Have you got/had a male au pair?

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At what age can they go to summer camp in the USA and we can send them over can't we ?
DD would think she'd died and gone to heaven.

On topic I shall be employer my brother as a Manny I think, should I ever get a job.

See that sounds more like what I'm used too, though we had 4 members of staff staying in a central room to about 100 kids or more, which can be horrible if all hell breaks loose! But I was only ever kept up twice, once by faulty fire alarms and then kids coming to me ill on the same night, they'd been keptup by the alarms too lol But I was up until nearly three and then was made to [illegally] work the next morning!

The other time was chasing the kids, though tbh, I don't think I was on duty that night, I was living in the staff cabins in that area and got asked to help! Again, no morning off even though I was one of the few who volunteered my help .

That place really took my god natured willingness for granted! Always working extra hours and helping out when I shouldn't have done slaps self silly

Oh my... and they say Americans are litigation mad. One camp I went to (Camp Lake Hubert in Minnesota) had a cabin that was sort of split into wings. There was an east side, a west side, and an upstairs. Equall sizes and about 7 girls in each. I think the counsellors (3 - one for each wing) slept in a central room.

I can tell you more about it if you want. There is a boys camp across the Lake (Camp Lincoln).

You say you visited PGL right? If it was Boreatton Park in Shropshire, theres an army base nearby, the prison escapee is a story we tell all of the kids because we're lovely like that

I just don't feel comfortable sharing a room with a kid, if they made an allegation on me I have no proof of innocence, just my word against theres, which is what really terrifies me. My whole life I've wanted to work with children and I really cope not being able to do so, and all it takes is one allegation for you to be tarred for life.

In saying that though, I had allegations of bullying and homophobia made against me last year. The bullying was dismissed thankfully as the child had been causing a lot of trouble and had been accusing people of bullying him all week (I took an umbrella away from him, which constitutes as bullying apparently. He was in the 13-16 age group...) but the homophobia allegation was taken really seriously.

At least until I admitted that I'm bisexual, which isn't something I hide but at places like PGL it's not something you want public either . That homophobia allegation was because I told a bunch of 16year olds off for being homophobic, ironically enough!

erm... are all those countries on the list now?

Just wanted to add I've had brilliant male au pairs from Czech Republic, we're still in contact with some. One is now married with a baby of his own!

A household of dds is better off with a male au pair imo. They also have helped with the gardening, diy, mowing lawn, looking after animals etc. Mine were much better than ironing than me and cooked some amazing meals too.

Some say women need wives too!

The US has never been on the list. It's rampany anti-Americanism I tell ya. (just kidding)

LotsOfLovelyShoes - did you get your earlier question answered, re Youth Mobility Scheme?
If not...

You are right that the Youth Mobility Scheme has replaced the Au Pair visa category. It has also replaced Working Holiday visa - which is what American's would have used to work in the UK.
Alas no idea why the US isn't on the new list, could be due to the US Government needing to sponsor applicants.

LotsOfLovelyShoes it is great that your DH is ok about having a Male Au-Pair.

I really did not mind sharing a room with the children. It's camp you don't really all change like that, in the mornings we would walk to the shower block all get showered (in individual cubical) then you'd come out changed. You would have the occasional change in the cabin with the kids but that was just tops or trousers.

So PGL sounds fun. I remember when I was there someone escaped from a nearby prison so we had police helicopters flying around the camp which was quite scary.

That's the bit that puts me off. I had night duty at PGL which worked well enough, I don't feel good with the idea of sharing a room with them though :/ In fact, I'd feel extremely uncomfortable, because I'm so used to the two staff members at all times if near kids rooms, no going inside unless it's important and then at least one person keeping a watch on things. It just seems wrong to me, do they dress before you get there?

I do remember chasing the teens about though, two of us at 2am in the woods with no torch because the office couldn't be bothered to come down and give us one against a group of ten teens causing mayhem in the woods and the rest of the teenage indies causing mayhem in the cabins haha

I was not a smore fan, I really didnt like them lol.

oh, and s'mores. God I could do with a s'more right now. mmmmmmmm

You really do have to stop them sneeking out lol, they do try. The only contact/communication they get in the evening with the otherside is by shouting messages over the lake during camp fire.

