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.

I am sure someone’s else on here had that problem last year, maybe take a look back at the posts or they may even see this and advise you. I’m sure last year my daughter finished on the 15th August but then spent two weeks travelling.

Thanks both

Anyone at the London fair today? Can’t believe that after all the researching and deliberating (by me, mind!), my son got hired 😊 Role sounds perfect for him, they are able to accommodate his exam and results dates, close to New York which I wanted, but hard to know whether the camp is a ‘good’ one or not. Lake Owego anyone?

Also, we thought booking flights had to be cheaper, but having done a quick skyscanner search, it looks like a CA flight will be cheaper. Plus, makes sense to take the lower income if he now has to pay tax on it??

Exciting times!

@sweetmelody Lake Owega is a GREAT camp. A traditional yet progressive camp and does coed stuff with Timber Tops. They are really careful with who they hire so if he was given a job then I’d say it is a perfect match. Well done to him!

@sweetmelody my DD did last summer at their girls camp camp timber tops and is going back (as are lots of the uk staff she was with) There’s 3 family owned camps owego (boys), pine (mixed) and timber tops (girls). They do some activities and some trips together.
The location is good. On off days or evenings they can go to a nearby lake which is like a beach. They did one overnight trip to New York by train. They did ok for free time. Food was very good.
The counselors have a group chat so they can get to know people before they go and a zoom call with director. They bus them in from Newark to the 3 camps and took them to Walmart day 2 to get supplies. There was transport to a nearby Dunkin’ donuts if they had a free period and a shop/ice cream place to walk to.
My dd travelled after with a group of British friends she met at camp inc a lad from lake owego.
They had great social media if you follow on facebook, YouTube and instagram. The girls camp do a video on YouTube showing all the highlights of summer 25 I’m sure the boys camp will too. It was obviously aimed at campers parents but you know what they are eating and what they are up to each week.

@RatherBeOnVacation@Investinmyself Thanks so much for sharing! I’m so thrilled. This camp counsellor thing has been a journey based on what feels like a crazy idea I dreamed up. Still have a lonnnnng way to go but your posts made me so happy to read.

He’s actually secured a gig as a tennis counsellor - he couldn’t have landed anything more perfect for him. He said yesterday ‘I’ve always wanted to play tennis in the States’ which was funny because, mate, you’re there to work. It may even motivate him to get some coaching qualifications when he’s back. All boys camp will be great for him, but time mixing with the girls will suit him fine too. He seemed impressed with the people he met yesterday - and I was impressed that there were pretty senior people that had come over from the States for the fair. Chimes with your comment that they are careful about who they hire - lovely to get an endorsement of your young person like that, and also reassuring cause I had a preconception that these recruitment fairs were somewhat about camps scooping up these kids as cheap labour in a pretty random speed dating exercise. Can’t quite believe they’ve found each other.

He’s been encouraged to email them with any questions but might take him a while to get his ass into gear Can anyone give me an idea of what time off allowed might look like? Of an evening and any days off?

Happy Mama!

@sweetmelody Time off at a traditional sleep away camp usually goes something like this:

1. One full 24 hour period off a week, apart from the first and last weeks of camp. Some camps run organised trips off camp, either free, subsidised or on a pay as you go basis.

2. One period off per day. There’s sometimes two with counselors alternating bunk cover during shower hour and / or rest hour. Depends on the camp. This is the time most used for calling home etc.

3. Some nights they will be on duty (OD) and others they will have the night off. This is usually done in rotation. Lots of counselors choose to go to sleep once their kids are settled and asleep when they are on OD as sleep is just as important as time off.

I’m not going to lie. It’s long hours and hard work. Those who go into it eyes wide open, throw themselves into it and put the kids first have the most amazing summer. I mean, playing tennis and coaching the kids outdoors every day - sounds perfect.

Thank you - most appreciated.

Yes, I am a tad worried that I can barely get him to do any chores and I do appreciate how much hard work it will be. Personally, I couldn’t do it! Which is why I’m so grateful that he’s got this particular role. Hopefully he will be able to push through….

