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Travel like you mean it. Working holidays
and internships worldwide.

Work and travel abroad experts

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BUNAC

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All the inspo and intel 

Summer Camp

Travel Talk

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From friendship bracelet skills to ice cream parties. Here's what camp returner Zoë is hoping to achieve this summer...

20 things to add to your summer camp bucket list

Need to Know

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Want a cheat sheet on how to land that summer camp job in 2024? Happy camper Victoria is here to help...

5 tried and tested tips to help you get hired at summer camp

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What it's actually like to go to the US Embassy for your J-1 visa from someone who has been five times.

What to expect at your J-1 visa appointment 

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Life lessons around the campfire. Roadtester Hannah shares her adventure at summer camp in Maine and beyond...

Why summer camp USA was worth every cent

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Campfires, canoe races, and countless lessons learned - here's the inside scoop on what to know before you go...

5 things I wish I knew before working at summer camp

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Those post-summer camp blues are REAL (and suck) but four-time camper Victoria is here to help you through them. 

How to deal with post-camp blues

Staff Stories

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It’s a camp off! Our BUNAC staff are raising the flag for the summer camps they’ve worked at. 

Which summer camps in America are the best?

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We're the team who've been. Team talk and travel tips from BUNAC Sales Expert and camp returner, Amy.

My advice to summer camp USA first-timers 

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Rewarding work, epic locations and unlimited s’mores. There’s a reason why summer is our favourite season.  

Where and what you can do at summer camp in America

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Lights, camera, read this blog to make sure your application gets all the action it deserves from Camp Directors. 

How to create a winning camp application video

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Our Camp Crew on their childcare experience prior to working at summer camp and how it shaped them.

What childcare experience do I need to work at summer camp in America?

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The hardest job you’ll ever love. But is it for me? Our Camp Crew reveal all.

Real talk: The realities of working at summer camp in America

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From crocs to extension cables, here's what you need to stuff in your travel bag for the summer of a lifetime.

The ultimate guide: an extensive travel pack list for summer camp

To our BUNAC Camp Crew, summer camp USA is the happiest place on Earth (sorry Disney, you’re also quite fun). We’ve all worked at summer camp in America, and many of us still go back to camp each summer – returning with all the fresh first-hand info and intel. 

The team who’ve been

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**About our 2026 price drop** 
We don’t go in for early bird offers or surprise mid-year price increases. Instead, we’ve chosen to give our travellers just one fair summer camp price for the whole year. And, if you booked at the old price for summer ’26, we’ll automatically credit you with the difference. (Because we don’t believe in pocketing that either). 

**Why are we able to do this?**
All part of our mission to keep USA summer camp as affordable and accessible as possible, in 2025, BUNAC became part of the same travel family as J-1 visa sponsor, IENA. As both the camp agency and US visa sponsor, we’re able to pass on more savings to our travellers – while adding even more expertise to our team!

**About our Youth Access Scholarship Fund**
Balancing profit with purpose, summer camp USA only works for us if it works for others too. BUNAC donates 5% of profits to our Youth Access Scholarship Fund so that young people from under-served and lower-income backgrounds can experience working at camp. Find out more on our JENZA Travel Group [scholarship](https://jenza.com/about-us/scholarships/) page. 

Good to know

Most nationalities can apply, you’ll also need to be: 

- Aged 18-30 (you must be aged 18 by 1 June of the summer you're travelling)
- Able to fly to the USA before 20 June  
- Able to commit to the whole camp season, typically 9-12 weeks 
- Be a fluent English speaker with no criminal history 
- Have some prior experience working with children or young adults  - Have a passport that’s valid for at least six months beyond your stay 
- Have proof of an onward flight from the USA  

Am I eligible?

First-timer '26

Returner '26

Most nationalities can apply, you’ll also need to be: 

- Aged 18-30 (you must be aged 18 by 1 June of the summer you are travelling)
- Able to fly to the USA before 20 June  
- Able to commit to the whole camp season, typically 9-12 weeks 
- Be a fluent English speaker with no criminal history 
- Have some prior experience working with children or young adults 
- Have a passport that’s valid for at least six months beyond your stay 
- Have proof of an onward flight from the USA  

Most nationalities can apply, you’ll also need to be: 

- Aged 18-30 (you must be aged 18 by 1 June of the summer you are travelling)
- Able to fly to the USA before 20 June  
- Able to commit to the whole camp season, typically 9-12 weeks 
- Be a fluent English speaker with no criminal history 
- Have some prior experience working with children or young adults  - Have a passport that’s valid for at least six months beyond your stay 
- Have proof of an onward flight from the USA  

