Travel Talk / Summer Camp
How working at summer camp USA can help your career
Victoria Whitehouse
Sep 10 2024
Giving you a bunkload of transferrable skills, here’s why working as a Camp Counsellor is a total bootcamp for your CV
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Saving summers since 1972
Summer camps + working holidays
From coaching sports to teaching arts – get paid to do what you love working at summer camp in America. Earn money, explore America, make a difference. Here's our pitch...
That's fire! We've dropped our 2026 Summer Camp USA price – book with a deposit
Why Bunac Summer Camp USA?
Crew since '72
With access to 800+ American summer camps and a team who’ve been – we’re always in your camp.
No middle folk
As both the camp agency and US visa sponsor, we have one of the lowest program costs and highest camp salaries.
Pass it on
5% of profits go to our Youth Access Scholarship Fund so that more young people can work the world.
As seen on
Bunac Camp
Why go to summer camp in America?
Working as a Camp Counsellor in America is the chance to turn your passion into a paid summer job. A summer of lakeside days and campfire nights, you'll get to live in incredible locations with like-minded 18-30s from all over the world. All while positively impacting the lives of children and young adults (otherwise known as the camp warm + fuzzies) and picking up a bunkload of new skills that future employers or admissions tutors will love. With at least USD $2,250 pocket money and meals and accommodation included – Summer Camp USA is the ultimate way to earn and explore.
Jenza Work + Intern
But what if I don't like summer?
Or kids? Or grass? Head over to our JENZA site – the new home for BUNAC working holidays + international internships. Our ‘less-likely-to-live-in-the-woods' sibling brand, earn as you explore in Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the USA and UK. Whether you’re looking to bankroll your gap year with a working holiday, fund your winter with a ski season or get ahead with a professional internship – JENZA does the works. Setting you up with the visa help, job support and arrival assistance you need to work the world.
What's new
News that will send you packing
Camp hiring fairs
News: Our camp world tour is back!
Dates just announced for our BUNAC x IENA camp hiring fairs! Register below to interview IRL with Camp Directors in London, Manchester, Sydney, Brisbane, Dublin or Madrid.
Dates just announced for our BUNAC x IENA camp hiring fairs! Register below to interview IRL with Camp Directors in London, Manchester, Sydney, Brisbane, Dublin or Madrid. SEE ME THERE!
SEE ME THERE!
Camp price drop!
News: What do you get if you cross a camp agency with a visa sponsor?
BUNAC and J-1 visa sponsor IENA are now part of the same travel family, meaning we can pass on more savings + superpowers to our travellers – including a lower camp cost, access to 800+ camps, and more hiring fairs!
BUNAC and J-1 visa sponsor IENA are now part of the same travel family, meaning we can pass on more savings + superpowers to our travellers – including a lower camp cost, access to 800+ camps, and more hiring fairs!MORE ON CAMP
MORE ON CAMP
The camp collection
Swag: Our BUNAC merch store is live!
Look good + do good with our camp apparel. The ultimate power trip for your travel wardrobe – all our camp apparel is sustainably-made, gender neutral, and all profits go to our Youth Access Scholarship Fund.
Look good + do good with our camp apparel. The ultimate power trip for your travel wardrobe – all our camp apparel is sustainably-made, gender neutral, and all profits go to our Youth Access Scholarship Fund. SHOP THE DROP
SHOP THE DROP
Take the quiz!
Quiz: Which summer camp is best for you?
Are you a rustic "a tent and a sunset is all I need" kind of person? Should you lead an activity or be an all-rounder? Quickfire questions at the ready for our Summer Camp USA quiz!
Are you a rustic "a tent and a sunset is all I need" kind of person? Should you lead an activity or be an all-rounder? Quickfire questions at the ready for our Summer Camp USA quiz! TAKE THE QUIZ
TAKE THE QUIZ
Meet the BUNAC Camp Crew
The team who've been
Riley
Camp Specialist
Camp: Falling Creek Camp, North Carolina
Summers at camp: 3
Job: Sailing Counsellor
This one time, at camp... we hosted a sailing regatta with all the summer camps on beautiful Lake Summit. The race was epic – we 'circumnavigated' the globe (the lake), with different landmarks representing different continents. But instead of racing, I found myself consoling an 8 year-old who was heartbroken over the death of a dog in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid book. Oh, the wonderful world of camp!
Courtney
Camp Specialist
Camp: Camp Lokanda, New York
Summers at camp: 7!
Job: General Counsellor
This one time, at camp... we started a hair braiding salon on our bunk steps, where we'd have the campers line up with their hair products and give them a salon experience before dinner. It quickly became a thing with multiple stations, music blasting on speakers and dance/singing breaks in-between 'customers'. We called it the 'Hot Mess Express' – core memory locked in for many summers!
Heather
Camp Specialist
Camp: Summer Trails Day Camp, New York
Summers at camp: 2 (soon to be 3!)