You would be surprised how much young people “step up” when they realise that they are the responsible adult in the room. You can’t be hitting snooze on the alarm when you have to get a bunk full of kids up, dressed and to breakfast. Camps rely hugely on team work. Things like chore wheels in the bunks for emptying bins, sweeping the floors, tidying the porch etc. Counselors leading by example and joining in. There’s also an “order” to camp life with things happening at the same time each day which makes it easier to manage. They all fall into a comfortable routine.

Oh god - I’m sweating. Your post really sets out the reality! But I’m encouraged too.

Equally, it’s the perfect thing for him to do before going off to university

Yes the actual Director of my DD’s camp was up in Scotland in January for the camp fair. My dd went to see her and she said they were full for girls but looking for boys. My dd does outdoor rec (was a girlguiding young leader)
They have training for a week when they start, I think all staff from all 3 camps did that together. Mine got assigned an older age group cabin so more of a big sister type role.
They stay in cabins with the kids, a few counselors in each one.
It’s a very full on timetable and lots of activities and themes.
My dd was off once a week from 6pm day before to midnight day after so 30 hours free each week. She also only did 1 on duty evening in 3. She had a free period each day. There’s a counselor lounge and they can use phone in there. Mine was able to FaceTime me, signal was fine. Some staff had access to cars/bus and would drive them to nearby lake/restaurant/shop.
They did some trips with the kids to a waterpark, 6 flags theme park, Niagara Falls. I remember the boys camp went to the waterpark too. So it wasn’t just all in camp in the forest.
It’s not a religious camp but the demographic is wealthy Jewish or Jewish heritage. The girls my dd had were very sweet. One thing my dd was shocked by was how much medication they were all on for adhd etc.

@sweetmelody You still see him as your little boy. His camp director saw a fine adult role model who is very capable - otherwise he wouldn’t have been offered the job.

So true!

This is amazing. Thank you. Passing this on to DS and DH for info too

@sweetmelody there was a swim test week 1. Not particularly onerous but they needed to pass to be allowed to put a toe in the water.
Take something uk themed to wear for 4th July there were lots of internationals v USA type things inc a soccer match.
Taking some uk sweets goes down well (the girls loved Percy pigs)

I would set up a US amazo account. Really useful if they need something urgent.

Thanks both - keeping a log of all these tips

Awwww this is great. My daughter got her role at the London camp fair last year during her gap year. She had an amazing time, so much so she is going back this summer too. She did all her own flight bookings etc as she found it was cheaper that way.
I feel it really set her up for uni then in Sept, she seemed very confident.
Your son will have such a fab time, I’m excited for him😁

Thanks so much@LbetThis thread has been invaluable so thanks for starting it! I had the same thoughts about timing and university. I’m sure I won’t recognise him when he’s back!

Any tips about flights search (I should be asking your DD!)?

Hi everyone, lovely to see so many making plans to go again, mine is returning to the same camp and has her visa appointment in the Easter holidays.
for those that went last year has anyone tackled the tax returns yet? I am just wondering if we can do it ourselves or do we need to pay for the sprintax software - any experience would be welcome as want to try and sort it this week. I have all the paperwork I think that will be needed

Mine hasn’t sorted tax. It’s on my list of things to nag her about.

I will ask my daughter how she went about finding her flight, she seemed to sort it all ok. She ended up meeting others ay the airport as they had a chat group going on. I was glad about that as I was worried about her travelling alone. The camp staff met them all at the airport in a mini bus to take them to camp.
Which uni is your son going to?

They can do themselves as I know my daughter has or at least she started it whilst she was home at Christmas. I will ask her if she managed to sort it out.

Sorry think I typed that too quickly. They can do their own tax.

Sweet melody,

I asked my daughter about flights and this is what she said……

flights i definitely recommend doing yourself since it’s cheaper, doesn’t seem it at first but definitely is. This is becuase camp america will make it seem cheaper by giving you a lower price to include flights in your package but overall they take off the rest of the cost plus more in fees therefore you get less of a pay cheque. I would tell them to get in touch with their camp to see when they will be picked up from the airport or what the arrangements are for that so they know when they need to arrive at the airport in America. Then i just used a bunch of different flight websites and looked for the cheapest and best one that worked with the time i needed to be there. I used lufthansa in the end.

I copied and paste her text to me.

Hope that helps.