SUMMER CAMP USA IN DETAIL

“Summer camp has a huge effect on your life. You learn so much about yourself and get to experience another culture. It’s an invaluable opportunity.”

As a camp counsellor in America you'll have the opportunity to enjoy the most amazing, fulfilling and challenging time you can imagine. After camp, there is time to travel and visit all those places in America that you've always wanted to see!

Camp counselling is open to students and non-students aged at least 18, who have experience of working with children and are available for at least nine weeks from early/mid-June to mid-August. It's not difficult to apply and IEP’s experienced Summer Camp USA staff are there to help you throughout the application process and during your preparation for the summer in America.

Summer camp is especially valuable for anyone who intends to work with children. For everyone however, it’s also a great way to enhance work experience while having fun, making friends and learning about the American culture and way of life.

AN AMERICAN CULTURAL TRADITION

You could be part of this tradition at one of about 10,000 camps across the USA. Thousands of North American children aged between six and 16 go to camp each summer for one to eight weeks. They go to learn new skills, have a good time and make friends with counsellors and campers from all over America and elsewhere.

Summer camp is a fun place where children develop life skills such as responsibility, communication, tolerance and how to live with others. Camp doesn't discriminate, judge or make kids feel uncomfortable. Camp aims to encourage independence and boost a child’s self-esteem. Apart from all the usual sports, outdoors, waterfront and arts activities, camps cater for anything from computers to circus arts, space travel to magic! There is a camp for everyone.

American camp directors like to hire overseas staff to add an international dimension to camp life. BUNAC works with camps across America to find suitable placements for
Summer Camp USA applicants. Participants are most likely to be placed at camps in the Northern states, New England, the Midwest and Southeast.

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

Summer Camp USA is the camp counselling program of BUNAC, a UK-based club for students and young people. BUNAC was set up 45 years ago to offer educational work and travel programs to and from North America. In Australia and New Zealand, International Exchange Programs (IEP) recruits participants for Summer Camp USA. IEP is a wholly owned subsidiary of BUNAC.

In conjunction with the designated US sponsor, IENA, International Exchange of North America, BUNAC enables thousands of young people from many countries to be camp counsellors in America. Once you are placed, we help you to get your visa and arrange your travel to the USA.

GETTING YOUR VISA

All participants must have a current, valid Exchange Visitor Visa (J-1) before entering the USA. This visa allows you to work legally on an American summer camp (only) and the program sponsor, IENA, provides all placed applicants with the visa application form - the DS-2019. The visa is valid for four months and is not extendable. The US Government does allow an additional 30-day grace period for travel only.

You will be required to process the DS-2019 at the nearest American Consulate and applicants will have to attend in person in order to process their visa. The US Government also charges a fee for visa processing.

The US Consulate may refuse a visa on various grounds including: previous criminal convictions, especially within the past two years, or suspended sentences or awaiting hearing; drug-related convictions; accusations of, or convictions involving child abuse; affiliations with the Nazi Government of Germany; failure to show sufficient reason to return to your home country; previous entry/attempted entry to the US without the correct visa. If any of these apply to you, please contact your local representative before applying.

Please also note that all J-1 visa participants are liable for an additional fee of approximately US$35 levied by the US Government as part of the participant tracking system, SEVIS. Further information will be provided at the visa application stage.