Summer Camps USA

Every year millions of children between the ages of 6-16 head off to summer camps in the USA. With around 12,000 camps this century-old tradition requires young people aged 18-35 to join their camps for summer to undertake a variety of positions. If you have ever wanted to work in the USA but couldn't get a visa, this may be your chance.

Most join a camp as a 'Counselor' where you will be required to look after the kids assgned to you.

There are three main types of summer camps:

1. Private, traditional residential camps are long established and cater to the children from middle to high income families. These camps are situated in scenic places and offer a wide variety of water and land activities;
2. Agency camps are run by organisations such as yMCA, scout organisations and church groups. Campers come from a wide variety of backgrounds andthe camps usually have an emphasis, eg. church organised camps would emphasis religion.
3. Disadvantaged children camps offer disadvantaged kids the opportunity to attend camp. There are also Special Needs Camps and Day Camps.

The main skills required to be a counselor are a like of children though if you have specialist skills like karate, horseriding, swimming, windsurfing, sailing, drawing, sewing, hiking, computers and fishing, to name a few, this will stand you in good steed for a specialist counselor position as there is a huge variety of activities offered to the kids at camp.

If you would like to work on a camp but not directly be involved with the children there are support positions in catering (cooking for the kids) and maintenance (gardner, laundry assistant, etc.)

Camps are mostly found in the northeast and upper midwest USA in picturesque locations which enables each camp to offer many land and water sports.

You will be required to work for 9-11 weeks (May/June-August) and then be able to do some travelling. Most organisations begin filling positions in the New Year for the upcoming summer.

You can organise a place on a US summer camp by contacting an organisation that can place you in a camp. These organisations offer:
your placement;
organisation of your 'Exhange Visitor Program' J-1 visa for the US;
transport to camp;
accommodation and food for the length of your stay;
pocket money;
and time to travel around the USA after the camp is over (around 30 days).

Organisations to contact include:

www.iep.org.au
www.bunac.org
www.usasummercamp.co.uk
www.campamerica.com
www.ccusa.com
www.summercampworldwide.com