Job: Lifeguard
This one time, at camp... there was a crazy rain storm rolling through camp whilst there was a music performance on the stage. The kids did not care one bit and we all got soaked, but it was so much fun dancing and singing in the rain! I'll remember that moment forever.
Roisin
Marketing Exec
Camp: Camp Pondicherry, Maine
Summers at camp: 3
Job: Assistant Camp Director
This one time, at camp... in my first summer, I was teaching archery (I'd never done archery before FYI, so it was something cool to learn). Anyway, I was coaching a group of seven-year olds and one of them shot their arrow a bit too far and hit a water pipe. Ooops.
Niall
Camp Co-ordinator
Camp: Island Lake Camp, Pennsylvania
Summers at camp: 6
Job: Group Leader
This one time, at camp... there was a skunk outside our bunk that got scared and sprayed. The whole bunk had to be evacuated, everyone's clothes had to be washed five or six times, and it took two days before we were able to sleep in there again.
Kish
The Social Squad
Camp: Camp Pontiac, New York
Summers at camp: 3
Job: Videographer
This one time, at camp... during orientation all the staff went to the turf to star gaze. We blasted HSM and Coldplay songs, it was so wholesome and that was the first time I saw a shooting star!
Victoria
The Social Squad
Camp: Tyler Hill Camp, Pennsylvania
Summers at camp: 5
Job: Girls Head Counsellor
This one time, at camp... I decided to put together an end of summer slideshow for my campers. We all took blankets and pillows down to the lake and had a projector and screen set up, it was easily one of my fave nights in my whole camp career and a memory that will stay with me forever.
The BUNAC blog
All the summer camp inspo and intel
We're in your camp
Travel happy with our Extra Mile Promise
Our company's values are all about the four A's. Authenticity, Accessibility, Accountability and not being an A-hole. So when it comes to what we do, we own it. If you're not happy with part of your BUNAC experience, we'll put a human on it to sort it - or refund it. T&Cs apply.
HOW IT WORKSEvents
Get hired or get the intel
Camp hiring fair | MANCHESTER, UK
25 Oct '25 - register for times and location
Our camp world tour is back! Interview with Camp Directors face-to-face, connect with others heading to camp, and (everything crossed) walk away with a USA summer camp job on the day. Register below for all the intel.
Camp hiring fair | MADRID, SPAIN
15 Nov '25 - register for times and location
Our camp world tour is back! Interview with Camp Directors face-to-face, connect with others heading to camp, and (everything crossed) walk away with a USA summer camp job on the day. Register below for all the intel.
Camp hiring fair | SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
06 Dec '25 - register for times and location
Our camp world tour is back! Interview with Camp Directors face-to-face, connect with others heading to camp, and (everything crossed) walk away with a USA summer camp job on the day. Register below for all the intel.
Camp hiring fair | BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA
07 Dec '25 - register for times and location
Our camp world tour is back! Interview with Camp Directors face-to-face, connect with others heading to camp, and (everything crossed) walk away with a USA summer camp job on the day. Register below for all the intel.
Camp hiring fair | DUBLIN, IRELAND
22 Jan '26 - register for times and location
Our camp world tour is back! Interview with Camp Directors face-to-face, connect with others heading to camp, and (everything crossed) walk away with a USA summer camp job on the day. Register below for all the intel.
Camp hiring fair | LONDON, UK
24 Jan '26 - register for times and location
Our camp world tour is back! Interview with Camp Directors face-to-face, connect with others heading to camp, and (everything crossed) walk away with a USA summer camp job on the day. Register below for all the intel.
Camp hiring fair | LONDON, UK
07 Mar '26 - register for times and location
Our camp world tour is back! Interview with Camp Directors face-to-face, connect with others heading to camp, and (everything crossed) walk away with a USA summer camp job on the day. Register below for all the intel.
Camp hiring fair | MADRID, SPAIN
31 Jan '26 - register for times and location
Our camp world tour is back! Interview with Camp Directors face-to-face, connect with others heading to camp, and (everything crossed) walk away with a USA summer camp job on the day. Register below for all the intel.
View all events
Friends = benefits
Unlock 10% off Contiki when you book with BUNAC
Looking for a little pre or post trip action? We've teamed up with Contiki to bring you the ultimate work and travel dream team. Check your online account to access your 10% off code to use before you head to camp.
#BunkTalk
Call the team
To our BUNAC Camp Crew, summer camp is the happiest place on Earth. (Sorry Disney, you’re also quite fun). We’ve all worked at summer camp - so are here for first-hand intel and info on who can go, what jobs you can do, and how the heck to fill out that J-1 visa form...
Around the campfire
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JENZA Travel International Ltd, trading as BUNAC, is a company registered in Dublin, Ireland with Registered Company No. 707281 and registered address at 29-31 South William St, Dublin, Ireland, D02 EY96.