BUNAC Work America

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minelli

Would you say camp america was better or work america...heard loads of people with good camp experiences but very few have said anything great about work america.

I have done both! It is really hard to answer actually, as it really depends what experience you are after. I'll try to sum it up lol. Both have advantages and disadvantages...

Work America is great if you want freedom to work anywhere and have a choice of state and greater choice of job, hours, and lots of free time. You also earn WAY more on Work America, and get literally loads more free time if you choose to, or you can also work as much as you want.

It is great as you get into the real American way of life, on a different level to Summer Camp USA (SCUSA)... and you get to really integrate, especially if you are in a more American location, i.e. not a resort full of European workers, so like a city maybe. You can probably do a lot more as ull be earning more, so pretty much live a normal life. Perhaps chance to travel further as u earn more too. Also, chance to get a job that may be related to your career.

SCUSA is completely different, you are bound by many rules, and obviously, have to enjoy/want to work with children, and have some kind of skill perhaps if you want to be an Activity specialist. But SCUSA, is amazing, I think it comes to do with working with children, as they really make the experience. Seeing children grow and learn as a direct result of your efforts, is really amazing. It really is hard work though, really really a lot of work, but it also is, the more you put in, the more you get back.

As you have rules etc, you don't have as much free time etc as you would on Work America, and you get paid way less, but - the money, really isnt what the experience is about, if you want to earn a lot, then SCUSA might not be for you. Though you do still earn enough to travel afterward.

Overall, like I said it i difficult to choose and it does depend what you want to get out of it. I loved both experiences in different ways, but I do think that SCUSA is more emotional than Work America, just because you get so involved with the kids, and you live and breathe camp, 24/7 ! And with the little time off (usually around 1 day, 1 period/hour per day, and then evenings after 10ish) it can get stressful! But still, both experiences are amazing fun.. and both look great on your CV, as an independent travel experience, involving working abroad and adapting to new environment/cultures etc.

Work America was just more relaxed, with more time to experience America, outside of work. Camp tends to be a rather false environment compared to Work America... camp is 'safer' to go to camp in terms of meeting people and getting a job. Both are a challenge, but in different ways.

Hope that helped anyway! If anyone has any Q's on either, feel free to PM me...

Reply 81

BeesKnees

Does anyone know if Bunac still provides the travel package as it doesn't say anywhere on their site.

Also, if I were to buy my own ticket, could I buy a one way and then get another one after I've finished working and earned more money?

Reply 82

elizabeth27

BeesKnees

Yeah BUNAC have unfortunately stopped the travel package for Work America now. But it leaves it really flexible for you to fly to where ever you want to in America - also, for the visa, I think you have to have proof that you will be leaving America, therefore you would need to have a return flight booked as evidence of this.

Reply 83

BeesKnees

elizabeth27

Aww would've been nice to meet other Bunac people before getting on with it all. Well, guess I just need to work harder to get funds for the travels lol, actually it might even work out cheaper than the travel package, even though I know that had other benefits, which I can't really remember. I'm just poor at the moment but can't spend another summer here so i'm gonna make it happen whatever it takes. Thanks for responding!

Reply 84

xhelen1989x

Has anyone done this? I'm seriously contemplating whether or not to apply to do either this or Camp America in 2010, as i can apply next year and save up some money :p:

I've heard a lot about camp america, bu tnot that much on the work america programme, so does anyone info would be much appreciated ! Also, I graduate in 2010 but you can still apply to do do either for the year you graduate can't you?

For a year or so i've been pondering over travelling, but it makes me nervous to think about! Getting a plane on your own to a place you don't know and to stay there for months! But then again I do want to do it and don't want to regret not taking the chance I had!

Reply 85

BeesKnees

Hey, I definitely wanna do work america this year as I can't spend another boring summer at home like last year, it was torture! I considered the camp thing for a long time but decided it wasn't for me right now...maybe in the future. Work america is a hell of a lot more expensive but then you'll earn more whilst you're there and you get to choose how much you work/travel so that's pretty good. Althought i've also been told by lots of people that camp is a lot more emotional and you form some real bonds with the people there so it really depends what you want to get from the experience.

Only 2 things are worrying me about work america. First is the money side of things but that's not so bad, the second is the fact that I might have resits so will be a bit screwed if I can't go till the end of july as resits at my uni are in july :frown:

. That will only give me 2 months, which I just don't think for me will be enough time to fully appreciate the experience. Hoping for somewhere on the eastcoast though so fingers crossed no resits :biggrin:

Reply 86

xhelen1989x

BeesKnees

Yeah, i'm abit torn between the two! With camp america you can meet with others at the airport and meet people before you go who might be going to the same camp, do you know if that applied to work america too? I guess that with camp america you would form some real bonds, but you may be able to experience more of america (if you know what i mean?!) with work america. I'm not sure where i'd choose to go, maybe new york! :biggrin:

Arggh resits. Well I wouldnt be going till 2010 so i'll just have to work soo hard to try and make sure I don't have any :frown:

Reply 87

questionmark

I really want to do Bunac Work America- as it's always a dream of mine. But I don't want to be left unemployed (esp with this economic crisis!)...this also concerns my parents. Imagining paying all that money just to be left jobless. If I had a guranteed job there'd be no problems- I don't want to do Camp b/c I dislike loads of children at one time, lol. I just don't know whether to take a risk!

Reply 88

rza89

amen, does anyone know if jobs are garanteed at bunac

Reply 89

questionmark

rza89

amen, does anyone know if jobs are garanteed at bunac

No they are not. You need to find your own (usually via the Job Directory). So there is a possibility that you'll fork out a couple of hundred pounds and be unemployed :confused:

Reply 90

xhelen1989x

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No they are not. You need to find your own (usually via the Job Directory). So there is a possibility that you'll fork out a couple of hundred pounds and be unemployed :confused:

Really?...I didn't know you could get there and they can say 'we don't need you now' lol, surely they can't? Do they not have to sign agreements before hand to take you on?

Do you know if you can also meet people doing the bunac workamerica at the airport? like they do with campamerica. I'd love to do camperica I love love love working with children but i HATE camping so i'm probably guessing that won't be for me lol, but i really want to do workamerica!

Reply 91

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xhelen1989x

Bunac do advise that you get a job before getting to America. But you have to find this job yourself (Internet/Job Directory). If you do get a job offer than yes the employer is required to let Bunac know via an Employer Job form and you get a copy of it as well. What i meant was I dislike the idea of paying Bunac BEFORE finding a guranteed job. Once you pay your money for this programme if you don't find a job, Bunac can't give you a refund on this basis.

With meeting people, last year Bunac used to do a travel package which included return flights and meeting other people and an orientation. But this is not available anymore. So I don't know you'd have to call them. See I have the opposite problem, I dislike working with children but I can cope with camping, lol. I'm still considering their KAMP programme b/c at least its a guranteed placement.

Reply 92

xhelen1989x

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Ooh, thanks for the info! What sort of jobs are you interested in doing?

Yeah I did read something about the travel package, but it says on their website that they don't have 'bunac' flights, you just sort your own flight out. I suppose i'll have to E-Mail them or something, i'd rather meet people on the same flight as me rather than go the whole thing alone lol.

Reply 93

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xhelen1989x

Yes me too! It would calm the nerves I'd like a customer service/retail type job. Most of the jobs on offer are like this or housekeeping/cleaning or working in a theme park.