Which Camp is best?

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.

Superstar

You don’t have to be a superstar to apply to go to Camp America – but you do need to have something you can ‘bring to camp’  – and I don’t mean Vegemite.

Swim teachers at camp

We like enthusiasm and flexibility the most – those applicants who say “Yep – I’ll give that a try!” – we like you.

The kids are kids – you know – aged between 5-16 mainly. So – 9 times out of 10 you don’t need to be Olympic Level at your top skills to teach it to the kids.

Teaching – if you’ve taught others your skill (even just friends or family) that’s “teaching experience” – make sure you list it – how long for, how many times?

Teaching or Coaching Experience – doesn’t mean you’ve been taught or coached by someone else. Nope. It means – you have taught or coached others in this skill. If you have taught or coached – tell us all about it on your application form.

While looking through applications this week for the Camp Directors Recruitment Day – I have found that often an applicant hasn’t mentioned enough detail about their experience so the camp has said “no thanks”.

For example one application came across as not having alot of experience with children so the camp said no thanks – we spoke to the interviewer who said yes he did – but he hadn’t conveyed it on his application well enough.

Fact: Camps cannot read minds.

Myth: Camps will call you anyway and find out

No – they have so many applications to look through – if they don’t like what they see they just move on to the next one.

Fact: Alot of camps have a religious emphasis of some kind

Don’t cut yourself off from these camps – they WON’T hire you for Bible Study Class if you are not religious – they’ll hire you to teach the kids your skill. These kids will be from a religious family. You may have to accompany them to a service weekly and join in for Grace before dinner or sing songs at the service – but the camp understands you are not religious before they hire you.

Myth: You end up Jewish at the end of Camp if you go to a Jewish Camp.

Jewish camps will know you are not Jewish (btw – if you are Jewish we need to see your application asap!!) by looking on your application. Apart from Orthodox Jewish Camps they like to hire staff from all kinds of backgrounds.

I have spoken to loads of counsellors that have been to Jewish Camps and loved it, they find it interesting and really apart from a service weekly the only thing you’ll really notice is you won’t eat dairy and meat together and no pork.

Don't cut off you placement chances

Lastly – be courteous – to camps calling/emailing you… get back to them straight away… and if you are polite and positive every time we communicate with you – you’ll give us that “they are a really nice applicant” feeling and we’ll go out of our way to make sure you get placed.

Some applicants don’t communicate with us, and then decide they don’t want to go anymore, ignore camps contacting them, ignore us…. then finally after many calls and messages from us they tell us they’ve cancelled.

Fact: There is a CANCEL button on your Camp America Direct page.

Fact: We can’t read minds either.

If you do decide not to go – cancel, and let someone else have a shot at the job. I know there are lots of you out there waiting very patiently – we have noticed – thank you.

Til next time – Vicki

Kiwis are modest

Don't miss out, don't be modest

Most Kiwis have to be poked and prodded before they’ll talk about themselves so a Camp America application can prove difficult for them. They don’t like to talk about themselves, rate themselves, sell themselves.

Well…

Just remember – you are up against Australians and Americans and South Africans – THEY WILL… so take advantage of the fact you have grown up near rugged bush walks, dangerous oceans and lakes, and have learnt things that you think are just normal… but to someone from another country – it may not be.

Sell yourself – tell us and the Camp Directors everything there is to be told about every skill you have. Overnight Camping and Hiking (Tramping) are two in demand skills, and we do this growing up, at school, at scouts and guides – it becomes the norm for a kiwi to do. So you get to where you are now and think – “oh that’s nothing” – well – it isn’t nothing – it’s a FAB skill.

Hiking example; How far, how long, how often, what is the terrain like, did you stay overnight, did you pitch a tent, make a fire, cook food, cross rivers, help others, carry a heavy pack. Just saying you hiked on Mt Ruapehu doesn’t convey to the camps exactly how intense that is.

OK – so you’ve kayaked all your life, – grab some kids (that you know :-)) and teach them (with parents permission and a life jacket of course), see what it’s like to teach a skill you know inside out – it can be different. But then GUESS WHAT?
You’ll have teaching experience!!!

Golf – we want to know your handicap.

We don’t want to know what you can’t do.
Don’t write – BUT I can’t do this that or the other…

Referring to stuff you did at highschool is all very well but it’s continually reminding the camps how young you are – try and refer to club based experience instead. Taking a class at school and being ‘taught’ it – does NOT mean you have ‘teaching experience’.

Have rock-climbing experience? Get down to your local wall and volunteer to help kids climb…

There are so many ways you can gain really valuable teaching experience without it costing an arm and a leg.

Have fun too.

Moral of this blog – don’t be shy, don’t be modest – this is your once in a lifetime chance to get to Camp America.

