Beyond the Brochures: What Camp America Doesn’t Tell You

By Safia Minion

Last summer, I had the privilege of venturing to America to work as a counsellor at an all-girls summer camp. Although my journey was not without its merits, it defied the high expectations set by its advertisements.

Navigating the labyrinth of paperwork required for Camp America can be daunting. Thankfully, opting for an agency proved invaluable. However, this began the mounting costs. With the agency taking £429, flights that ranged from £600-£1000 and a visa that was $160, the minimum spend before getting to America was around £1155. At my camp I earnt $1900 (£1500), which makes the profit with minimum spend a measly £345 for 9 weeks of work. Furthermore, the small print of the terms and conditions states that if you leave camp early you must pay the agency all of the fees the camp would have paid them. 

One of the key selling points of embarking on Camp America is the opportunity to travel America afterwards. While the J-1 visa does allow 30 days of travel after working, and you meet people to accompany you while at camp, don’t expect that you will earn the money to travel through working at the summer camp. 

Yet isn’t the allure of Camp America primarily the experience rather than financial gain? While the compensation is often labelled as ‘pocket money,’ intended to offset expenses and facilitate the journey, it hardly reflects the laborious tasks and responsibilities undertaken. In truth, the value of the work far exceeds the mere notion of ‘pocket money,’ from my perspective.

Firstly, the hours are extremely long and the breaks extremely short. I shared a room with twelve 12-year-old girls, looking after them throughout the night. We had two evenings off weekly and six days off total, with an hour off on full days. Over 9 weeks this amounts to around 1127 hours, and with the maximum profit, around 0.3p per hour.  

It’s worth noting that the work you’re doing at the camp is essential for the entire camp machine. The business would not survive without the counsellors to supervise the children constantly. Therefore, the wage does not begin to cover the responsibility. 

Although some camps suggest that counsellors may have the opportunity to explore America during their days off, with expenses covered by the camp, my experience differed. A planned trip to Philadelphia was regrettably cancelled. This incident sheds light on many camps’ overarching ethos: prioritising the children’s experience above all else. The counsellors were there to work.

Moreover, the demands of the experience far exceeded those of higher-paying conventional jobs. One notable sacrifice was the complete prohibition of phone use during the long working hours. This meant that if you needed to call home you would have to fit it into your one hour off (this was most people’s only chance to shower during the day), or hope it wasn’t too late due to time differences by the time you got your evening off. 

The lack of privacy was certainly a shock to the system. Sharing a room and an open bathroom with twelve girls means no privacy when showering or changing. Time off was also in communal areas, meaning calls home were often difficult, which is tough when away from home for so long, working exhausting hours. 

Additionally, I certainly wasn’t prepared for the emotional labour of being a camp counsellor. Before embarking on the trip my childcare experience was limited to a measly few hours a week babysitting. Taking charge of a large group of teenage girls, often alone, is another kettle of fish. Battling challenging personalities, with limited support from above (this was particularly bad at my camp) spoke of the general culture of the camp. The children’s parents’ pay upwards of $10,000 per summer, therefore ensuring the children have a good relationship with the camp and its permanent members is crucial, even at the cost to the counsellor who spends nearly 24/7 with the children but might only be there for one summer. 

While Camp America may not fully live up to its advertised promises, I don’t regret the experience. The camps invest heavily in team-building activities, offering a unique opportunity to forge friendships with people from diverse backgrounds worldwide. Despite its drawbacks, it remains an incredible opportunity. However, it’s crucial for prospective counsellors to be aware of its shortcomings. 

Edited by Luke Dunlop