Travel Talk / Summer Camp
How working at summer camp 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...
Hello, sunshine! Welcome to the new home for BUNAC + JENZA camp in America
Why Bunac camp
Camp legends
We’ve been running our famous Summer Camp USA program since 1972.
Hype squad
All our dedicated Camp Crew have worked at summer camp in America.
Giving back
5% of BUNAC profits go to our Youth Access Scholarship Fund.
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. You’ll get to live in incredible wilderness locations with like-minded 18-30s from all over the world – all while picking up a bunkload of new skills that future employers will love. Part of our mission to keep working abroad affordable and accessible for our camp community, BUNAC has one of the highest first-time salaries and lowest program costs. Good job!
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
The camp collection
News: 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
Love you, bye!
News: '25 applications close, summer '26 opens
That's a wrap on summer '25 camp applications! For all our BUNAC-ers heading to camp this year, have the best summer. Camp '26 applications are now open – lock in next summer now with a deposit.
That's a wrap on summer '25 camp applications! For all our BUNAC-ers heading to camp this year, have the best summer. Camp '26 applications are now open – lock in next summer now with a deposit. APPLY NOW
Take the 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 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 quiz! TAKE THE QUIZ
Dollar bills, yo
News: USD $250 extra pocket money
We're always thinking about your wallet (not in a theft-y way). Our first-timer camp pocket money increased to a minimum USD $2,250 for summer '25. Plus, meals and accommodation are included at camp! We'll wait for your call...
We're always thinking about your wallet (not in a theft-y way). Our first-timer camp pocket money increased to a minimum USD $2,250 for summer '25. Plus, meals and accommodation are included at camp! We'll wait for your call...FIND OUT MORE
Meet the BUNAC Camp Crew
The team who've been
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.
Events
Get hired or get the intel
JENZA Canada winter hiring event
13, 14 + 15 Jun, London (+ virtual AU+NZ video interviews)
Our Canada winter hiring event is back! Four Seasons Whistler, Fairmont (Whistler, Banff, Lake Louise + Jasper), Panorama and Banff Sunshine Village will be interviewing for 180 winter jobs across 3 days (plus, video interviews for Aussies + Kiwis). Find out more over on our JENZA site.
Summer Camp USA | Everything you need to know
Virtual travel talk | 05 Jun @ 17:00 AEST / 19:00 NZST / 08:00 BST
Spend your summer living, earning and having the time of your life working as a Camp Counsellor in America. Our Camp Crew will go over everything you need to know, plus talk through their experience of working at camp in America with a live FAQ for all your campfire burning questions.
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...
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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.