Is Camp America for me?

Hi
This may seem like a stupid question so sorry in advance!!
Im a first year psychology student at the university of warwick and have been looking into Camp America.

I really want to work with kids in the future especially those with special needs and at the moment i volunteer in a school for children with learning difficulties and also work as a research assistant testing primary school childrens literacy.

Also I really really really want to go to America as i have never been but am soooo obsessed with american films, books and tv.

The only problem is that i am quite shy and quiet and don't tend to do things like this by myself, and although i will give 100% to everything and dont mind being on call 24/7 I have never done anything remotely like Camp America before and worry id be out of my depth.

The other problem is that (as self depreciating as this may seem!) I don't actually have any skills beyond being good with children. E.g i am not particularly good at sports (lie:im rubbish), and although i play the piano that was years ago, and i draw and write poetry/stories but only amateur level and nothing really professional and so am slightly worried that they wouldn't want me :frown:

I really want to go to america and its too late for me to arrange an exchange and even so the idea of Camp America sounds so amazing to me as i love kids.
I just wondered if anybody has any advice/tips or whether anybody with a similar personality to mine has done this programme. The fact that when i mention that I might be doing Camp America to my friends elicitates very strange, concerned looks suggests it may be another thing that wont suit me and i dont want to let the kids down.

Thank you for reading this long........ post :smile:

Jemma
xxxxxxxxxx :tsr2:

Reply 1

littlejohno :)

apply and see what they say. its something ide liek to do in the future.
if u mention all ure loving children, working at groups, im sure they would be impressed.
being good with children is very very important, and creative writing is a skill!!!
and why dont u join a dance group or a drama one? do a course in art? start playing the piano.
aply and just wait. if you want to go then go!
dont regret it cos u didnt! anyway doesn tmatter if ure shy, this will build ure confidence and thats what you need. i promise you, going to camp america can only be a good thing.

Reply 2

Nightowl

Jemma I'm just like you - I've lived my entire life, gone to university of newcastle and though Im in student accomodation I can get back home anytime I like (in fact I'm here now!). in short, I am quite shy and unadventurous - but I'm still going on a study abroad trip to America for a semester in the Autumn.

Firstly, I wouldn't worry about your lack of skills - even if you do those things at an amateur level then it's always something you can improve on while your there, and there will be others like you who can't do anything and are just there for the experience - the primary reason why anyone should go.

You've moved a long way away from Preston which is more than I've done, that shows bravery in itself. It would look great on your CV if you want to work with children after university, and even if it doesn't. You say you don't do things like this by yourself but that's what this stage of your life is for - I say go for it, try everything and if you don't like it, lesson well learnt.

Truth is you have no idea whether you would suit it or not because like you said, you've never done anything like it before (except move away, and did you settle in Warwick okay?). And even though you don't know yourself, you know a LOT more about what is right for you than your friends. My friends are supporting me in going to America (a couple are even taking the opportunity to have a cheap holiday to America!) and so should yours.

That's if you want to of course. Good luck making the right decision, sorry I can't be more help in the actual experience but if it is too late, there's always next year.

Reply 3

username81886

Seriously, don't worry about being rubbish at sport - I am, ut just being willing to join in and not care that you're rubbish counts for so much more than actual skill in that situation. Being good with children and actually enjoying their company is the best thing to have going to camp - everything else you can learn while you're there. The level of activity you'd be teaching isn't particularly advanced, but there's always general counsellor type roles where you'll just go to the activities with the campers - it's almost an advantage to be a bit rubbish then cos it puts you more on their level!
I'd say definitely go for it - my first time I was a bit like **** I'm going abroad on my own :s-smilie:

but ther'll be other people going from the UK and everyone being in the same boat means you'll bond and find someone to stick with just waiting in departures on your first day! Travelling after makes you so much more confident too - this year I'm completely unphased by flying out to NYC, findind my way round manhatten and getting to PA for camp on my own; you'll be fine!
The only thing is I think it might be too late to apply this year, but it might be worth phoning a few companies to see. There's always next year.

Reply 4

jem_angel

Hi
Thanks soo much... That's been really helpful.
I know it was so nerve wracking moving to warwick and yes i did survive lol.
i am willing to have a go at anything so that's not a problem i guess i see what you mean about general roles.
I was just unsure about whether everybody that goes to these kind of things is really outgoing and confident etc but this has been really reassuring. You people are sooo nice!!!
littlejohno- i suppose it would be a good thing to be able to do a course in something else and one of the reasons im doing it is to build up my confidence so thanks!

nightowl- its so reassuring that people like me do these things cos ive never known anybody that has...I have a next door neighbour at uni who is here on an exchange programme from berkeley in california and she said it has been amazing and when i told her about Camp America she said i should definitely go for it....Thank you!

