Wow, 2010 will be my third year doing camp america. I remember in 2008 on the plane ride over saying I wouldn't be someone who did it again and again, just once for the experience. Guess that isn't happening!
First year was the tennis specialist, 2009 a general counselor, 2010, hopefully a senior counselor, but would be willing to go back as a general counselor.
If anyone is considering doing it for the first time, DO IT!
I really want to do it but I'm completely struggling with the application! Its worse than UCAS. Any tips??
Is it okay to apply for the admin as well as a general person.
What sort of photos would you reccomend uploading? What shall I say in the personal info bit?
AND more importantly once applying is it likely I will be accepted? I have got previous experience of kids camp within the UK.
Definitely do it! Just fill in the application as best you can and HONESTLY. Filling it in with ANY false information is almost a sure fire way to be fired, or at least never be re-hired. I believe you can only apply for counselor or service/admin. If I were you, and you like kids, go for counselor, its a far better job! For photos, I would reccomend anything with you doing a specialty activity or you with children (everyone having fun!). If I were you I would be proactive and look for and apply to camps you like from the start. Apply early and you are sure to be accepted!
What camps have you worked for here and in what positions?
Definitely do it! Just fill in the application as best you can and HONESTLY. Filling it in with ANY false information is almost a sure fire way to be fired, or at least never be re-hired. I believe you can only apply for counselor or service/admin. If I were you, and you like kids, go for counselor, its a far better job! For photos, I would reccomend anything with you doing a specialty activity or you with children (everyone having fun!). If I were you I would be proactive and look for and apply to camps you like from the start. Apply early and you are sure to be accepted!
What camps have you worked for here and in what positions?
So you can only go for either or? Because on the application it has space for both!
Okay, I think ill go for councellor I was only having second thoughts because I would prefer not to sleep in the same room as the kids, but I suppose it wouldnt be so bad. My friend is working in her camp sweet shop and she loves it and I wouldnt mind doing something like that.
So you can look for specific camps?
I worked for the YMCA non-residential summer camps but have done residential leadership for Brownies in Guirlguiding before so im not phased. The main things I'd like to lead is arts/crafts and drama. I used to be Activity Leader in said camp, arranging all activities apart from physical sporting ones.
Be a specialist if you would like then. Personally, having been both a general counselor and a specialist, I far prefer being a general counselor, but that is going to be personal preference. Go for counselor, sleeping in a bunk with the kids isnt that bad.
Id say just fill in the form and go for it. You have nothing to lose.
Be a specialist if you would like then. Personally, having been both a general counselor and a specialist, I far prefer being a general counselor, but that is going to be personal preference. Go for counselor, sleeping in a bunk with the kids isnt that bad.
Id say just fill in the form and go for it. You have nothing to lose.
Okay I will consider my options! Could you help me with my other questions? ^
Thanks
Be a specialist if you would like then. Personally, having been both a general counselor and a specialist, I far prefer being a general counselor, but that is going to be personal preference. Go for counselor, sleeping in a bunk with the kids isnt that bad.
Id say just fill in the form and go for it. You have nothing to lose.
At what point in the application do you get the option of general counselor or specialist?
I haven't come across that yet... but i'd like to be a general counselor. I know that!
Sorry the Q's were:-
Is it okay to apply for the admin as well as a general person.
What sort of photos would you reccomend uploading? What shall I say in the personal info bit?
AND more importantly once applying is it likely I will be accepted?
Thank you so much Thought I'd ask you seeing as you have gone through the process etc.
I believe you can only apply for counselor or service/admin. If I were you, and you like kids, go for counselor, its a far better job! For photos, I would reccomend anything with you doing a specialty activity or you with children (everyone having fun!). If I were you I would be proactive and look for and apply to camps you like from the start. Apply early and you are sure to be accepted!
Hiiiii
I came back from America 3rd Aug.. I went with camp America! I flew out on 24th May! so a lot of camps can start before June!
I can't believe how early people apply! its good though as you will have a good chance!
I applied late Jan09 - then got placed in may - 3 weeks before I was about to fly out!
was quite a bit of a rush! but amazing experience
if anyone has any questions about the whole application thing feel free to ask/PM me!
I know how annoying that application is!
Hiiiii
I came back from America 3rd Aug.. I went with camp America! I flew out on 24th May! so a lot of camps can start before June!
I can't believe how early people apply! its good though as you will have a good chance!
I applied late Jan09 - then got placed in may - 3 weeks before I was about to fly out!
was quite a bit of a rush! but amazing experience
if anyone has any questions about the whole application thing feel free to ask/PM me!
I know how annoying that application is!
Ahh great! What sort of camp were you at? And who did you get to do your references. I'm really struggling with the application form at the moment especially the reference part and the pictures but I'm eager to send of in sept.
Hiiiii
I came back from America 3rd Aug.. I went with camp America! I flew out on 24th May! so a lot of camps can start before June!
I can't believe how early people apply! its good though as you will have a good chance!