Isn't that the whole point of camp? One for all and all for one. Beside you have to keep those pesky pre teens from sneakin gover to the boys camp in the middle of the night.

Though, is it true that you share a room with the kids?

Yes lol. I wasn't best pleased with this at first but you get used to it, it's not fun having to wake the children in the morning especially when you get the older children. It was good though, like I said you get used to it and enjoy it. When I did my maintenance stint I was in a cabin with fellow workers and no children.

Damn you, you are confiring my better suspicions! My boyfriend's best mate has a house in America so his excuse not to work in America is that he can visit whenever he likes, and he's been there loads before and all over I will have to convince him if we end up going back to instructing! I've always wanted a stint in America and regret not going to Camp America to work the first time, my friend worked at Camp America too, so what I've heard about it does make me want to go more haha

Though, is it true that you share a room with the kids?

Well I have also been to a PGL camp my parents sent me and my Brother there years ago when they went away for the weekend. Compared to American camps PGL doesn't even compare. The American camps are so grand and the settings are out of this world, even the councillors and leaders are far better in the States than here.

I'll answer the questions now: The food was typical American food, pancakes for breakfast, pizza for lunch and big dinners but all the food is placed out so you help yourself. They also have healthy alternatives and a salad bar (well the camp I was at did) I lost over 2 stone in 9 weeks when I went as just ate cereal for breakfast then salad for lunch and dinner lol. I am not sure about gaining qualifications though. I went with Camp America and the pay was not good, very poor but I met people out there who went with Camp Leaders and they were getting double what I was getting paid. The evenings after dinner there would be a massive camp activity where we would all play hide and seek etc then there would be one counsellor/leader in each cabin for the night whilst the other one got the night off. Job wise when I went for my interview you have to tell them about what skills you have so since I was in Drama classes etc I then taught the children drama and we put on a play after the last camp session. The different activities there are endless and each day changes. If I were you I would definitely give America a go.

Yes I was a councillor and loved every minute of it. I was also asked to stay on for the extended camp which was another 2 weeks after the main camp season ended but I did maintenance for that session, cutting grass, mending things etc. I know I would love to visit a camp somewhere else in the States but the Camp Cod one will always be special to me and I'll be scared nothing will match it. Horseback riding in the mountains does sound amazing. God I love America, I also went travelling for a month after camp with my family and we were kayaking in New Hampshire which was just amazing! You really can't get anything over here like you can in America.

Yes lovely shoes, you can. It will cost a good few shekels. The Amican summer is longer than the British summer break. Generally, the second camp session coincides with the whole UK summer break. I totally agree with Steve that it is a fabulous experience -- one I would not wish my kids to go without. Unfotunately I sort of dotted around various camps and so never really made those life long bonds by seeing the same kids year after year. But, oddly, there was a girl who appeared at two of the camps aI went to, and another one I ran into at Uni. It is such a small world! hmmm... I wonder where they are now. Bet I could find them on facebook.

lovely shoes. I had a MAP for a summer a few years back. It was an unmitigated disaster unfortunately. That's not strictly true, he was a lovely German boy but completely useless around the house and had very little sense of responsibility. As I have 2 active boys I was hoping for someone to play football with them etc, but MAP wasn't that kind of boy. IMO he was gay but hadn't come to terms with his sexuality and spent the entire summer sunbathing, reading Heat magazine and getting dressed!
We live in the middle of nowhere, he changed his outfit 3 or 4 times a day bless him!
It was extremely hard work and was definitely a 3 child. I had to teach him everything from washing his clothes to making some toast. I think he had a good experience, he emailed me when he returned home to say how impressed his mum was with his new skills...I on other hand was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

I used to teach a lovely Turkish male au pair. He used to look after a little boy. He was absolutely fantastic, kins, patient, gentle. I would have definitely let him look after my kids.