Camp Modin

 

Waterfront at Modin

So – we have another special camp coming to NZ to hire Kiwis

they will be…. in

Christchurch 15th Jan, Tauranga 17-19 Jan and at Auckland Recruitment Day on Jan 22 hiring the following – must be 19+ – whose keen?

1) Basketball coach (preferably female but will consider a male).
2) 4-5 Tennis staff (male and female)
3) 5-6 Sailing staff (male and female)
4) 7-8 Waterski staff (male and female)
5) 2-3 Arts & Crafts Teachers (female) – must be actual arts and crafts teachers
6) 1-2 Dance instructors (female)
7) 1 Pilates and/or Yoga instructor (female)
8) 2-3 Photography specialists (male and female)
9) 1 video specialist (preferably female)
10) 1-2 archery specialists (male)
11) 4-5 Gymnastics Specialists (female)
12) 1 Lacrosse instructor (male)
13) 1 Soccer Instructor (female)
14) 6-7 Swim Instructors/Lifeguards (male and female) – must have BOTH certifications with minimum 2 years experience
15) 10-11 Trip Leaders (male and female) – ropes/abseiling, trip leading, canoeing and RIFLERY skills needed in the mix)
16) Jewish General Counselors (female only)

Camp Modin – check it out.

Face painting for campers

Camps..

the big bounce

Most people ask us what camp is like.

 

Well – it usually has a lake. The privately owned camps (including Jewish and Christian camps) can be quite flash, while the agency camps and scout camps are more traditional rustic camps.

What we do know is – every likes THEIR camp best. No matter what type.

So keep your options open – don’t rule any type of camp out – this will increase your placement chances because it shows flexibility and open mindedness.

Alot of people also say they don’t want to go to a camp with a Christian emphasis. I would also ask you re-think this too.. camps that have a Christian emphasis are not going to hire someone that does not believe in God to lead Bible Study class – are they…  nope – you’ll be chosen to teach what it is that you DO know something about…. and the kids will be from Christian families…. it won’t effect you – you won’t be converted by the end of camp…..

 

It may mean that you’ll need to go to the weekly service – often more about positive thinking and values than full on worship…and yes, you may be expected to join in the song singing – why? Because you’re there for the kids, they may be shy about singing but if they see you do it they will more likely join in – you’re their role model at camp you see….

Not really so bad hey!

 

Of course if you can lead bible study – GREAT!! Camps will hire you for that or for another one of your top skills…

By the way – I hope you are all busy selling yourselves on your application – there is no room for Kiwi Modesty for Camp America applications.

 

Vicki

Camps are coming

yes that’s right!

American Summer Camps are coming to Auckland (and a couple of other quick stops) to hire staff for summer 2011.

Get a job on the day…

Here’s the link for more info and which camps..

Recruitment Days

A tour of camp - ILC

Hayo-Went-Ha

Dave from Hayo-Went-Ha camp is in Tauranga Jan 14 and in Auckland Jan 12 to hire kiwi’s.

Can you teaching sailing, lead hiking trips, lead canoeing trips on a lake, lead a mountain bike group?

If so – we want you to meet this camp. You must have passed your local Camp America Interview though so get online and start finishing your application.

YMCA Camp Hayo-Went-Ha for Boys – YMCA Hayo-Went-Ha Camps

www.hayowentha.org

Located on 600 acres on the shores of beautiful Torch Lake, YMCA Camp Hayo-Went-Ha has 105 years of tradition and experience to provide incredible adventures campers remember for a lifetime.

 

Hints from the one’s in the know

High Ropes - can you teach this?

 

OK -so everyone wants to be accepted right?

We’ve put together a few TIPS and TRICKS for you…

Skills Section

This is the main section on the application and many Camp Directors browse through hundreds of applications by only looking at the availability and skills section before selecting the ones they would want to look at closely as potential candidates.

You therefore must use this section to sell your skills and experience. It is essential to write at least a paragraph (4-5 sentences or more) about each skill go into major detail about your training, coaching experience, competitions and work experience.

• Have you done a good job describing your skills, giving examples and listing all experience?.

For example:

• Skill/Sport experience – How long have you participated in your skill/sport?
• Did you play on a team or coach and if so how long?
• Do you have certificates in the skills you are applying for and what do these certificates mean (what would be your equivalent in the US – you should use Internet to find the relevant information or if you have no luck online contact the Auckland office and we’ll check with our US placement co-originators)
• Have you won awards and what was involved in winning these awards?

Work Experience

• What is/was your job?
• Are any of the skills gained at the job transferable into the different positions you are applying for?
• What are the roles you perform?
• How many days a week do you work and how many hours?
• What do you enjoy about the job?
• Team Work – have you shown in your skills your ability to work in a team and how you would use your skill to support your team in your day to day activity.

