Find the Real America on your Gap Year
9th of November 2008
Spend your student summer holiday on a BUNAC Summer Camp Programme
According to the latest 2008 Lonely Planet* survey, the USA is now the top destination that travellers are most likely to visit next. For the first time since the survey began in 2004 America has bumped Australia off the number one spot, but what is it that entices travellers? Is there more to America than New York and Disney World? Spending the summer working with children on camp might be one way to discover the real America.
With over 11 million children each summer going to one of 12,000** camps located all over North America, camp life is an integral part of American culture. Often situated in beautiful lakeside settings, camp provides a safe environment for kids to take part in a huge range of activities and sports, which is not only a lot of fun but according to the American Camp Association (ACA), also helps to build kids’ self-confidence and social skills.
Traditionally camp directors recruit international staff to expose campers to different cultures and at the beginning of every summer camps welcome counsellors from every corner of the world. BUNAC, a not for profit organisation, has been running its Summer Camp USA programme for over 38 years, arranging placements for UK residents as camp counsellors.
BUNAC Director, Callum Kennedy, comments on the benefits of the programme. “Working as a camp counsellor not only equips young people with fantastic communication and leadership skills, it looks great on a CV. It’s a tough job and camp directors are looking to recruit counsellors willing to roll their sleeves up and get stuck in! Daily life on camp is a unique experience and no two days are the same. Many of our Summer Camp USA participants have such a fun and rewarding experience that they return to camp time and time again.”
There are various skills needed to be a good counsellor and a huge range of activities that counsellors can get involved with. Callum explains, “The chance of successful placement is greatly enhanced by having child care experience and preferably the ability to teach or assist with a camp activity. Popular camp activities include horse riding, football, swimming or other water sports, arts and crafts, theatre and outdoor pursuits – there is a camp activity to suit almost any interest.“
Rob MacAllister spent the summer on the BUNAC Summer Camp USA programme as a basketball specialist counsellor at the renowned Kamp Kohut in Maine. He explains why he decided to spend his university holidays on camp: “I spent all last summer working at my local Currys store and I didn’t want that to be me again. I wanted to do something that would be an experience of a lifetime.”
The BUNAC Summer Camp USA programme is open to all permanent UK residents over 18 years old. All candidates have to complete a comprehensive application as well as attend an interview before being accepted onto the programme. However, judging by the response from previous participants, it’s a process worth going through.
Summing up his experience in America Rob says, “Being a camp counsellor allowed me to do all the things I love: play Basketball, teach, and meet new people. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to see the real America.”
The BUNAC Summer Camp team provides advice, support and full visa processing as well as ensuring that individuals are placed in the right camp for them. Visit www.bunac.org for further information, to request a Summer Camp USA Brochure and to apply online. Alternatively you can call 020 7251 3472. Candidates pay £25 at the time of the interview booking and the balance of the registration fee, £116 on the day of their interview. Other programme expenses include US visa fees (approx. £55), BUNAC membership (£5) and insurance (£133). A CRB check may also be required and currently costs £36.
*Lonely Planet, Travellers’ Pulse Survey 2008 (17,500 respondents from 132 countries)
** ACA (American Camp Association) statistics, www.acacamps.org
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