Camp America/ Americamp Counsellors

[simpsons1]

Americamp/Camp America
My teenager is off to do a summer as a camp counsellor and I’m wondering if anyone has any useful advise. We’re finding a couple of things quite difficult.
Firstly we wanted to get a phone SIM (eSIM) for her to use as soon as she gets to America. Mint seems the cheapest at 15 dollars a month. We just can’t work out how to pay from the UK though. PayPal doesn’t seem to work as it only lets her put her camp address down.
Health insurance is paid for by American-camp but do we also need ‘normal’ travel insurance. So confused. Anyone done recent summers abroad in States to advise please?

There are quite a few groups on Facebook that will help you. 'Hebe's camp America tips' will give you all the answers you need.

You shouldn't need additional insurance unless, perhaps, she is going to be travelling before or after. Dd did the Disney summer exchange and stayed for about a month after, and a couple of weeks before - she has annual travel insurance so we didn't need to pay extra other than the medical insurance quoted for the role.

Re the phone. Depending on which network your dd is with it may be cheaper to look at an add on to your DD's phone contract. Dd is with EE and her contract lets her change between different 'extras' each month. One of these is inclusive data in various European and worldwide destinations, including the US - she used it throughout her summer exchange.

Ah, I really didn’t think about checking existing contract. Will do that.
and yes insurance covers after the camp too -was just wondering about baggage and flight issues.

My son has done it twice and is due to go again. He's always just used his normal mobile phone, I assume it must have data roaming.
He doesn't ever add extra travel insurance.

He absolutely loves it and has made new friends for life 😁

Any other questions just ask
X

That sounds amazing! How can you do that?

Does anyone know of any programmes like this that take under 18s? DS is keen and has finished school but won't be 18 for another few months. Camp America and others I've looked at all seem to require 18+.

I would just add data roaming in USA to existing contract for a couple of months - it’ll be easier. I had it when we went travelling in america last year and could use the phone as I do at home for not much extra cost

I think it's to do with insurance and work contracts that means you need to be 18.

Ds1 is doing it for a 2nd time this year because loved it so much last year. Normal phone, no extra insurance.

Thanks, her contract is really expensive for America so we’ve bought an eSIM from Mint mobile. Total pain to buy from Uk but good to have peace of mind that the phone will work.
Whole thing is very exciting - yes you have to definitely be over 18 for American camps.
We’ve looked in to insurance provided and it covers from flight in to flight out so that’s ok.