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Has anyone ever worked at Camp America?

30 replies

lilibet · 12/11/2009 19:40

Dd is thinking of signing up for next summer. She has jsut been to her first meeting and it's all wonderful

Someone give me an opposite/ more realistic view?

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BitOfFun · 12/11/2009 19:51

My DP did it when he was twenty (a looooong time ago mind), and it was the making of him. He travelled across the states ater that, had all sorts of adventures and ended up working as an artist in Hollywood. I think he would say it is wonderful.

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GetOrfMoiLand · 12/11/2009 19:57

My darling brother went to work in camps after his first year at uni. He went every summer, and when he graduated he got a full time job there with contacts he made during his summer jobs and is living the life of riley in Laguna Beach, California. He is absolutely loving it and would recommend it to anyone.

It really made him grow as a person .

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Lilymaid · 12/11/2009 19:58

DS is also hoping to go this summer. He's just completed his application form. One of his friends went last year and really enjoyed it.

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phobiccauliflower · 12/11/2009 19:58

dd1 was interested for next summer but has now put it on hold. One thing I didn't care for was that at the end of the work period they have to make their own way back to New York for the flight home. This scared me as she's still my baby!

Await with interest others comments.

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Docbunches · 12/11/2009 19:59

My sister did it many years ago when she was about 20, in Maine, and had the most fantastic time. She made loads of friends and travelled all over the USA after she had finished her stint.

She would also say it was wonderful.

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brimfull · 12/11/2009 20:00

have a look on www.thestudentroom.com there's loads of info about it there
search under gap yrs

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lilibet · 12/11/2009 20:00

I really want her to go as it's the sort of thing my Mum would never have let me do. Dd is quite a sensible girl (when sober!), she's 21 at Christmas.

It's the upfront costs that are getting me concerned.

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lilibet · 12/11/2009 20:01

She isn't going it as a gap year, just a 19 week stint in her summer holidays.

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cat64 · 12/11/2009 20:06

This reply has been deleted

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lololololol · 12/11/2009 20:29

I went as an 18 year old 25 years ago.

Ended up getting married to a bigamous New Yorker within a month of arriving there.

Many lies, tears and nights spent walking the streets, eating in soup kitchens or sleeping rough in Penn or Grand Central or Central Park (daytime sleeps only in Central Park).

The Camp was hard work, Three counsellors having to share a very small room in a log cabin. The twelve campers shared three more rooms in the same cabin. No locks on doors.

I also got suspected malaria from infected mosqito bites and was very ill.

Loads more serious bad shit but my memories have been thankfully blanked by the horror of it all.

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snorkie · 12/11/2009 21:06

I did it too in the days of yore & had a great time. I wouldn't worry about the journey back to NY for the flight home cauliflower - if she takes a few weeks at the end to travel the country sightseeing, which is more or less expected, she'll be a seasoned traveller by then.

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Lilymaid · 12/11/2009 21:21

DS was phoned a few minutes ago and asked to go for an interview next weekend.

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choosyfloosy · 12/11/2009 21:30

I did the exchange thing, working in other jobs in the US not camp ones - 2 months in NYC and then crossing the country in various different ways. I had the most, most wonderful time, it's still vivid in my memory 19 years later. I wrote a lot of letters home to my mum which are still fun to read, she kept them for me as a kind of diary.

How much of the upfront costs could your dd contribute herself? if you have to pay initially, could she pay you back from her wages?

Being a camp counsellor is a really good thing to have on your CV too.

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phobiccauliflower · 12/11/2009 21:30

You're probably right snorkie. She's only 17 at the moment and when she goes she'll be at least 19 and would've had a year at uni. I'll feel better if she doesn't go alone I think. I do like the sound of it.

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YanknCock · 12/11/2009 21:32

Slightly different view, I'm American and worked at a camp where we got a lot of counselors through the Camp America program. This particular camp was for people with learning and physical disabilities from age 5-85. It's hard work and you don't get a lot of time off, but most counselors really enjoy themselves! It was over 10 years ago, but I'm still in touch with a lot of the people from that summer. There were loads that liked it so much they came back every summer, including ones from the U.K.

