Work on a summer camp in USA
Every year thousands of people fly to the States with Camp America to work in one of 12,000 camps throughout the country. Next year you can be one of them. Are you 18 years old or over? Available for a minimum of nine weeks during the summer? Have previous work experience, preferably in a leader role? Can you speak fluent English? Are you patient, caring, flexible, energetic and fun? Then you’ve got what it takes to apply with Camp America.
Children aged 6-16 come to summer camps to make friends, try new activities and have fun. All camps are different but all of them are similar in one way or another. Most have swimming pools or a lake, are situated in the countryside, have accommodation in cabins and numerous activities available.
Since Camp America began their cultural exchange program in 1969 more than 150,000 people have participated. There are jobs available throughout the entire USA in more than 12,000 camps and the work possibilities are plentiful. A General Counsellor helps out in different activities and in the cabins where the campers live, a Special Counsellor focus on teaching in dance, climbing, hiking, water skiing or any other sport and a Special Needs Counsellor works with children or adults with special needs. But be aware that a placement at a special needs camp doesn’t require any previous experience. Your personality is what's most important.
The Fowler Center, located outside the village Mayville in Michigan, where I worked the summer 2004, is one of many special needs camps throughout the country.
My flight went to Chicago, but if your camp is in another part of the U.S. you will probably fly to New York. Upon arrival you will get free transportation to the camp. In some cases you get to stay in a hotel in New York before continuing to the camp the next day. That depends on how far it is to your camp.
The first two weeks at the camp you will have a preparatory orientation with the other Counsellors before the campers arrive. At the Fowler Center we got training in, for example, conflict solution, lifting techniques (because many campers were in a wheelchair), first aid and Red Cross water safety. The latter was a must to be able to work with the campers by the lake, and during water activities. When working on the camp all Counsellors get free accommodation and meals.
An ordinary day usually starts by the flagpole at 8.15am where everybody sings camp songs before breakfast. Between breakfast and lunch you have different activities with your campers and the other Counsellors. At the Fowler Center the daily activities could be outdoor education, sports, arts and crafts, games and swimming. After dinner the activities continued until bedtime which is between 9-11pm depending of the campers’ age. Of course you will get a break during the day, but the rest of the time is filled with activities.
On the majority of the camps singing is of great meaning; you sing during the morning gathering, after lunch and before you go to bed. The campers’ first evening is always spent by the camp fire where guests and staff eat snacks and sing camp songs. This is very appreciated among the campers, as is the disco on their last day at camp.
Many camps organize staff trips to offer participants the possibility to see other parts of the country and get to know the other Counsellors better. The Fowler Center organized a day at the amusement park Cedar Point and an evening spa trip to a nearby city.
The application process involves a bit of paper work, but Camp America’s representatives are always there to help if you have questions or need visa assistance. The best is to apply as early as possible, although there are still chances for placements in May and June.
Camp America places applicants from over 80 nationalities so you can be sure to meet people from other countries and cultures. At the Fowler Center we had Counsellors from the U.S., England, China, South Africa and Sweden.
Living and working at a summer camp will give you many unforgettable experiences, friends for life and amazing travel opportunities. After your time at camp you can travel around for 10 weeks on your work visa and experience more of what the country has to offer. The organization Trek America offers several round trips with activities such as trekking, river rafting and horse riding.
For more information, you can visit www.campamerica.co.uk or www.trekamerica.co.uk
