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.

Mine has been 4 hours drive away at uni for a year but Camp America will be longest I’ve not seen her.
I’m proud of her for going for it. She had confidence to go to recruiting fairs alone and speak to camps, then have interviews. She’s sorted all the admin, flew to Belfast alone for her visa. She’s excited. They seem to be chatting away on the staff group chat. It’s an opportunity to meet yp from around the world.
I’m sure it will have ups and downs but she has 4 years volunteer experience with girl guiding as a young leader including on trips away so she knows what is expected looking after girls.
I recruit young graduates and like to see things like this on a cv.
Her alternative would be home and hopefully getting some shifts again at fast food job she used to work at but 4 months is a long time to fill. Lots of YP home from uni are struggling to get any work with job market and NI/min wage changes.
This isn’t costing her money to live there and she’ll have some spends for a 2.5 weeks holiday at end.

One word - bugs.

Seriously though - why not head off and start your own thread in Politics?

Thank you so much @RatherBeOnVacationand @Investinmyselffor your answers - so helpful and interesting. I am so excited for all our YP that they get to do this.

Yeah the bugs don’t stop at the border 😂

Latest from ds is that he's really enjoying himself. He sent me a little video and he just seemed really happy! So that's good!
Any more updates?

Yes this thread has made me realise what wonderful kids we have brought up to have the confidence to go out on such a fantastic journey.

Thank you all, really do enjoy our chats and it is so good to know there are other parents to chat to with our concerns and our joys.

Biggerearringsbiggersmile.

Have you had an update on your son?

would love to hear what he has been up to.

He's still busy painting and decorating and getting everything ready for the kids. He's working hard but having good fun.
He sent me a little video the other day showing me the huge dining hall and talking me through some of the preparations they're making. It looks good!

Awww thank you for the update it really is reassuring to hear he is enjoying it.

How are you coping with him being away?

I'm getting used to it. Dh and I are crubbing along nicely and the house is tidier and the fridge fuller!
I was really worried about him when he was here because he was so fed up. Better this way.

Oh that’s good then. I can imagine you feel more settled now he is there and settled down.

I have been following the thread as my DD flies out in June to join a USA summer camp.

I have just read this article that covers Trump’s announcement on student visas (including J visa). Not good news for those who have a camp place but haven’t yet attended/arranged their visa appointment. For those whose DC already have a Visa it will be worth taking the advice in the article and keeping an eye on updates

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/27/trump-team-orders-stop-to-new-student-visa-interviews-as-it-weighs-expanding-social-media-vetting-00370501

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14754363/donald-trump-america-education-business-halting-student-visas.html

We let DS2 know and suggested he email the camp. Not what he needs just a week before he flies out.

Hopefully it’s bluff and he rows back (as he did with the tariffs) as opposed to the nuclear option which would be to start cancelling them 😡

I think the only other thing, worst case scenario, is to ensure adequate travel insurance should they not be able to fly out.

Both my kids have and are doing again this summer. They go through camp leaders as the pay is better and support just as good as camp America. There are loads of other agencies and I think DS has used other ones too.

Both had managing experiences and ended up in great camps working with amazing people from around the world.

it’s not cheap but it’s a fabulous experience and she should go for it! There’s a great FB group called Summer Camp Community Group. She should join that as she’ll get loads of ideas, advice and get a good feel for specific camps.

DD is really looking forward to it, she is going through camp leaders too. I'm not sure she knows of that FB group so I will pass that on to her, thank you 😊

Not long until my daughter heads off to CA. I’m going to miss her so much. I had a little cry yesterday about it. I am so proud of her for taking the plunge and going for it! I hope all of the kids have the best summer.

Dd was 21 when she went. The younger ones missed out when they had time off as they couldn’t legally drink.

She had a great time though. Partied hard when they had a night off and big groups of them hired airbbs at nearby tourist spots.

Spent a fortune travelling afterwards with people they met there.

Had a wonderful time but still paying off debt from it.

Sounds exactly how it should be.
Thankfully my daughter has worked full time through this gap year so she has managed to save enough to go travelling after camp has finished.

I feel exactly the same and I too had a little cry last night, I lost my mum in November which doesn’t help with feeling I am losing my loved ones.

I guess it will at least prepare me for when she starts uni in Sept.

DD is heading off to camp soon too. Thankfully she's flying from Dublin so will do US immigration here, so if anything goes wrong she'll be home in a few footsteps! I'm worried about immigration, probably needlessly, as she has her visa, but she'd be so upset to be rejected at the border.
Otherwise I'm delighted for her, she's off to up state New York, did all the work herself and its a well organised camp celebrating its 90th anniversary. Her friends are either on a 2 week drinking holiday in Spain or backpacking round Italy. I'm more worried about those young ladies getting hurt or into trouble or just falling out with each other dramatically.

Mine has also been saving for CA this year by working. She's not going to uni though, so will need a new job in September.
She arrived at her camp yesterday, first day of orientation for them all today, though some have been there a while already. She was incredibly nervous so I'm looking forward to hearing from her today so I know it's all been fine.

Please let us know how she’s getting on.