Have you got/had a male au pair?

Steve, I take it you were councilor at the overnight camp. I went to few overnight cmamps as a kid. My favourite was Sanborn - High Trails. But, I am thinking that if they are going to get on a plane from London (and we are going to go visit half way through the 4 or 5 week term) that the East Coast might be a bit more convenient. Although, I do love Colorado. Nothing really quite like a horseback 3 or 4 day trail ride in the mountains. You just can't get that out East. Oh God, I too am getting all sentimental about this. I wish I could go back to camp. There doesn't really seem to be anything comparable over here in the UK.

I must say, the fewer job spots for male APs would likely mean that those who are going for it really want it, if that makes sense? That's my assumption anyways!

and lol at the ironing skills hehe

I feel boring now, I don't do anything in my spare time in the eveings, just skulk around the house watching telly or playing on the PC with the kids scratches head sheepishly but if I could drive, it'd be a whole other matter I can't wait to pass so I can join the local kayaking club and go to the nearest big town to find some spinners hehe

I'm curous as to how you found the American Camps too? Me and my partner have worked for one of the British ones and though he wants to avoid american camps, I'm really interested and a friend of mine has been working in them for years and is telling me it's the best time he's had! I loved working for PGL so I can't wait to get instructing again and America seems like a good option at the moment!

And an amazingly important question regarding camps: How was the food? :p
In all seriousness: were the activity ranges good? Could you work on qualifications whilst out there? (That's the main one for me and partner!)
How was the pay? How did the evenings work in regards to the kids and adults (like night duties, staying near their rooms, etc)? Did you have one set job or could you switch between them (like we were all Group Leader/Instructors so could technicaly do both, but usually you'd have certain people doing certain activities)?

AtheneNoctua - I would defiantly consider shipping them out lol. I was 21 when I went there had never done anything like it before in my life. The camp was the South Shore YMCA camp in Sandwich Massachusetts on the Cape www.ssymca.org/default.aspx. I miss it so much, it was the best decision of my life. The camp is about 30 mins from Boston situated in the lovely town of Sandwich. The camp is split into 2, camp Burgess for boys and Hayward for girls. The 2 camps are separated by a massive lake which the children can play in, canoe, kayak, make rafts etc. During the day the children mix together but at night it's girls in the girls side and boys on the boys. I would be here all day if I went into what happened each day but I would definitely send my children there without a doubt, I promise you they'll have the best time of their life. There is so much for them to do and so many new friends just waiting to be made. I am still in contact with the people I worked with out there, I now have friends in each corner of the globe thanks to the camp. If you want to know anything else feel free to ask. Makes me feel home sick just talking about it lol. I have never been back since as my girlfriend is studying in London so I am now here with her. Me and her after her degree are thinking of going back to a camp to work, this is the camp I would go back to, I have had friends who have been to others but from their stories they don't sound half as good as my camp.

Acronym List

Hi Steve, this is sort of a radical subject change, but can I ask what camp you worked at? Just being nosey really. I am American, live in Greater London, but am considering shipping kids out to America for camp in a few years. Bit soon as DS (Dear Son) is only almost 4. But, something I'm considering so would be interested in your view of wherever you worked.

LotsOfLovelyShoes - I am sorry I am so far away, would have been good to help out.

I have more questions since new to this site, what's with all the abbreviations? DD, DH etc

Squiffy I like your comments. LotsOfLovelyShoes I am a 24 year old male from Aylesbury, my mother has run a childminding business in our home when I was 3. From the age of 10 I helped her out with the business and also did babysitting in the evening from many of the children. My father also now runs the business with my Mum. I have no qualifications but do have a CRB check as I worked in America at a childrens camp in 2006. I was there for 3 months and was a camp counceller looking after a cabin of children. Would you be interested in someone like me? Are you in the London area?

I have a Spanish AP and he is by far the best AP I have ever had. He's been her 6 months, staying another 6 months at least. He is very good natured (no moping round the house, dreaming of winning the X factor). He is out running every day, comes home and plays with kids in garden and takes them swimming. Boundless energy and always cheerful. And he gets on as well with my DD (2.5) as he does with my DS(5.5)

Admittedly, the ironing skills aren't the best...

I will never have a female again - there are fewer openings for male AP's so you can pick and choose and get exactly what you want, instead of compromising on X, Y and Z. Ours is a 25yr old Uni grad from a family where mum is a GP and dad a company director so he 'gets' the work ethic and has lots of same values that we have (ref healthy food, excercise, etc), totally different from the limp pasty girl I had before who miserably wafted round the house sucking out the energy like some housetrained dementor...

I think if you are looking for active au pairs it may be an idea. There are active ladies about (Like me! Haha) but we are far and few between! Dependant on activity of course. I'm a watersports girl myself

I wish there were more people willing to accept male au pairs and couples, because many families advertise that they accept couples, they don't

And if you go for a guy then that'll be one extra job on the market for them!

Could work, especially if you have boys (though actually I find girls like being looked after by a bloke as well sometimes).

Can I query which country you are in... as if you are in the UK you can't have someone come from the US - see Youth Mobility Scheme