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.

It was from the interview slot to confirmation email, which was just over 48hrs for us (in Ireland so the Dublin US embassy).
If you are booking flights via Camp America, they have pre-booked availability so don't worry there. Its a bit more nerve racking if you are booking them yourself though. At the moment DD doesn't know when camp ends, as they may transfer her to a sister camp which runs for longer. Its lovely shes wanted, but makes flights a nightmare.

Mine finally did her tax from last year on Monday with help of dad and has booked visa apt. Belfast was fully booked so is needing to go down to London.
We are out shopping today she’s buying bits for camp. She’s heading back to same camp and says they have a nice Snapchat with girls working there from last year and new ones this year. Talking about going back again next year already!

Thanks all mine is returning to rural Maine for an 2nd year. All done at Embassy and they kept her passport so hope that’s a good sign and we’ll get it back soon so can start looking at flights.
She didn’t get given an initial refusal letter which I thought the embassy were doing so hoping all is well.
She got in the lift after with 2 people who had been flat out refused which I think shook her but they did seem to have valid reasons and had been told right away they were refused.

Oh and yeah not happy about leaving the Insta public as has picked up loads of new followers already which she’s not happy about!

Oh phew! That’s a relief. Although he does need to come back on a particular date but at least the outbound will be a reasonable cost.

Is anyone’s dc going to frenchwoods festival? That was my camp in the 00’s and I want to send my DDs in the next couple of years. Wondering what it’s like this decade.its upstate New York

My daughter is off again this coming Saturday, I can’t believe it has been a year since she went last year.
This time is so much easier for me with her going and been great for her with knowing what exactly she needs to pack and the whole process has been a piece of cake than last year.
She is so excited to meet up with her American friends again and meeting new people this year.

Glad you’ve posted. Mine is a returner, she went to camp on Sunday and the children arrive Saturday. It was nice to see her excited to see everyone again. She video called me last night and was absolutely fine. She’s same role and same camp as last year. She’s taking her group of girls to an adventure holiday in Costa Rica for 10 nights. She had to ring to get a form when she was in us that lets her renter on J1 and that came through by email so she’s all set.

Mine has returned too. A more senior position at the same camp, so she was thrilled. And like PP a much easier trip out, especially as she bumped into 2 others en route!

Do the more senior positions have private rooms to sleep in? I think the only aspect that puts off my YP is the thought of sleeping in a cabin with a whole bunch of 12 yr olds

So lovely to hear about other returners, just doesn’t seem like 5 mins ago we was having these discussions last year.
Some of your returners sound like they have stepped up a gear. My daughter is going to be doing craft sessions instead of just full on camp councillor.

wishing them all the very best of luck and hope they have a great summer.

DD is at a Girl Scout run camp where no adults share with the kids for safeguarding reasons, similar to the rules here. So she shares with another counsellor. But its real camping, in tents, so shes not far from the kids. She can't decide if not having a real bed is better or worse than a real bed but sharing with the campers though!

Mine is at an all girls camp. She does the older age 14/15 and shared a wooden cabin with the kids and had a bed, there was another adult staff member in the cabin too. On her nights off she had option to stay in a yurt away from the kids. When they went on a trip they stayed in college dorms and she got her own room.

2.48am and on our way to Heathrow, brings back memories of last year.😁

why didn't you book a flight at a reasonable hour??

I assume they’re on morning flight and will land midday and can travel to camp in afternoon. If they land later they’ll need to have an overnight in airport hotel which can be tricky if under 21 and more expensive. Last camp bus was 4pm for my DD’s camp - you won’t make that on a later uk flight (immigration can take time) Camp America also block book on flights if you go flight included.

But East coast US is 6 hours BEHIND the UK. If you're taking an early flight that lasts 6 hours, leaving at 6am, you'll be arriving at 6am local time.

5 hours difference. The morning flights usually leave around 8am ish land midday ish. You need to check in 3 hours before - so 5am ish.
We flew 12 noon didn’t land until 4pm and then immigration so too late for a go off to camp (mine had 10 nights in USA before camp so it didn’t matter). We had to leave home 8am for a noon flight and I’m not that far from airport.
The poster will know specifics but I’d assume they were aiming for a morning flight.
The London morning flight lot made the early afternoon bus for my daughter’s camp which was perfect as they got there late afternoon and had a little time to relax before the full on training started next morning.

Flight time London to Newark is around 8 hours.
So fly 8am ish, land 11am ish. Immigration and transportation to pick up point in a different terminal and get the 1pm camp bus was what the London flights did at my daughter’s camp last Sunday. Immigration can be a long wait especially if a lot of yp entering on J1 visa.
Obviously every camp has different timings and pick up locations.

❤️ sadly DS2 couldn’t make Camp America this year due to Uni school placement, but he’s currently on a road trip in the USA with friends he made from last years camp, so not all bad. 😄

Good idea. A couple of girls are joining my DD’s group after camp but can’t make camp for various reasons.

Well that was a surprise. DS2 has just come back from his US trip and told us that he and his mates went to the camp where they were last year.

He said it was lovely as many of the kids who were there are back again and they remembered him. DS2 said many have missed him and wished he could stay. I think DS2 wanted to stay too!

At least the camp director, who was also glad to see them, said that if DS2 was interested in going back, to email him after the camp has finished. I think he will do this as I know he’s desperate to go back. It’s just lovely that he had a really good time and wanted to stay.