table
- CIA: Camp Intelligence Agency
- Hawaiian Excursion
- Kid Explorer Shark Week
- Arctic Adventures
- Pirate’s Paradise
- Medieval Mayhem
- Kid Explorer: The Secret Service
CONNECT. CREATE. DISCOVER. I
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
Grab your hiking boots, we’re exploring some of the most amazing places in the world this summer, including the Amazon, Daintree, and Borneo rainforests. Along the way, we’ll study the diverse flora and fauna that call these regions home, such as the orangutan, pygmy elephant, saltwater crocodile, and anaconda. Keep your eyes peeled, we might even discover a new species!
KID EXPLORER JUSTICE LEAGUE
The Kid Explorer Justice League is recruiting new superheroes this summer. Do you have what it takes? Come spend a week in our state-of-the-art superhero academy where we’ll research the science behind superpowers. Along the way, we’ll design and craft our own brand-new superhero identities. And once the training ends, we’ll have to work together to defeat some of the most infamous super villains known to mankind!
ONCE UPON A TIME
It was the best of times, it was the… well, actually, it’s just the best of times this summer at Headfirst. If you’ve ever lost yourself in an amazing book, this is the camp for you. Whether it’s brewing potions with Professor Snape, digging for treasure with Stanley Yelnats, or exploring the universe with Meg Murry, there’s something for everyone this week. Come join us on this literary odyssey.
H MARKS THE SPOT
Walking down the beach, you notice a mysterious bottle wash ashore. Inside, you find a faded manuscript, detailing daring exploits and nautical adventures with swashbuckling rogues, prized galleons, and enchanted treasure. On the back is a map, with the Headfirst H, clearly marking the spot for the most fun and excitement you’ll have all year. Prepare to raise the Jolly Roger as we set sail on this pirate adventure.
*This week features a field trip to Pirate Adventures on the Chesapeake.
CAMPERS OF THE ROUND TABLE
This summer, we’re going back in time to the Medieval Ages! Design your family crest and banners. Build catapults to defend your castle against medieval siege weaponry. Try your hand at jousting and archery in Gomer’s Great Tournament. Raise a toast to new friends during an extravagant feast with lord, ladies, knights, and jesters. This week truly is a blast from the past.
*This week features a field trip to Medieval Times for a tournament and show.
CIA: CAMP INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to identify the secret agent who has infiltrated the Headfirst Camp Intelligence Agency, informally known as Spy Camp. For years Spy Camp has produced the best agents in the field of espionage, but now we’re under attack and we need your help to find this secret agent. Complete your training, uncover the mole, and save the world. Warning, this message will now self-destruct.
*This week features a field trip to Zavazone for ninja spy training.
HAWAIIAN EXCURSION
3,000 years ago, expert sailors and navigators, using their knowledge of the wind, stars, and migratory bird patterns, settled across the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, now known as the Polynesian Triangle. Join us this summer as we celebrate the cultures and ecology of Polynesia. We’ll learn about the moa bird of New Zealand, the Moai statues of Easter Island, and the volcanoes of Hawaii.
* This week features a field trip to Museum of Science and Industry
KID EXPLORER SHARK WEEK
Join Kid Explorer this week for a camp dedicated to some of Earth’s most fascinating, and misunderstood, creatures – sharks! We’ll explore the digestive system of the tiger shark (lovingly called the “garbage can of the sea”), the migratory patterns of whale sharks, and the fossilized teeth of the extinct Megalodon, the biggest shark that ever lived. Only one thing’s for certain – we’re gonna need a bigger boat.
ARCTIC ADVENTURES
It’s a journey to the poles in our coolest week of camp yet. We’ll be researching cold weather and mountaineering survival techniques, designing and building a supply zipline, and racing bobsleds. Camp culminates with a campus-wide celebration of the famed Alaskan Iditarod. Be sure to bundle up!
EXPLORE.DISCOVER.CONNECT II
PIRATE’S PARADISE
Welcome aboard, mates! We’re unfurling the sails and raising the Jolly Roger as we take to the high seas this week in search of adventure, glory, and hidden treasure. Follow the mysterious clues on the map while we chart a course for the most fun you’ll have all year. Along the way we’ll learn all about pirate myths, traditions, and secrets.
*This week features a field trip to Navy Pier and Lakefront.
MEDIEVAL MAYHEM
This summer, travel back in time to Medieval Europe. Camp will be filled with lords, ladies, knights, and jesters as we transform it into a kingdom of the High Middle Ages. Learn about feudal siege weaponry, castle intricacies, and participate in our archery and jousting tournaments. Be sure to raise a toast as we celebrate all our victories at the grand feast.
*This week features a field trip to Medieval Times.
KID EXPLORER: THE SECRET SERVICE
Welcome to Spy Camp. As the newest recruited member for Kid Explorer’s elite spy network, you’ll be learning advanced espionage techniques from around the world. Honing our methods from sources as disparate as MI6 to Japanese ninjas we’ll cover cryptography, disguises, sabotage and counter-intelligence strategies. But it’s not all fun and games this summer – we only have one week to decipher the clues and uncover the secret double-agent in our midst!
*This week features a field trip to Zavazone.
FAST FACTS
HOURS
9am–4pm
AGES
Rising 2nd to 7th Grade
RATIO
10:1
PROGRAM LOCATIONS
- South Loop -Chicago, IL
- Lakeshore – Chicago,IL