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American Camp Experience?

Holamigo

I was exactly the same at first but when you are there it's very different - and everyone around you is doing is - so you feel out of place if you don't sing along.

Honestly if you want a really great experience do not be support staff.. you get really left out of things.

O okay that is reassuring !

Reply 21

Expression

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I'm interested in applying but camp songs! I'd get embarrassed easily. I don't think I could sing in a room of 5 people let alone 100+. This kind of makes me more interested in support staff than being a camp counsellor.

Trust me, you can be the most tone deaf, and none standy uppy person when it comes to singing on a stage; but although you'll think it's silly to start with and you'll think you'll never do that... for 2 days perhaps (when you see all the Yanks who are used to it!).

Provided your camp does a good induction week, then you'll soon be joining in!

You can get involved as support staff, though nowhere near as much; if you're in the office roles you could certainly get involved; as office hours are office hours!

I was in the office and got totally involved as much as possible in both my office work AND the camp lifestyle whenever I was free (i.e. doing my job and being a councellor when I could!); this wore me out, but I got a totally rewarding experience out of it.

That said, I'm not the type of person that would get up on a stage and act/sing but I did it during camp during the staff musical :smile:

Good times.

Admittedly, the Kitchen/Laundry Staff mainly tend to be Eastern European; Russian/Bulgarian etc, and the Maintenance a bit of a mix across Europe and America. They tended to keep their own social group together, as the hours of their jobs didn't lend themselves to the normal hours.
e.g After evening dinner, the rest of the camp does activities, the kitchen staff tidies the kitchen and the dining hall ready for breakfast the following morning.

Reply 22

Suz123

Brittni91

Does anyone know who does the best deal on flights? Or whether to pay for the flights yourself? And also, (this doesn't really matter, just wanted an idea) how much would you get paid for a nine week period?

Hey, I went with BUNAC this summer to do Summer Camp USA. The fees that you pay them cover all the stuff like visas, finding you a placement etc and then the flights are covered on a loan basis and then taken out of your camp wages (you dont ever see the money so you dont notice you've paid for it!) I earnt about $1200 this summer for 8 weeks at camp which was plenty to go travelling with after!

Reply 23

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Suz123

Hey, I went with BUNAC this summer to do Summer Camp USA. The fees that you pay them cover all the stuff like visas, finding you a placement etc and then the flights are covered on a loan basis and then taken out of your camp wages (you dont ever see the money so you dont notice you've paid for it!) I earnt about $1200 this summer for 8 weeks at camp which was plenty to go travelling with after!

Can I ask how much money did you take with you?

Reply 24

sam.hunton

1

I have been at a US camp for 2 years now. My first I was the tennis specialist. I ran all the tennis sessions from around 9.15-5.30, before and after I took on the role of a general counselor. This year I went back as a general counselor, but was also the cover senior counselor.

Overall it was a fantastic experience and one which I will probably continue this summer! Remember its not about the money, expect to most likely make a loss the first year, if you are lucky you will break even. Its all about the experience. All the companies are good, I would personally recommend Camp America.

Reply 25

x_dwin_ffeimys_x

11

Brittni91

So... does no one have any strong preference?

I'm going summer 2010 through camp america!!! can not wait :woo:

Reply 26

emmy09

Hi,

I went to summer camp this summer, and had such a great summer- its definitely worth doing it!

I went with BUNAC, and would definitely recommend them, they were such a great company. The best thing to do is compare all the companies to help make up ur mind- thats what i did last year, and ended up choosing BUNAC- mainly because they are a non profit organisation, which means that u no they're not trying to make a profit out of ur summer, and also a friend went with them in last year and had a great time. The thing that really made a difference to me was the help they gave me with applying for my american visa- which is a really annoying long process, but they checked it over to make sure it was all fine before i gave it to the embassay. And when I was in america, I had some medical bills to pay, but knew exactly how to handle it with my insurance because bunac had been over it on the orientation day

but definitely look it to it- i had such a great summer.... i cant wait to get back to america for next summer! my camp was a sports camp- so there really wasnt much singing for me.. which is good because the idea of that terrified me! instead i had a great time playing sports all day and made so so many friends.

emmy xx

Reply 27

x_dwin_ffeimys_x

11

emmy09

Hi,

I went to summer camp this summer, and had such a great summer- its definitely worth doing it!

but definitely look it to it- i had such a great summer.... i cant wait to get back to america for next summer! my camp was a sports camp- so there really wasnt much singing for me.. which is good because the idea of that terrified me! instead i had a great time playing sports all day and made so so many friends.

emmy xx

I'd love to go to a sports camp..my application is just all sport basically so hopefully I'll get a placement at one, I hate singing, can't do it to save my life, but love dancing.

where was the camp you went to and what was it called?

