Page 20 | Camp America

Lbet · 2024-10-09T07:10:58+00:00

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.

Original poster

Lbet · 30/08/2025 20:33

Thank you guys. We are planning to go to the nearby McDonald’s for a cuppa and wait for a call from our daughter when she is collecting her luggage, then hopefully the timing will work out for the short stay.

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Investinmyself · 31/08/2025 13:15

How exciting she’s back. Mine comes home Tuesday.

lorn195 · 31/08/2025 17:15

Lbet · 30/08/2025 20:33

Thank you guys. We are planning to go to the nearby McDonald’s for a cuppa and wait for a call from our daughter when she is collecting her luggage, then hopefully the timing will work out for the short stay.

@Lbethow did you get on?

Original poster

Lbet · 31/08/2025 22:35

lorn195 · 31/08/2025 17:15

@Lbethow did you get on?

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All went perfect in the end. I do find Heathrow very easy to get to and from.

She seems very confident, a body of an athlete and just looks really well. She really has had an amazing experience and was quite sad to leave.

This group has been so lovely to share stories and any concerns.
Honestly can not believe we are now talking about them having returned.

Hope to meet you all on here again next year.
Thank you so much everyone for the chat. Xxxx
Thank you to

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Original poster

Lbet · 14/09/2025 06:19

My daughter is in the process of signing up for next year. At least it will be so much easier for me to be more chilled about it all.

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lorn195 · 14/09/2025 08:08

Lbet · 14/09/2025 06:19

My daughter is in the process of signing up for next year. At least it will be so much easier for me to be more chilled about it all.

DS2 is planning to go back as well. So everything begins again in November. 😊

IsItAllMenopause · 14/09/2025 09:28

My DS finally got back this week. Lovely to have him home. He's also planning on returning next year. Thanks for the thread!

Original poster

Lbet · 20/09/2025 06:55

Well my daughter is off again today, she is off to start her new life at Liverpool uni. Our youngest is leaving us😢 I did honestly thing it would be easier to cope with her having just been away all summer but it has made it harder with her only having been back only three weeks.
Looking forward to me time though.

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Swimmum1206 · 20/09/2025 07:30

Lbet · 20/09/2025 06:55

Well my daughter is off again today, she is off to start her new life at Liverpool uni. Our youngest is leaving us😢 I did honestly thing it would be easier to cope with her having just been away all summer but it has made it harder with her only having been back only three weeks.
Looking forward to me time though.

Good luck to your DD. We took DS back to uni last week. Although I was used to him being away at uni then Camp America, I also found it hard as he was only home for 3 weeks. Although he did seem to be out every day and night making the most of seeing his “home” friends!!

turkeyboots · 20/09/2025 10:26

DD was home for 2 weeks before heading off to start her uni life. Its been werid, shes gone from wholesome "camp appropriate" life to being out til 3am at every student nightclub! She's also signing up to go back, and is looking for a.job to save up and fund more post camp travel.

lorn195 · 20/09/2025 13:59

DS2 is off to uni tomorrow and has printed loads of photos from his time at Camp to take with him. Can’t believe it’s here already but now that he is, albeit briefly, back on Wednesday.

Investinmyself · 20/09/2025 14:35

turkeyboots · 20/09/2025 10:26

DD was home for 2 weeks before heading off to start her uni life. Its been werid, shes gone from wholesome "camp appropriate" life to being out til 3am at every student nightclub! She's also signing up to go back, and is looking for a.job to save up and fund more post camp travel.

Snap!

Original poster

Lbet · 20/09/2025 21:41

lorn195 · 20/09/2025 13:59

DS2 is off to uni tomorrow and has printed loads of photos from his time at Camp to take with him. Can’t believe it’s here already but now that he is, albeit briefly, back on Wednesday.

My daughter has made a camp America scrap book, a lovely keepsake.
Our drop off went quite well. Once we had took her on her food shop and unloaded the car she wanted to be left to unpack by herself.
I think it’s great how camp America has given her so much confidence to now start her next journey. To be honest it is a big relief.

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lorn195 · 20/09/2025 22:41

Lbet · 20/09/2025 21:41

My daughter has made a camp America scrap book, a lovely keepsake.
Our drop off went quite well. Once we had took her on her food shop and unloaded the car she wanted to be left to unpack by herself.
I think it’s great how camp America has given her so much confidence to now start her next journey. To be honest it is a big relief.

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@lbetI think pretty much we will do the same tomorrow with DS2’s drop off, though he wants to be unpacked and sorted by 4:30 pm as there is a football match he wants to watch 🤦🏻‍♀️.

