Camp America

[Lbet]

Are there any parents whose kids have done camp America?

My daughter is currently taking a gap year before going off to uni next.
She is really interested in doing camp America next summer.
We have had a good chat with a student who has just been for his second summer in a row. We have had loads of useful tips and advice from him. He did say you don’t do camp America for the money because you actually end up being out of pocket and you do it for the experience.
That suits my daughter fine as she is definitely wants to do it for the great experience.

Just wanted to know if anyone’s child has been and if you can tell me about their experience.

Thanks in advance.

what have people done for mobile phone if they can’t use their uk contract? - Tesco mobile roaming options are very limited and expensive. We’ve tried to buy a Mint mobile eSIM but can’t make the payment work so looking for another option and need to sort today as off the Heathrow first thing tomorrow

One of the girls DD is with bought an American SIM. Not sure how that works, but I'm not very tech savvy I'm afraid.

DS2 is having a blast, he made loads of new friends already. long days though.

My son is off to Camp Canada this week and has just been recommended a Nomad eSIM. I don’t know much about it, but his friend used it last summer without issue.

DS2 is using airalo e-sim. Its seems quite easy to use, he paid for the e-sim then he got a code which he had to activate once he was in the US. It cost about £20 for 10gb and lasts 30 days.

https://www.airalo.com/united-states-esim

For those with medical conditions. My son is type 1. Getting through security is time consuming but it was all fine. No problems when he was at camp. Anyone worrying about forgetting things you can order on Amazon USA (I had to send glucose tablets and cereal bars for his diabetes at intervals as didn’t get shops much)
anything else forgotten tell your dc to check camp lost property as there’s usually huge amounts of stuff from previous year.

Oh gosh my daughter is not the best when it comes to food🙈

Oh that must be reassuring for you.

Thanks all for responding, we have bought a 20 gb 60 day esim from Maya mobile - for £35 seems to have worked ok but will only know for sure when she arrives tomorrow and tries to use it.
She’s just finishing off packing her case now for a 4 am departure to Heathrow - feeling very real now! Very exciting for them all, great to hear that some have arrived and getting on OK

It is very reassuring that’s he’s having a lovely time.

Hi everyone. I've just had a weird online quote for £800 for topup medical insurance....

So:
DS2 has a nut allergy (anaphalaxsis)
I'm assuming Camp American's own insurance doens't cover pre-exsting conditions?
Has anyone topped up their insurance and did anyone do it because of a pre-existing condition?

We topped up with Go Walkabout. They were really helpful. DS has a genetic blood condition. We had to have a call with their medical underwriters, which was incredibly quick. The whole thing was sorted within an hour and we didn’t have to pay any extra. Go Walkabout work a lot with Camp America.

We too used GoWalkabout for my daughter’s pre existing condition. They were by far the cheapest but covers quite a lot. We did have to pay the extra but was happy to do that so she’s covered. My daughter has Crohn’s disease.

DD is on her first night shift, suspect the novelty of those will have worn off by August! Hope those travelling today got off safely.

It’s so lovely to hear how the kids are getting on. My dd leaves on Sunday. We still need to sort out an e sim and get some dollars, but I think we are all set otherwise!

Just left Heathrow, think we’ll be at work before she takes off as wwe were a bit early. I’ll be happy when she’s navigated her way through Boston airport and found the bus to where she’s being picked up. Going to be a long day as we were up at 3 and don’t think she’ll be getting to camp till about 11 or later.

What does your DD have to do on night shift?

my dd and her bf, university leavers, went to California a couple of summers ago, i wish i knew about Revolut
they are big on cash in USA. which was surprising
i had been also when i was same age, North Carolina, so a long time ago, and encouraged her, i did a lot of travelling afterwards. my dd did less travelling but enjoyed her experience in the camp, on the whole, good days and bad

@foxandhounds yes I felt much calmer once DD was at her final destination. It's the 'in transit' bit which is scary!
DD is at a camp for people with special needs. At night, two counsellors sleep in a room with 8 campers, as they need care through the night. She will be doing every other night every week, although due to the needs of the campers, they only stay for 5 days then they have Saturday free and the next lot arrive on the Sunday.

We are the same but my daughter leaves on the 21st, also meed to sort out sim card and dollars and then we are done.
Tbh I will just be glad when she is on the plane because she is being picked up from the airport so once she is on the plane I will be fine.

So lovely to hear how everyone is getting on.

All good so far - for anyone else headed that way immigration at Boston Logan was quick, just asked whether she was working in Massachusetts or somewhere else, looked at DS2019 form and passport and she was through. @JockyWilsonsaid that sounds like it may be tough but very rewarding for your DD, great experience for her

We have never been to Heathrow before, do you guys park up in the short stay car park?

Yeah we just parked in the short stay today. Very easy to walk from terminal from there. Cost us £18-50 for around an hour can’t remember if slightly under or over but wouldn’t have been anywhere near double that for 2.
Just make sure you get the right terminal as several different car parks

Thank you for that very useful.

How you feeling?

All good here thank you for asking. I’ve been stalking her using find my phone so know she has arrived now where she’s going to meet the people from the camp so hopefully will get a message soon to say she found them. Then I think it’s about an hour by car to the camp but I think we will relax when we know she’s sound her lift.
she’s said she forgot how different things would be in America - tried to get in the wrong side of the bus haha

Awww will be stalking my daughter too.

So exciting for them isn’t it, so glad they are getting the opportunity. I am going to have to keep myself busy I will miss my daughter terribly like you will too😢