Icantthinkofacoolusername- Thanks! I am willing to have a go at all the activities and stuff. Did you do CampAmerica specifically or was it another similar scheme?? Where did you go travelling afterwards? Thanks!

I know im too late for this year im actually going to Rome with my friend from uni (sorry im just really excited) so thats pretty scary. I was thinking of doing it next year or the year after...
Anyway thanks again you have all been really helpful!!!
Jemma
xxxxxxxxx

Reply 5

gbduo

This is going to short and sweet:

I did Camp America, I went as a specialist counsellor in Sailing and Sound Engineering (but others went with no particular skill except being brilliant with children, which i am not) and had the best summer of my life. It is serious hard work, but honestly, just bite the bullet and go, it is awesome.

Reply 6

BurnOutOrFadeAway

Ive applied to go to camp america for the first time this year, im not the most out going of people (although i have got better since coming to uni), i have a bit of experiance working with kids, but nowjere near as much as you so i think you should stand a god chance of being accepted really.

The only sport i have any major experince i have is in horseriding, for the other sports/skill i just wrote about ones i like doing, when i went for my interview i told the interviewer that i wasnt really all that good at them and he wasnt too bothered, just said that as long as i know the basic and willing to give things ago its alright as there will always be other people there who do know what theyre on about and i wouldnt be put incharge on an activity i couldnt do.

I'd say go for it, i wasnt sure at first, but everyone i know who has been has loved it and all encouraged me to go. When i told some people (Who havent done it) what i was planning to do i did get a few strange look and 'oh thats different' comments and my best friend laughed at me....But i think it will be fun, and its got to be better than staying at home and picking raspberries in the rain for rubbish money like i did last year!

Reply 7

jem_angel

Hi
Thanks a lot that's really encouraging!!! I dont think it was camp america that my friends were commenting on but the fact it was me going as im not the most independant of people. But ive decided to look more into it as i know ill regret it if i dont.
Thanks everybody!!!
Jemma
xxxxxxxxx

Reply 8

elizabeth27

Yeah I would also recommend definitely going for it! And, one thing my camp told me and that i think you should consider is that while there are hundreds of really loud and crazy camp counsellors, and that is great, there are also a lot of quiet kids, who will prefer a quieter counsellor - which they said was my influence while working at camp, so don't worry about not being confident or outgoing enough like you say, cos as my camp said, for every type of counsellor, there is a child who will look to relate to them. - I was one of the 'quieter' counsellors - even though I'm not really a quiet person, and I don't lack confidence, it is just that compared to a lot of the Americans I probably seemed quiet! lol. And the kids who were also quieter, didn't feel the need to be loud to fit in with everyone else - which I enjoyed being able to influence them in somewhat, where they wanted - as some of the kids tried hard to be crazy and loud, when they were really not like that at all, and they grew to understand themselves more, by looking at the counsellors for influence.

I'm going off on a tangent now so I'll sum up lol..! Go for it! :smile:

you'll love it, it is amazing to see the educational and personal growth in kids, even just in a summer.

Reply 9

jem_angel

Hi
Thanks that's really good i know what you mean cos i would have been one of the quieter kids who preferred a quieter counsellor so i wasn't overfazed!!!
Thanks
Jemma
xxx

Reply 10

arod

If you want to work with special needs kids there are lots of special needs camps. e.g. the Hole in the wall camps which was started by Paul Newman. This is a camp for kids with cancer. There are many in the USA, but if you don't want to go too far from home there is also one in Ireland. Lots of students use this experience on their resume or ps especially if they plan to go into medical/health related fields.

http://www.holeinthewallcamps.org/about.cfm
The Association of Hole in the Wall Camps serves existing Hole in the Wall Camps and those in development. Last year, our camps served more than 15,000 children with serious illnesses. With additional camps in development, that number will only continue to grow.

Each camp is a separate entity expanding founder Paul Newman's dream to provide a recreational and therapeutic camping experience for children facing serious illnesses and life-threatening conditions. While at camp, these children discover the joys of childhood often missed during extended medical treatment. All children attend the camps free of charge as a result of generous contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations and other organizations.

Reply 11

Hunny_Bunny789

Camp America/CCUSA/BUNAC etc are all crying out for people who wish to go to special needs camps as there arent enough staff willing to go. They dont ask for any skills, just a love for kids and to get involved. I reckon if you apply you will be snapped up! I went with CCUSA last year and didnt have any strong skills, they therefore put me in a more general role not activity specific. They will tailor the camp they place you at according to you. GO FOR IT!!! Im quite shy and was worried i wouldnt be outgoing enough but you do settle in to camp quickly and it was the best summer of my life. You wont regret this.. plus the experience looks awesome on your CV!!!