Firstly – for those of you still waiting for a placement, or contact from a Camp – don’t worry – the camper registrations close off in March/April so by then they know how many staff they need you see. In the old days they were always full (pre-recession) but now they have to take each year as it happens. So most placements happen from March right through until end of June (last year our last placement was July 2nd! – boy was she excited!)
So – we find (I’ve been doing this in NZ since 2001 now), that if a camp calls or emails and you are having doubts – it’s usually because you have a pre-conceived idea about what camp will be like, more specifically – the camp you’ll end up at.
Then you get an email, look up the camp website and your stomach sinks.
That’s not what you had pictured in your head!
Well – firstly – never judge a camp by the email or the website – Speak to the camp first before you make any judgments or get any ideas at all. The website is only ever as good or bad as the web designer. The email is only as good or bad as the person who wrote it in a hurry.
So – since 2001 – I have heard stories from counsellors, year after year – telling me, without a doubt, that their camp is the BEST CAMP IN AMERICA. For sure. 100% no doubt about it.
Then I get talking to them – I met a counsellor who went to a Quaker camp – no power, grew all their own veggies! She loved it and went back every year.
Jewish Camps – everyone loves the Jewish camps… all that you’ll crave is bacon. But you can get that on your days off at the local shops no doubt if that really worries you.
Single Sex Camps – the first thing you won’t tell us about humming and harring about these camps is – “I won’t meet any girls/guys” – total rubbish! These camps are most often very near many other camps, so on your time off, everyone (yes – everyone) goes to the Local Walmart – which is FULL of counsellors.
Walmart has cafes and food places so everyone hangs out… not a problem at all so don’t let that scare you off! Your accent will attract enough attention to keep you busy.
Girl Scout or Rustic Camps – alot people don’t want to be that rustic – but hey – this is CAMP America remember…. and you’re a Kiwi – you’ll love it – it’s gonna be up to 40 degrees so how nice to be sleeping outside in a platform tent.
My point is – if I asked 100 returned counsellors now which camp is the best camp in America – they would all say “My Camp is!”.
It’s not THE camp it’s THE Experience. So make the most of it. Embrace emails and job offers like they are gold dust and be flexible, be open minded in your thinking and you WILL have the best summer of your life.
Camp is what you make it - put in 150% you'll get back that and more.
camp america blog 