The only warning I'd have is to remember it's not a holiday. You're expected to work and pull your weight, and you do have to deal with less than ideal conditions in some places, like uncomfortable beds, grotty showers, and canteen food. You can't be precious about getting sleep or staying clean. But 99% of the people I met really loved camp, as did I.

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GetOrfMoiLand · 12/11/2009 21:39

The camps whcih my brother worked at (not Camp America, it was a soccer school camp run my Major League Soccer, but run on the same prinicples) enable him to work all over the US - in one summer he was based in places as diverse as North Carolina, Montana, Salt Lake City and Texas.

He said that the best thing was meeting up with all teh other (unknown) youngsters at Heathrow prior to fying out.

He absolutely loved it and still does. Only thinvg is my mother is pretty upset (albeit resigned) that he will prob settle in US, now that he has a serious girlfriend and job.

He says that he did work hard but it was very much a work hard, play hard, all in the same boat kind of thing.

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Sidge · 12/11/2009 21:51

I did Bunacamp in 1991 and had the time of my life. I was 19 and at the end of my second year at Uni.

I didn't know anyone going to my camp before I went but met others on my flight going to other camps. I was a counsellor on a camp In Pennsylvania for people with learning difficulties and disabilities and it was bloody hard work! But it was also the most brilliant summer I've ever had - I worked hard but I also played hard and made some great friends, and had some amazing experiences travelling afterwards including hiking in and out of the Grand Canyon.

I think it also gave me some Brownie points when I applied for a job - I joined the Navy and they said at my interviews that doing something worthwhile with my long summer vac was a bonus.

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teamcullen · 12/11/2009 21:56

I was going to do it but put it off for a year as I started going out with somebody, 15 years and 3 kids later, I have kind of missed the boat now.

I did do Raliegh International at 17 though, and loved every minute of it. I spent 3 months in Malaysia, building bridges, water supplies, tree hugging, Surgical Eye Expodition, living in dense rain forest and sleeping in bivvys. It really was a life changing experience, I dont know whether your DD might like to do something like that instead. Although your stress levels might not be up for it

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PurpleRabbit · 12/11/2009 22:23

I did Camp America in 1997, at a girl's camp in Cape Cod, and it was fantastic. Very hard work (seventeen hour days sometimes) but it was a great experience. I went to visit one of the American camp counsellors at her college afterwards, and I still keep in touch with another of the Americans too. (And I sing some of the songs I learnt at camp to DSs!). Will definitely encourage DSs to do it when they're older.

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lilibet · 12/11/2009 23:12

Thanks, she has applied tonight and I really hope she goes, as long as it's with her eyes open IYSWIM.

Wish I had had the chance to do that sort of stuff.

lolololol - I think I'd better not show my mum your post! Hope life is kind to you now?

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lololololol · 13/11/2009 09:00

Lilibet - my mum had several litters of kittens over my escapades.

Life is great now thanks.

I'll never forget what it was like to freeze on the streets of New York feeling very, very hungry and confused.

One thing I learnt from my experience was never to take my home and food for granted.

Hope your dd has a wonderful experience - most people do!

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nymphadora · 14/11/2009 00:51

My friend went last year. She had a great time and loved the work. She met loads of people and doesnt seem to have been at home since as she is always away for weekends meeting up with new friends.

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bondcar10 · 13/03/2015 07:14

We have just returned from the sales pitch - whats the reality any new views?

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iliketea · 13/03/2015 07:15

I did it (about 20 years ago). It was one of the best summers, and I made lifelong friends from all over the world...

I'd recommend it to anyone.

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BreeVDKamp · 13/03/2015 07:22

I applied to do it when I was 19 but then I got a job in a call centre which I thought was more important and stable. I really really really wish I had done it!!!!! Ended up festering in the call centre for 3 years and didn't ever occur to me to apply again as I was worn down and had lost my sense of adventure and zest for life! Think it would be silly to do it now at 25, plus I'm pregnant, so not going to happen, ha!

Good luck to your daughter, I'm soooooo jealous!!