• You must avoid using “negative” words and comments when completing the skills sections.

Camp Directors do not want to hear what you cannot do. For example an applicant writing about tennis as a skill may write: “I have played on a tennis team but never coached anybody but I am positive I can teach this skill”. Negative words like: never, can’t, haven’t should be avoided.

The order that the skills are listed in the application form is very important. Your strongest skill should always be listed first. If you have more than one strong skill then the high demand skill should always come first. Check with your interviewer if your high demand skills were not discussed at interview.

Work & Education history

Please make sure that you include any volunteer work (including guides/scouts/brigades) or community service in this section. It also includes working at a previous camp as all of this experience is relevant.

Personal Statement

This is the only freestyle part of the application where you can “sell yourself” to a Camp Director by writing about what kind of person you are and why a Director should hire YOU. Don’t be shy!! You only get one shot to impress.

In this section you should focus on • your personality and values – hard working, honest, responsible etc. How do your friends describe you. • What you hope to achieve in life and why you want to go to America • What would you bring to the camp staff team • Why a camp should choose you.

You should not be shy about yourself as the Camp Directors do not have the opportunity to meet with you in advance and will make a decision based on what they read on your application form.

Uploads

Portrait Photo

The Camp Directors always look at your portrait picture first (as a thumbnail) and make their first impression based on that. It is therefore VERY important to upload the best picture you can get of yourself. The picture must be clear, showing your head and shoulders, face on, and show you as a happy person (big smiles☺!!!!). Crop out any background and only you please in the photo. No sunglasses or caps.

Jet-skiing at camp

A Camp Director wants to see photos of you performing the skills for which you are applying for. You need to make the effort to get and upload photos that will enhance your application and not just whatever photo you have on your mobile phone or social networking site that has nothing to do with your application and skills (this includes pictures of you and your family or you on a skiing holiday).

• You need to be clearly visible in the photo and not “lost in the crowd”
• You must write a description of what the director is seeing in the photo.
• The photo should show ACTION not you just standing in front of the pool/beach/wall.

Photos that have to be rejected for not being helpful to the application cause delay with application completion and may jeopardise the chances of getting a placement.

Certificates and Qualifications

The Camp Directors only want to see:

• Certificates and qualifications that are relevant to the skills you have listed.

As certificates and qualifications are different from country to country, you need to detail as much information about the qualification as possible.

We need information such as:

• What exactly does the qualification allow you to do?
• What was required to obtain it?
• Is it still valid?
• Is this a national or local qualification?
• Is there an equivalent qualification in the US?

The answer to all of these questions must be listed in the skills section of the application.

References

A reference can be only accepted if it meets all the criteria. We find that references are the number 1 factor for delaying an application from being completed.

PLEASE double-check if your references meet all the criteria. Who should write the reference?

We find that many of you misinterpret the requirement that a reference needs to be from somebody who has known you in professional capacity for at least 6 months. To make this clearer this means that the referee:

• has had to have direct contact with you and was either your teacher, coach, supervisor or manager (not a co-worker!!).
• have known you in WORKING/ACADEMIC relationship for at least 6 months. References from someone with whom you worked for only 2 – 4 months but then they continue having personal contact afterwards (no matter for how long) will not qualify because the working/academic relationship lasted less then 6 months.

What does the reference need to say?

• The referee needs to explain what sort of position you held and for how long, preferably also giving some positive feedback about you. There is no point in submitting reference if it is not positive. Character references in particular should not be accepted if you are rated C or below in any of the categories.
• References need to be written on letterhead paper; a reference from Facebook or sent via email does not qualify as valid reference.

Videos

For the 2011 season you MUST upload a video as part of your application form.

Videos proved to be a big success with Camp Directors because:

• It allows them to see and hear your English. Yes, not all Americans know we speak English as a first language down here!
• It gives them an idea of your personality and maturity.
• You can use it to demonstrate your skills and sell yourself to a camp director

A good video should:

• Be only 2-4 minutes long.
• Have you speaking to show your personality (but not reading from a script or video appearing to be staged). An applicant with great personality and good attitude will have a greater chance of placement.
• Where possible have you performing your best skill you have listed on the application form.
• Here’s a few examples on our facebook page

 

Archery is in such high demand

How exciting

Very exciting, to be placed so soon… of course I know it’s hard waiting if you are not – but I noticed Lauren was placed only 4 weeks after the date of her interview – good one Lauren – you must have been very organised with your uploads and post interview online paperwork – well done – it’s paid off.

Independent Lake Camp Dance Class

Camp America Blog is live

We decided ”blog is the new black so ditched our forum – as our Facebook page has taken over on that front, and created a NZ Camp America Blog. We’ll have different authors, interviewers, and participants all contributing.

Enjoy!