I applied late Jan09 - then got placed in may - 3 weeks before I was about to fly out!
was quite a bit of a rush! but amazing experience
if anyone has any questions about the whole application thing feel free to ask/PM me!
I know how annoying that application is!
Which part of America did you go to?
Did you do any traveling after?
Also, how much did you save up for your trip?
Oh, and were you a general counsellor or specialist?
Ahh great! What sort of camp were you at? And who did you get to do your references. I'm really struggling with the application form at the moment especially the reference part and the pictures but I'm eager to send of in sept.
A special needs camp! it was amazing!!!
Have you wrote all those little paragraphs about yourself? make sure they are full - Because my interviewer told me to add more to mine! so it will save time.
I got two references of my old college tutors.
Just make yourself sound really keen & be cheesy - they like that.
My pictures were rubbish! ha.
I put on a picture of when I was in brownies.. like 9 years ago!
and the other one was just a picture of a mountain..which i wrote in the box next to it ' I really enjoy hiking' or something like that.
Which part of America did you go to?
Did you do any traveling after?
Also, how much did you save up for your trip?
Oh, and were you a general counsellor or specialist?
Thanks in advance!
I went to Illinois, not far from Chicago. I was a general counsellor which i'm very glad about - I didn't really understand the roles when I was applying.. but program staff - specialists are quite left out of it all really!
We had a week off 7 weeks in - so we went on a road trip to the grand canyon & las vegas. Was amazing! and for 4th July we went to Chicago for the fireworks which was awesome!
To be honest I didn't have much money saved at all.. If I was to do it again i'd definatley take loads more moneyy!
I took $200 in cash.. $300 on a travel card thing - ( which I used to rent a car for the week we went travelling)
Then I just spent my wages if I needed stuff.. and saved my last two pay checks for the travelling which was around $500.
I was quite shocked how much it all costs really.. all together the payments in the application process cost me £900. So that's aswell as all that^
but it was well worthh it!!
Have you wrote all those little paragraphs about yourself? make sure they are full - Because my interviewer told me to add more to mine! so it will save time.
I got two references of my old college tutors.
Just make yourself sound really keen & be cheesy - they like that.
My pictures were rubbish! ha.
I put on a picture of when I was in brownies.. like 9 years ago!
and the other one was just a picture of a mountain..which i wrote in the box next to it ' I really enjoy hiking' or something like that.
AAh, i think i will use my "Brownies" picture too. lol.
AAh, i think i will use my "Brownies" picture too. lol.
I've already got a picture of me quad biking!
lol I was really stuck with the pictures.. so in the end I just quickly uploaded it and just put something like ' I was the leader of my brownie pack' haah. The interviewer didn't say a thing about it.
Quad biking should be fine!
I think they just want to see that you can have fun doing some sort of activity.
As camp is all about fun! and being cheesy! :o)
lol I was really stuck with the pictures.. so in the end I just quickly uploaded it and just put something like ' I was the leader of my brownie pack' haah. The interviewer didn't say a thing about it.
Quad biking should be fine!
I think they just want to see that you can have fun doing some sort of activity.
As camp is all about fun! and being cheesy! :o)
This was really reassuring! I think I'll apply for councellor then and I reckon I could get some okay references.
I really want to work at an underprivaledged camp or an ordinary one - are these widely available?
This was really reassuring! I think I'll apply for councellor then and I reckon I could get some okay references.
I really want to work at an underprivaledged camp or an ordinary one - are these widely available?
well everyone likes to go to an Ordinary one so they are quite popular.. what about girl scout camp ?
You probably have a good chance with an underprivaledged camp as it would be quite hard!
What I liked about my camp was - that there was a different 'camp' every week.. first week was people with HIV, second was TBI - adults with traumatic brain injuries..
we had one week which was for underprivaledged kids - I was lucky my campers weren't too bad but a LOT in my cabin had such an attitude!
The boys cabins were so naughty! - one boy smashed the window and glass went in his wrist!
So be prepared for real kids with attitudes! they have come from a not-so-good background so I understand why they act like they do.
I went to Illinois, not far from Chicago. I was a general counsellor which i'm very glad about - I didn't really understand the roles when I was applying.. but program staff - specialists are quite left out of it all really!
We had a week off 7 weeks in - so we went on a road trip to the grand canyon & las vegas. Was amazing! and for 4th July we went to Chicago for the fireworks which was awesome!
To be honest I didn't have much money saved at all.. If I was to do it again i'd definatley take loads more moneyy!
I took $200 in cash.. $300 on a travel card thing - ( which I used to rent a car for the week we went travelling)
Then I just spent my wages if I needed stuff.. and saved my last two pay checks for the travelling which was around $500.
I was quite shocked how much it all costs really.. all together the payments in the application process cost me £900. So that's aswell as all that^
but it was well worthh it!!
feel free to ask anymore questions!
£900, how is that?? is there anything that they're hiding from me
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