Swiming Instruction Program

ARROWHEAD’S world-famous “Learn to Swim” campaign is now in high gear. All of our campers have been tested and placed in the appropriate swim “school.” Listed below are the skill levels pertaining to our 10 Fish Schools. We will all be working hard throughout the summer to pass as many schools as possible & always remember SAFETY FIRST!!!!

10 Schools

Skills

Polliwog
  1. Physical and mental orientation to water
  2. Breath holding and submerging entire body
  3. Floating and front glide and recovery
Guppy
  1. Front glide, 10 ft.
  2. Front glide with flutter kick, 20 ft.
  3. Back float
Minnow
  1. Back glide, 6ft.
  2. Back glide with flutter kick and sculling, 20 ft.
  3. Front crawl stroke, 20 ft. (beginners)
Goldfish
  1. Front crawl stroke, 20 yds.
  2. Beginning back crawl stroke, 10 yds.
  3. Changing direction
  4. Turning over
  5. Leveling off
  6. Jump – chest deep water
  7. Jump – deep water
  8. Front dive – (beginners)

Beginners Test

Goldfish Test:

Camper jumps or dives into deep water, levels off, swims beginner or front crawl stroke down the lane, changes direction, turns over onto back and floats 1/2 minute, then turns back over and swims front crawl back to the starting point. Awareness and understanding of basic safety skills and attitudes.

Baracuda
  1. Rhythmic breathing
  2. Front crawl stroke, 20 yds. with good rhythmic breathing
  3. Back crawl stroke, 20 yds.
  4. Survival float 1 min.
  5. Tread water 30 sec.
  6. Diving and underwater swimming 30 ft
Catfish
  1. Elementary back stroke 25 yds.
  2. Front crawl stroke, 25 yds. review/improve
  3. Back crawl stroke, 25 yds. review/improve
  4. Treading water, 1 min.
  5. Survival float 1 min.
  6. Bobbing

Advanced Beginners Test

Catfish Test:

Part I – Camper dives into deep water, swims under water approx. 1/2 lane, surfaces, treads water 1 min., swims front crawl stroke remainder of lane, changes direction, and swims front crawl back down the lane.

Part II – Camper jumps into deep water, swims 1/2 lane under water, surfaces and performs survival float 2 min., swims elementary backstroke remainder of the lane, changes direction, swims back down the lane doing elementary backstroke.

Dolphin
  1. Front crawl stroke, 20 yds. review/improve
  2. Sidestroke (arms), 20 yds.
  3. Scissors kick, 20 yds.
  4. Sidestroke, 20 yds.
  5. Tread water, 1 min.
  6. Survival float, 2 min.
Porpoise
  1. Breaststroke (arms), 20 yds.
  2. Breaststroke kick, 20 yds.
  3. Breaststroke, 20 yds.
  4. Sculling, 10 yds.
  5. Survival floating 5 min.

Intermediate Test

Porpoise Test:

  1. Camper swims 50 yds. doing the elementary backstroke
  2. Camper dives into deep water and swims 50 yds. doing the crawl stroke
  3. Camper swims 50 yds. doing the sidestroke
  4. Student jumps into deep water, swims under water 3 body lengths, surfaces, treads water for 1 minute using arms and legs, then swims survival stroke 15 yds.
  5. Camper swims nonstop for 5 minutes using any combination of strokes
Shark
  1. Sidestroke, review/improve
  2. Back crawl stroke, review/improve
  3. Crawl stroke, review/improve
  4. Breaststroke, review/improve
  5. Surface dives – pike, tuck, and feet first
  6. Long shallow dive
  7. Stride jumpInverted scissors kick
  8. Sculling
  9. Open turns, front, side, back
  10. Survival stroke/float
  11. Underwater swim, 20 ft.
  12. Basic rescues
  13. Artificial respiration

Swimmers Test

Shark Test:

  1. Camper swims breaststroke 50 yds.
  2. Camper swims back crawl stroke 50 yds.
  3. Camper swims crawl stroke 100 yds.
  4. Camper swims sidestroke 100 yds.
  5. Camper surfaces dives, (pike or tuck) to 8 ft. swims 20 ft. underwater, surfaces and survival floats 5 min.
  6. Nonstop 10 minute swim
Whale
  1. Elementary backstroke, review/improve
  2. Back crawl stroke, review/improve
  3. Breaststroke, review/improve
  4. Sidestroke, scissors and inverted scissors kick
  5. Front crawl stroke, review/improve
  6. Overarm sidestroke
  7. Inverted breaststroke
  8. Trudgen stroke
  9. Open turns, review/improve
  10. Surface dives, review/improve
  11. Survival float/stroke clothed
  12. Standing dives, review/improve
  13. Rescues

Advanced Swimmers Test

Whale Test:

  1. Camper swims continuously using sidestroke 50 yds. followed by the overarm sidestroke 50 yds. (each stroke performed on both sides with scissors kick 25 yds.)
  2. Camper swims crawl stroke 100 yds.
  3. Camper swims back crawl stroke 100 yds.
  4. Camper swims breaststroke 100 yds.
  5. Camper swims inverted breaststroke 50. yds. followed by the elementary backstroke for 50 yds.
  6. Camper swims trudgen stroke 50 yds.
  7. Camper performs survival stroke 5 min. fully clothed
  8. Camper swims continuously for 30 min.

This is the only optional activity that we offer at ARROWHEAD. Available to all campers at an additional cost – all riders will experience our equestrian activity two times a week (weather permitting) with emphasis on safety and fun– all riding is done inside our 2 acre corral – all taught by experienced and qualified personnel with safety our utmost concern. Blue Ribbon Week highlights the season!

A bunk favorite when it’s especially hot or rainy, our Game Room features a wide variety of arcade games. Campers participate in group games such as air hockey, foos ball, and pool as well as individual games like skee ball and electronic basketball. Facility also includes 2 outdoor ping pong tables for our campers to enjoy as well.

Situated adjacent to our shady area known as “ga ga heaven,” campers enjoy congregating around our many ping pong tables. Ping Pong is a fun activity in between intense rounds of ga ga games and a nice way to relax on a hot day!

An ARROWHEAD favorite! Our ever-popular Car Wash which includes lots of fun obstacles for the campers to enjoy as well as an 80-foot dry slide for those who do not want to get wet, offers awesome, radical, super-safe fun for campers of all ages. Sheer excitement, an absolute blast!!!

We have 4 black topped courts with painted rotation circles and a variety of net heights for age appropriateness. Our senior girls partake in season long league play culminating in playoffs and trophies!

With 4 hard top surfaced courts, our Intermediate and Senior campers will receive basic instruction from our trained tennis instructors. Our automatic ‘lobster’ type ball machines also aide in teaching and refining skills. Our season culminates in tournament play with trophies awarded.

ARROWHEAD offers the most comprehensive AQUATIC PROGRAM at any camp, both in facilities and administration. All campers swim twice daily, morning instruction and afternoon recreation. Our famous swim instruction program consists of separating the campers into appropriate skill levels (which we name “schools” – i.e. polliwogs, goldfish, barracudas etc.) Taught by trained swim instructors and lifeguards, our kids learn “camper friendly” swim skills that are all based on water safety in a nurturing environment. All campers’ progress are charted in our ‘Learn To Swim Campaign’ and each camper graduating from school to school receives official ARROWHEAD SWIM CARDS.

Our unsurpassed facilities include the following: Two separate Pool complexes containing a total of 4 pools. All pools are heated to 85 degrees daily, our pool depths start at 1 1/2 feet and include over 70% of shallow water for optimum teaching and safety.

Click here to learn more about our swim instruction program.

Our street hockey court is home to fast-paced action. Our campers love to run around and score goals against the opposing team.  Safety is Arrowhead’s number 1 concern. All campers are required to wear protective goggles while playing.

Our 5 fields offer the campers great fun in this timeless and most American of games. Our senior boys participate in a season long tournament ending with exciting playoff games and trophies.