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Original poster

Is Camp America worth it?

18 replies

EachandEveryone · 17/09/2018 18:37

My niece really wants to do it after A Levels. I foolishly said id pay for her 18th as Idcalway wanted to go one Summer. She had a phone interview today and it looks like it cost £799! And i cant see anywhere on the website saying thst they get paid. Has anyone any experience?

OP posts:

CottonSock · 17/09/2018 18:39

22 years ago, but it was really good. I was on a girl guide camp with a lake and daily horse riding lessons.

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 17/09/2018 18:39

£799 might be what they have to pay upfront now (loads more than I did but that was soooo long ago) but they get paid while they’re out there. It’s not wages but “pocket money” for visa reasons (and because it’s not a lot)

So if she wants to make money definitely not the way to do it.

For independence, friendship, leadership, getting to play outdoors in the sun for a summer, seeing a new continent it is fully amazing.

Rubyslippers7780 · 17/09/2018 18:41

I did..many moons ago. But it was not Camp America but BUNAC.. same idea..work at a summer camp in America. They paid all flights and the 'wage' i earned at camp was a small amount as they recouped flight costs. Accommodation was paid ( as was living at camp) as was food. Had to pay for stuff at weekends out of wages. Was the cheapest way i could go to America. Made friends from all over the world and have since travelled to them and them to me. The actual camp was hard work but fun.

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worknamechanged · 17/09/2018 18:44

Yes BUT approach the camp directly. I had to pay my flights but was given $600 towards them and got paid a salary.

What area is she thinking of, happy to recommend where I went.

Original poster

EachandEveryone · 17/09/2018 18:48

Shes not a sporty girl and shes trying hard to lose weight. She works in macdonalds and has a paper round so shes not afraid of work. She wants to either teach children with soecial needs or be a paediatric nurs or child psychologist. Shes very artistic and the eldest of six so shes used to babysitting etc.

OP posts:

Original poster

EachandEveryone · 17/09/2018 18:48

Sorry for typos

OP posts:

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 17/09/2018 18:48

workname how did you get the visa though?

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 17/09/2018 18:49

OP it does sound like it would be perfect for her. It’s a very active summer- even just walking between all the activities is a long way, then add in the swimming, canoeing etc.

CottonSock · 17/09/2018 18:56

She certainly probably wouldn't be the only one overweight either. Sorry if that's offensive to anyone, but the majority of the American staff on our camp were on my camp 2 decades ago.

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 17/09/2018 18:57

STA claim that they have the cheapest way of getting the visa and flight, looks like the use Bunac as the sponsor rather than Camp America. Link is here www.statravel.co.uk/summer-camps-usa.htm

Definitely worth comparing all the costs as it does vary quite a lot. First year I was with Camp America and second year I knew who I was applying to so got paid a bit more (yay) but had to go through a sponsor who I think was BUNAC but honestly it was a gazillion years ago

worknamechanged · 17/09/2018 23:16

name when offered a place, the camp sent a letter stating dates, role etc. I made an appt at the embassy and got the visa. I had to show I had something to come back to (Work, uni etc) but it was straightforward.

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 18/09/2018 09:24

You should have still needed a sponsoring organisation though for the visa. What year was it? Maybe the rules have changed.

WickedGoodDoge · 18/09/2018 09:36

DS is interested in Camp America (mostly as a swim teacher as he has a level one qualification ans experience) but he has dual citizenship and he might be better applying directly to camps so workname it is encouraging that you managed to do it this way!

worknamechanged · 18/09/2018 09:37

2011-15. May have changed though.

Momotheathlete · 18/09/2018 10:53

I loved my experience, however I would advise just be careful about which camp your niece goes to. Mine was in the middle of the Bible Belt, and I went when I was 20 (so could drink legally in England but not there, very frustrating) and was going through my 'snogging every boy in sight' phase. Which didn't go down too well.

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 18/09/2018 13:35

Wicked I’m sure with dual citizenship he’ll be in a much better position to avoid the expensive agencies

Stupomax · 18/09/2018 14:18

I haven't worked in a camp but we live in the US so my kids have attended the type of camp your DD would work at. They have lots of counselors from the UK who come back year after year because they enjoy it so much.

I wish I had done it at that age. I think it would have been a great experience.

specialsubject · 18/09/2018 15:18

dont forget to price up working holiday insurance which will not be cheap.

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