Reply 28

sam.hunton

1

I would assume singing takes place at lunch? Even at most sports camps it would. Sports camps just have all sports activities in general, it doesn't change what camp is about!

Reply 29

NatashaScotland

Hey! I went to a summer camp in New Hampshire last year and i am planning in going back again next year! Camp is amazing - it is so much fun (hard work but enjoyable). I went through BUNAC - they were really good! You go on a traiing day prior to leaving and they have a camp director their to give you advice and what to exect. It was really interesting and made me super excited about going! They were also really helpful with answering questions - staff are really nice!

If you want to do summer camp i would recommend applying soon! quicker you book your interview the quicker you get placed :smile:

Anway - give BUNAC a look if your interested at www.bunac.org!

any questions just ask :smile:

x

Reply 30

NatashaScotland

hey - just noticed the question about the money! Well with bunac if you are under 21 you get paid around 900 dollars, so i would recommend taking around 400 dollars with you! that means you have cash to spend while you are at camp and all your camp wages are for travelling!

Its not about the money but it helps! If you are worried about money have a look at the up front costs and the wages - i think BUNAC gives best value for money!

:smile:

x

Reply 31

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NatashaScotland

hey - just noticed the question about the money! Well with bunac if you are under 21 you get paid around 900 dollars, so i would recommend taking around 400 dollars with you! that means you have cash to spend while you are at camp and all your camp wages are for travelling!

Its not about the money but it helps! If you are worried about money have a look at the up front costs and the wages - i think BUNAC gives best value for money!

:smile:

x

I'v applied with Bunac:

How much childcare experience did you have when applying?

I'm concerned about not getting in b/c lack of experience although I would like a special needs camp as I'd have experience with adults & children with special needs.

Reply 32

Holamigo

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I'v applied with Bunac:

How much childcare experience did you have when applying?

I'm concerned about not getting in b/c lack of experience although I would like a special needs camp as I'd have experience with adults & children with special needs.

It doesn't really matter if you haven't got any experience! Just come across as very keen to learn new skills etc.. on your application & interview!

I worked at a special needs camp for adults & children - AMAZING. Honestly was the best thing I've ever done!
There were other counsellors who had had no experience at all with personal care etc.. so I really wouldn't worry. Also not many people go for special needs camps so you have more chance of getting a place!

Reply 33

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Holamigo

It doesn't really matter if you haven't got any experience! Just come across as very keen to learn new skills etc.. on your application & interview!

I worked at a special needs camp for adults & children - AMAZING. Honestly was the best thing I've ever done!
There were other counsellors who had had no experience at all with personal care etc.. so I really wouldn't worry. Also not many people go for special needs camps so you have more chance of getting a place!

Thanks. Will do! Interview is 21st :eek3:

Reply 34

thats_my_poison

1

so i really wanted to do camp america this year but my graduation is in mid-july which falls right bang in the middle of the camp :frown:

iv been doing a lot of googling and most american camps require you to be free for 8 weeks which i couldnt do. does anyone know of any which are only 4 weeks long? or alternatively, any camps which start after mid-july (since i would be free up to mid-sept).

Reply 35

Crystal89

thats_my_poison

so i really wanted to do camp america this year but my graduation is in mid-july which falls right bang in the middle of the camp :frown:

iv been doing a lot of googling and most american camps require you to be free for 8 weeks which i couldnt do. does anyone know of any which are only 4 weeks long? or alternatively, any camps which start after mid-july (since i would be free up to mid-sept).

To be honest I think it's going to have to be either or. By all means enquire with BUNAC or Camp America etc. but most places will, like you said, need you to commit for eight weeks or more starting the beginning of June or I think, at the latest, the end of June. I wanted to do Work America next summer and I've had to accept that it's just not going to be possible because I cannot bear to miss my graduation. I know it's only one day and will probably be long winded and boring but it means a lot to me and I'm only going to get to do it once. It's rubbish but that's the way it is. It might be worth asking your uni whether you could delay your graduation until the winter ceremonies. With my uni it's turn up on the day we tell you and that's your only chance but policies must vary from place to place. Good luck!

Reply 36

sam.hunton

1

As said above there are no camps that run for that period, especially as there is also a training week. Not to mention international counselors cannot work for a short period like US counselors. All organisations charge camps A LOT of money to place you there and expect a 9 week minimum contract in exchange.

Reply 37

thats_my_poison

1

thanks for your replies guys! hmm, i guess camp in america is out of the question then. does anyone know of any summer camps in europe that are about 4 weeks?

American Camp Experience?

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