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.

Also for those needing to do their tax, my daughter told me she did start to do hers but she got stuck so she is going to get in touch with her camp to see if they can help.

Congrats to those going this year, hopefully your young people will have an amazing time. DD isn't going back but not because she didn't have a great time.
She sorted the tax herself. It wasn't as tricky as it first seemed and she's a bit on the disorganised side, so if she can do it...!
Sort flights yourself. It's quite straightforward and saves money in the long run.
If there's a Facebook page for the camp, encourage your DC to link up with other campers. DD was part of a very busy what's app group before she went which started from the FB connections.

@Lbet I will definitely do a more extensive search then. He needs to be at camp on June 21st and back Aug 13th. I saw a BA flight on Skyscanner at £786 and the difference between the Camp America fees and salaries was £600. If you also account for paying less tax on the lower salary, then he will be at least £186 better off (haven’t worked out what tax rate he’s paying yet!). But maybe cheaper flights out there? Although helped by US hosting the World Cup this summer!

Just check pick up times. My dd is Timber Tops (I’m sure Owego share same buses) and there are only noon and 2pm buses from Newark to camp on 21/6. May need to fly in day before and stay at airport hotel night before. Last year there were later buses. My DD stayed the night before at holiday inn at airport as did some others.
Mine is flying in to USA 12/6 and then on an early morning flight up to Newark on 21/6. She has booked own flights. I use skyscanner for flights.
On last day of camp they were told not to book a flight before 3pm? And they bus them to Newark airport.

This is the intel I need! Will get him to confirm same buses. Do you know what she paid for her flight? I have no benchmark! Also , I think I read wait until visa awarded before booking flight?

Definitely wait to book flights until the visa is secured unless they are fully refundable.

Camp America always used to fly people out the day before and have them stay overnight in a hotel close to Newark before travelling on to camp the next day. Not sure if they still do this?

Last year for my daughter’s camp the yp on Camp America booked flights from London landed at Newark airport mid afternoon and there was a late afternoon bus scheduled for them.
They went straight into training next morning.

Mine’s flying to Orlando then on an internal flight up to Newark. Then home from Miami 10/9. I think paid £650 ish inc luggage. She’s booked flights before visa but had a j1 last year.

Is he not planning on travelling after?

He needs to be back Aug 13 for A level results

Oh good luck. Have they agreed to release him a day or two early so he’s back in uk for 8am Thurs 13th?

I honestly can’t believe we are talking about all this again, has it really been almost a year since they went last year.

Haven’t got that far with the logistics, but the agreement made at the fair was that he would be back on the 13th

I’m just thinking being in transit 13th isn’t helpful. UCAS updates 8am. My DD’s school emailed results at 8am too.
Landing 13th he’d probably still be on plane when results released/ucas updates.
They were busy at end packing kids up, big finale evening and quite emotional time saying goodbye to all their friends and the kids.
They were also paid cash final day too.
Kids left by 10am and she was on a bus to Newark airport 11.45am.
I’d definitely get it in writing what day/finish time his last work day is and he will need to arrange own way to an airport if leaving 11th or 12th to be home for 13th so that may affect choice of airport home.

It’s gone quickly. I’m a lot more relaxed this year about it all.

Yes, not ideal but he doesn’t have a choice. He has to be back for the 13th

If he definitely needs to be back for 8am 13th I’d ask them to agree he leaves by noon on 11th. Overnight flight home 11th land 12th. He might be better flying from jfk home. He could probably get a lift to train station then it was about 90 mins train into NY, then train to airport.

Is he into London? There’s a Norse from jfk on 12th landing 6.20 am 13th. Virgin lands too late it’s 8.45am.
Hopefully they agree he can finish a few days before so it’s not stressful.

Scary isn’t it! Sadly DS2 isn’t going back this year as his 2nd secondary school placement clashes with the beginning of camp, but I do know he’s planning to go back.

He still has photos at camp up on his wall at Uni and is still on touch with all his friends so his time there isn’t forgotten.

Thanks so much for your advice and I will check out flights from JFK as well as Newark. Yes, London as we are in Herts. They’ve confirmed he can leave on the 12th but will need to arrange his own transport back to the airport, which is fair enough. He’ll pick up his results on route and school are very comfortable that he will have plenty of time to sort anything out in relation to results and UCAS.

You wouldn’t happen to know the name of the train station he’d leave Owego from?

I’ve asked DD and she says Port Jervis, about 30 mins drive from camp (they got a lift from camp one evening - 12 of them did an overnight in NY) and picked up from station evening after.

Fantastic - thank you both

Mine has been to the embassy today - how long has it been taking people to get their visa confirmed and passports back if they’ve been recently?

DD is heading back to camp this year, she'll be upstate NY. Her visa was quick, but she was not happy with leaving her insta account public for the required 48hours so they could review her social media. But all was well in the end.
For any new campers, learn from my mistake last year with US airport hotels. Many have a no unaccompanied under 21s policy, and are strict about it. So double check!

I remember reading that about the hotels on here but, thanks for the reminder.

When does the 48 hours start and end? My son is only just been given an interview date. We are so behind but it’s been like pulling teeth with him to get it done. I’m worried about flights