Summer camps in the USA - a workers review
Yolande has just returned from working at Lake Greeley Camp in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. It is a large, private, traditional summer camp and Yolande was a camp counsellor and horseback-riding instructor.
Working the summer camps in North America is a very popular option with British and Irish gappers and students and has been for a long time. You get a quality start in a country where work is bot too easy to come by and then the chance to travel having saved up a bit while your accommodation and subs are paid for.
This is a great option, especially if you are not so confident about going away on your own for the first time.
Why did you decide to work at a summer camp?
I couldn’t face spending the summer working in an office or a factory again! I wanted to work outdoors, work with children and also experience another country. I could have gone on a foreign holiday for a week, but I wanted to spend a lengthy period of time in America so I could learn all about the culture and people.
What experience did you have with children prior to working at camp?
I had just done the usual babysitting. There was a one-week training session before the campers arrived, so I learned all about the camp, working with American children, dealing with home-sickness and more, so I felt very well prepared.
Were you nervous before you left for America?
I was both nervous and excited. A couple of my friends had been to camp before and LOVED it, so I was confident I would also have a great experience.
Was camp life as you expected it to be prior to leaving? What was the biggest surprise?
To be honest I don’t really think I was sure what to expect of camp life before I left apart from kids, horses and fun... so I suppose in that sense, yes it's exactly as I expected it! However, it was more of a culture shock than I was expecting, I remember being surprised at the amount of American patriotism -like the daily raising and lowering of the flag, but it was really interesting to be a part of it for a while.
How would you sum up your camp experience in five words?
Exciting, rewarding, memorable, tiring and fun!
What was the best thing about camp?
The people. I made so many great friends from all over the world.
And the worst?
Having to leave at the end!
So what were your top three highlights at camp?
There are too many! The teaching would definitely be up there; it was so much fun and really fantastic to watch the kids' progress as the weeks go on. You feel so proud of them! Also having two months dedicated to riding was amazing and such a nice break from university style of work. Also our weekly days off were very memorable, it's amazing how much you can fit into 24 hours - the Big Apple, Philadelphia, and the beaches... it's not something many people can say they have done!
Is it like all those US camp films you see? If not, what’s the biggest difference?
Lake Greeley Camp itself reminded me a lot of a film set... a beautiful lake and wooden cabins but the cheesiness of camp life in the films is quite over the top. You do get a fair share of teenage angst, character building activities and hand claps but there’s also so much more to it; it's difficult to explain unless you’ve been there and done it. You can't help but get caught up in the bubble it's not often you get the chance to be - and are actively encouraged - to behave like a big kid!
Wasn’t it a little claustrophobic having to live and work with the kids day in day out - did you get much time to yourself?
I didn’t really feel like work because the kids are fantastic and you’re having as much fun as they are! I suppose there are times when it can feel a little intense but as you’re working with other counsellors most of the time, adult conversation (well semi!) isn’t unheard of. I didn’t get a lot of time to myself whilst I was on camp but you get lots of time to yourself on your day off.
What were the other counselors like - were there many other Brit gappers or it is quite multi-national?
Everyone is so lovely and because you’re working in such a close environment you make good friends pretty quickly, which is really nice. Each camp varies but at Lake Greeley Camp the majority of staff were American. However, there were a fair few from across the globe such as Oz, New Zealand, South Africa and of course England which, has been nice for post camp get-togethers.
You worked as a horse riding counsellor - how was that?
I loved it, riding has always been a big hobby of mine so having a summer dedicated to it was fantastic, especially as I haven’t been able to do much recently with uni. It was hard work though, probably one of the toughest on camp as we had to take care of the horses on top of the teaching and everything else. For this reason, it is also probably one of the most rewarding jobs, as you really do see the results of your efforts.
If you were to do it again, what position would you go for?
If I were to do it again I might go for a more varied position, but I loved working up at the stables. It would be really fun to try my hand at some of the other activities alongside it.
What qualities does a good camp counsellor need?
A good sense of humour, patience and friendliness!
What advice would you have for someone thinking of becoming a camp counsellor in the future?
Go for it! You’ll have a fantastic summer and get the chance to do things that you never thought you would and it’s such a fantastic personal experience. Not many people can say that they have experience teaching in a completely different environment with a completely different group of people and as an added bonus get paid for it... not bad for a summers work!
What five top tips would you have for someone heading out to camp next year?
- 1. Don’t hold back; get involved with as much as you can and don’t be afraid to look silly!
- 2. Don’t book your flight home too soon; it's such a great opportunity to see a bit more of the country. You can often change your flight dates for free so leave it until the last minute as there's so much to see and do and the American staff make great hosts!
- 3. Don’t just stick with the Brits, as there’s plenty of time to see them when your back home and it’s such a great opportunity to make friends from all around the globe - which then gives you more excuses to go globe trotting!
- 4. Don’t think that working on camp is just going to be a long holiday. It's unlike any other job as you’re being paid to have fun, but you are still being employed to work all the same!
- 5. American culture can be surprisingly different to English at times and you will see and hear things, which don’t strike you as normal. Don’t get to caught up in comparing, just enjoy it for what it is!
What do you think are the benefits to you of working at a camp? a
Now I have both international work experience and greater child care experience on my CV, I am confident that I will be able to set myself apart from the competition when it comes to applying for teaching positions. Beyond that, I am also a more confident person.
Would you do it again?
I had a fantastic experience this summer and I feel like it was a great personal achievement, so if I had this opportunity all over again I definitely wouldn’t change a thing! However I am also very content if it does turn out to be a once in a lifetime experience, it’s certainly one I won’t forget in a hurry!
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