It was lovely to see the photos that he had printed off. It looked like he had an amazing time.

Original poster

Lbet · 28/09/2025 16:11

Just to let you know my daughter has been in touch with her camp and applied for next year. They have accepted her onto the team and she will just have to have a returners interview in October.
So we will be doing it all again next year.

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lorn195 · 28/09/2025 16:34

Lbet · 28/09/2025 16:11

Just to let you know my daughter has been in touch with her camp and applied for next year. They have accepted her onto the team and she will just have to have a returners interview in October.
So we will be doing it all again next year.

❤️ fantastic news

Investinmyself · 28/09/2025 16:52

Lbet · 28/09/2025 16:11

Just to let you know my daughter has been in touch with her camp and applied for next year. They have accepted her onto the team and she will just have to have a returners interview in October.
So we will be doing it all again next year.

Great news

Original poster

Lbet · 11/11/2025 18:28

My daughter’s interview for a returner is this coming Thursday. Hard to believe recruitment is already on the go again for next year.

Anyone else’s DS/DD going again next year?

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JockyWilsonsaid · 11/11/2025 20:20

Dd's camp has been in touch (twice) to ask her back, but she's a definite no. Not because she didn't love it, but the timing is a bit tricky. However, I'll see if she changes her mind in coming months!

Investinmyself · 11/11/2025 22:13

Yes mine had an email
inviting her back and a telephone conversation with camp director on Monday. They have said she can be with her girls from last year so she was pleased. She’s just had her contract through. She really looking forward to going back. She gets another $1000 as a returner.
She’s also meeting up with some other British counselors from camp at end of month to visit Christmas Markets.

Original poster

Lbet · 14/11/2025 06:27

JockyWilsonsaid · 11/11/2025 20:20

Dd's camp has been in touch (twice) to ask her back, but she's a definite no. Not because she didn't love it, but the timing is a bit tricky. However, I'll see if she changes her mind in coming months!

Ah yes it’s a shame when the timing doesn’t work out. You never know though.🤞

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Original poster

Lbet · 14/11/2025 06:29

Investinmyself · 11/11/2025 22:13

Yes mine had an email
inviting her back and a telephone conversation with camp director on Monday. They have said she can be with her girls from last year so she was pleased. She’s just had her contract through. She really looking forward to going back. She gets another $1000 as a returner.
She’s also meeting up with some other British counselors from camp at end of month to visit Christmas Markets.

Yes my daughter did mention she will get more money this time. I was quite shocked to see how much more the American campers get compared to the internationals and they don’t have flights to pay for.

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isthismylifenow · 14/11/2025 07:24

Lbet · 14/11/2025 06:29

Yes my daughter did mention she will get more money this time. I was quite shocked to see how much more the American campers get compared to the internationals and they don’t have flights to pay for.

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I am so happy your dd has the offer and will be going back again. It really is such a good experience for them.

The pay for first timers is just covering the costs to be there essentially. Returners get paid slightly more, but if she can go as a Specialist Councillor then they get about triple of a first year. Still less than a USA citizen though.

My dd did go as a specialized and still thought the pay was low, but when she found out how much the standard first year councillors were getting, she was quite horrified. I think she earned $3250 but I will need to check.

She isn't going back, so isn't going through the process again this year. But I have been wondering if the visa situation for the J1 is still the same. Where we are, an appointment for a an embassy appointments there is months and months waiting list, where she managed to get one within a week earlier this year. And do the J1 applicants have to pay that visa refundable integrity now?

sweetmelody · 20/11/2025 20:39

I’ve loved reading the messages but I have a pretty entry level question. We have just started exploring the idea of my DS becoming a camp counsellor next summer. How do we decide which organisation to go with and which part of the States (or do we not have any say in that?). He’s 18 and I’ve read that some camps don’t accept under-21s so this is a consideration.

Investinmyself · 20/11/2025 21:23

sweetmelody · 20/11/2025 20:39

I’ve loved reading the messages but I have a pretty entry level question. We have just started exploring the idea of my DS becoming a camp counsellor next summer. How do we decide which organisation to go with and which part of the States (or do we not have any say in that?). He’s 18 and I’ve read that some camps don’t accept under-21s so this is a consideration.

Him going to a camp fair is a good start. Camp America have them in major uk cities and lots of camps are there to speak to. Parents aren’t allowed in as far as I know, it’s aimed at teens. Some will interview there and then. Camp America are one company there’s a few more too. As far as I know 18 plus is fine.