Headfirst Camps

What Headfirst Camps does

Headfirst Companies LLC, founded in 1995 by Brendan Sullivan and headquartered in Washington, DC, operates premium summer day camps for children ages 3-13 (Rising Pre-K through Rising 8th grade) across the DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia markets. The company delivers programs through a portfolio that includes classic day camps (Jr. Day Camp and Day Camp), STEM enrichment (Innovators, Inc. and Sprouting Scientists), Multi-Sport Camp across three age-based divisions, and two co-branded professional sports camps operated in partnership with D.C. United (soccer) and the Washington Nationals (baseball and softball). Programs are delivered across four primary campus locations — St. Albans/National Cathedral School (Cathedral Heights), St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School (Palisades), Mater Dei School (Bethesda), and Flint Hill School (Oakton) — with two additional sites (Norwood School and Catholic University) used for pro-sports programming.

Name

Headfirst Camps

Legal name

Headfirst Companies LLC

Website

https://headfirstcamps.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Headfirst Companies LLC is a privately held Washington, DC-based summer camp operator founded in 1995, serving children ages 3-13 across DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia through day camps, STEM, multi-sport, and co-branded D.C. United and Washington Nationals programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Summer Day Camps

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA), STEM & Science Camps (Biology, Chemistry, Space, Lab Science) (EDAMALAC)

Keywords

• Summer day camps
• Youth enrichment programs
• STEM camp activities
• Youth sports camps
• Pro sports camp programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Summer Camp Enrollment Fees: Parents pay per-session weekly fees for camp programs ranging from $505-$675 per week. Additional revenue from Extended Day programs (AM: $100/week, PM: $200/week) and after-camp lessons at pro-sports locations ($65/day).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Headfirst Camps operates premium weekly summer day-camp programs for children ages 3-13 (Rising Pre-K through Rising 8th grade) at multiple campus locations across the Washington DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia region. Core offerings include classic day camps (Jr. Day Camp, Day Camp), Multi-Sport camps in three age tiers, STEM enrichment programs (Innovators, Inc., Sprouting Scientists), and branded professional sports camps (D.C. United Soccer Camps, Washington Nationals Baseball Camps). Enrollment is per weekly session with optional Extended Day add-on supervision and after-camp pro-sports lessons.

Product overview

Headfirst Camps operates a multi-program summer camp portfolio serving children ages 3-13 (Rising Pre-K through Rising 8th grade) across the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The core offerings include Jr. Day Camp and Day Camp (classic day camp experiences), Multi-Sport Camp in three skill-based divisions, two STEM-focused programs (Innovators, Inc. and Sprouting Scientists), and two professional sports-branded camps (D.C. United Soccer Camps and Nationals Baseball Camps). All programs share a common pedagogical approach called the 'Spot-Create-Celebrate' methodology and emphasize six confidence-building skills called the 'Super Six.' Extended Day add-on supervision is available at all locations. Programs are offered at four primary campus locations: St. Albans & National Cathedral School (Cathedral Heights, NW DC), St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School (Palisades, NW DC), Mater Dei School (Bethesda, MD), and Flint Hill School (Oakton, VA), plus additional sites for pro sports camps.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Jr. Day Camp: A joyful introduction to camp for preschoolers, ages 3-4, offering a warm, welcoming introduction to the camp experience.
• Day Camp
• Multi-Sport Camp
• Innovators, Inc.
• Sprouting Scientists
• D.C. United Summer Camps
• Nationals Baseball Camps

Products and services

• Jr. Day Camp

Quantifiable outcome

• Low counselor-to-camper ratios: 6:1 for youngest campers, 8:1 for K-1st, 10:1 for older
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• D.C. UnitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial D.C. United Soccer Camps provider. Camps offer professional soccer experiences with authentic environments, rituals, and standards. Campers receive official D.C. United Camp jersey and D.C. United-branded recognitions. Program available at Catholic University and other locations for Rising K-8th grade.
• Washington NationalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial Washington Nationals Baseball & Softball Camps provider. Camps include weekly visits to Nationals Park, meet-and-greets with current or alumni players, and autographed photos. Campers wear official Nationals Summer Camps uniform. Available at multiple locations including Norwood School, Catholic University, Flint Hill, and St. Albans.
• FINS SwimmingsupportingTechnology or IntegrationExpert swim instruction provider at Mater Dei Bethesda location. FINS Swimming leads daily instructional swim for Jr. Day Camp, Day Camp, and Multi-Sport I campers with small groups focused on water comfort, confidence, and foundational swim skills.
• St. Albans School & National Cathedral SchoolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlagship campus partner in Cathedral Heights, NW DC. Headfirst's very first programs ran at this location 30 years ago. Provides indoor pool, classrooms, and outdoor spaces for multiple camp programs.
• St. Patrick's Episcopal Day SchoolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCampus partner in Palisades, NW DC. Provides campus facilities for Jr. Day Camp, Day Camp, Multi-Sport, and Innovators. Campers swim at nearby GW Mount Vernon outdoor pool.
• Mater Dei SchoolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlagship campus partner in Bethesda, MD. Features outdoor pool, shaded green spaces, and spacious indoor classrooms. Hosts Jr. Day Camp, Day Camp, Multi-Sport, and Innovators programs.
• Flint Hill SchoolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCampus partner in Oakton, VA (11th summer). Lower School hosts general camps; Upper School hosts Nationals and DC United camps. Features expansive fields and modern facilities.
• Norwood SchoolsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCampus partner in Bethesda, MD hosting Washington Nationals Baseball & Softball Camps. Focused, baseball-forward setting with quality athletic space supporting skill development.
• Catholic UniversitysupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCampus partner in Northeast DC hosting Washington Nationals Baseball & Softball Camps and D.C. United Soccer Camps. Uses DuFour Athletic Center facilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ESF Camps: Philadelphia-based premium multi-activity day camp operator offering sports, STEM, and specialty programs across multiple campuses - the closest direct peer to Headfirst's positioning, geography, and product mix on the East Coast.
• Steve & Kate's Camp: National chain of premium day camps serving ages 4-15 with self-directed learning and diverse activities; direct peer on premium day-camp positioning and flexible enrollment model.
• Galileo Learning: Bay Area-based innovation-focused summer camp for Pre-K through 8th grade with proprietary curriculum and emphasis on creative problem-solving - directly comparable to Headfirst's Innovators Inc. and Sprouting Scientists STEM offerings.

Emerging players

• iD Tech: National tech and STEM summer camp provider for ages 7-19, focused on coding, game design, and engineering; comparable on the STEM enrichment segment but narrower category focus.
• Camp Invention: National Inventors Hall of Fame STEM enrichment program delivered through partner schools; comparable to Headfirst's STEM programming (Innovators Inc.) and represents a possible curriculum-licensing comparable.

Broad incumbents

• US Sports Camps / NIKE Sports Camps: Largest US operator of youth sports camps with NIKE branding across soccer, baseball, basketball, and more; comparable on the pro-sports branded camp model (D.C. United/Nationals) but operates nationally without a multi-activity day-camp platform.

Regional players

• Baroody Camps: Long-running DC-area day camp operator with sports and traditional programming; comparable to Headfirst on geography and day-camp category but smaller scale and narrower program mix.

Others

• Challenger Sports: International soccer camp operator and British Soccer franchise; adjacent comparable as a possible model for expanding Headfirst's D.C. United soccer camp partnership into additional regions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/headfirstcamps
• Xx.com/headfirstcamps
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/justin-woods-481a359a

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Headfirst Camps