If you want a way to experience the country of America, but are on a tight budget working at a summer camp in the US is a great option. Here we explain how the system works and why working at camp America is such a great experience and opportunity.
What is Camp?
For over a hundred years, it has been traditional for American children to attend a camp at some point during their summer holidays. Each year around 11 million kids attend some sort of summer camp in America. Most of these children stay overnight at camp and do so for anything between a couple of days to nine weeks.
There are many kinds of camps, some focus on sports, others on faith or honing a particular skill set. However, they all have one thing in common they are all designed to be fun and provide opportunities for kids to experience something new and learn as a result of doing so.
Why Camps Want International Staff
These camps are not normally open year round, so most of the staff only work for the summer. Plenty of Americans work at camps each year, but most camps like to employ at least some international staff. They want the children to experience different cultures and know that there are plenty of people who live abroad who would love to live in the US for a couple of months.
A Win Win
When international workers work in US summer camps everyone wins. The camp owners, the international staff and the kids all benefit.
Interesting Work in a Fun Environment
If you work in a camp, you will definitely have fun doing it. You will get to meet people from across the world and spend time with energetic young people and enjoy a range of activities with them. Where possible the camp will use the skills and knowledge you already have.
That means if you enjoy playing a particular sport you could be given the chance to teach the kids how to play that sport. You can easily end up doing something you really enjoy, so it really does not feel like work.
How Camp Works
The children stay in cabins, which are supervised by adults. These adults are called counsellor. Each cabin is in a team, and those teams compete at everything.
Wages
Working at camp is not going to make you a fortune. However, you will earn some pocket money. How much depends on your responsibilities, how long you are at camp and a few other factors.
However, what you do get is your return flight paid for. The transport to and from the camp is taken care of, and of course you are fed and watered for your stay. If you want, you can explore the US after camp, so effectively you get to travel the US with your flights paid for.
The Best Way to Experience Camp
By far the best way to find a position at a summer camp is to use a cultural exchange agent. Over the years, they have matched thousands of people wanting to work in Camp with American camps who need workers. They make sure all of the of bureaucracy is taken care of including organizing your J1 Visa and medical insurance while you are at camp.