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What is Summer Camp USA

teach-at-summer-camp-usaSummer Camp is an American cultural tradition

Every year millions of North American children aged between 6 and 16 go to Camp each summer for 1 to 8 weeks. They go to learn new skills, have a good time and make friends. Summer camp in the USA is a fun place where children develop life skills such as responsibility, communication, tolerance and how to live with others.

Working as a Camp Counsellor is a uniquely rewarding experience

Working as a Camp Counsellor your primary job is to care for kids and teach activities. But you will quickly find that there is much more to it! You will be a friend, parent and role model - so it's no surprise that it's an essential requirement that you have a genuine love for working with children!

Counsellors generally live in a cabin of about 3-8 children and share responsibility for them with the other Counsellors. The Camp Director will expect you to set a good example, ensuring that the children keep themselves and the cabin clean and that they eat their food and follow the camp routine.

Your counsel to the children may include dealing with homesickness and personal problems and you'll need to be a mature friend and impartial adviser. Earning the children's respect can be difficult, especially if you show signs of weakness or indecisiveness. It is vital you are confident about the qualities and strengths of your own personality before applying to the program.

Types of Summer Camps in America

As a US Camp Counsellor you become be part of an American tradition at one of about 12,000 camps across the USA, and every camp is different.

Depending on your skills and experience, Summer Camp USA counsellors are placed at all of the types of camp listed below:

A typical camp day

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7:15 Reveille. Short optional dip or jog
7:45 Flag raising and personal inspection 
8:00 Breakfast, followed by clean up of cabin or tent
9:30 1st activity period 
10:30 2nd activity period
11:45 Optional general swim
12:30 Lunch 
13:00 Rest hour supervision   
14:30 1st afternoon activity period
15:30 2nd afternoon activity period 
16:30 Free time supervision
18:00 Dinner
19:00 Flag lowering followed by special events 
21:00 First bell, lights out for the younger children
22:30 Lights out for the seniors

 

We aim to give you all the information you’ll need before deciding to embark on the summer of a lifetime, but the facilities, aims and traditions of camp vary greatly so the information provided on these pages should be taken as a guide only.