Most nationalities can apply, you’ll also need to be: 

- Aged 18-30 (you must be aged 18 by 1 June of the summer you are travelling)
- Able to fly to the USA before 20 June  
- Able to commit to the whole camp season, typically 9-12 weeks 
- Be a fluent English speaker with no criminal history 
- Have some prior experience working with children or young adults  
- Have a passport that’s valid for at least six months beyond your stay 
- Have proof of an onward flight from the USA  

To work at a summer camp in America, you need to be eligible for a J-1 cultural exchange visa. This allows you to work for the duration of your summer camp job – with 30 days before and after to travel. The application process for a J-1 visa consists of an online application and in-person interview at a US Embassy or Consulate in your home country. As BUNAC and IENA (your US visa sponsor) are part of the same travel group, our Camp Crew are total pros when it comes to camp visas and sponsorship – so will guide you through it step-by-step.

If this isn't your first rodeo at camp, read our [FAQs](https://bunac.org/summer-camp-usa#:~:text=What%E2%80%99s%20the%20difference%20between%20a%20first%2Dtimer%20and%20returner%3F) to find out whether you need to apply as a first-timer or returner. 

**Most nationalities can do USA summer camp – check below for the other eligibility requirements.**





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Who can apply for Summer Camp USA?

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New Zealand

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Australia

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Europe

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South Korea

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Global

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Canada

Jenza

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Need academic credit as part of your degree or want to spend the summer getting ahead? Stand out from the crowd with a 1-12 month USA internship – with 30 days either side to travel. 

Sponsorship, visa support + medical cover included

Professional internships in America

18-30 | 1-12 month visa | Student + grad only

Intern USA 

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Full-time student? Spend your uni summer holidays earning $$ and exploring America with a pre-arranged three-month summer job in the States – with 30 days after to travel. 

 Job, sponsorship + visa support included

Work in the USA this summer   

Student only | 4-month visa | Summer job

Work USA 4 months

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Want to work in Canada for up to two years with visa support, a pre-arranged job, arrival nights, and all the nerdy tax and bank essentials sorted for you? Do Canadian bears *beep* in the woods? 


Ski season, summer or construction job included

Working holidays in Canada

18-30/35 | 24-month visa | Summer or ski job

Work Canada

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‘Bye friends’ waved Dorothy as she left for Oz on her JENZA working holiday – with visa processing, hostel nights, job support, new mates, and all the nerdy tax stuff included. 

Visa + 4 or 7-day intro in Sydney or Melbourne 

Working holidays in Australia

18-30/35 | 12+ month visa | Job support 

Work Australia

Meet our work + intern brand JENZA  

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. 

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25 Oct '25 - register for times and location 

Camp hiring fair | MANCHESTER, UK

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15 Nov '25 - register for times and location 

Camp hiring fair | MADRID, SPAIN

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06 Dec '25 - register for times and location 

Camp hiring fair | SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

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07 Dec '25 - register for times and location 

Camp hiring fair | BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA

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22 Jan '26 - register for times and location 

Camp hiring fair | DUBLIN, IRELAND

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24 Jan '26 - register for times and location 

Camp hiring fair | LONDON, UK

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07 Mar '26 - register for times and location 

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31 Jan '26 - register for times and location 

Camp hiring fairs

Book a video call to talk all things summer camp in America with our BUNAC Camp Crew. 

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Camp Crew

What is summer camp in America?

Why work at summer camp in America?

How long is summer camp in America?

What dates do I have to be available to work at a USA summer camp?

When do I need to apply for summer camp USA?

Do I need to be a student to work at summer camp in America?

Do I have to be 18 to work at summer camp in America?

Can I get hired with a friend to work at summer camp USA?

Do I get time off when working at USA summer camp?

What is the accommodation like at USA summer camp?

What is the difference between a camp consultation and embassy interview? 

Can I choose my own USA summer camp?

Do I need childcare experience to work at camp in America?

What’s the difference between a first-timer and returner?

What visa do I need to work at camp in America?

What is a DS-2019 and why do I need a sponsor to work at camp? 

What is SEVIS?

If I choose not to accept my camp job, do I get a refund?

How much does Summer Camp USA cost?

Do I need to buy my own travel insurance to work at camp?

Do I have to pay tax on my summer camp USA pocket money?

Can I apply for summer camp in America if I am a US passport holder?

What is the difference between JENZA camp, USIT camp and BUNAC camp?

Is Summer Camp USA the same as Camp America?

Are IENA American Summers and BUNAC the same camp operator?

Why choose BUNAC Summer Camp USA over Camp America?

Haven't seen your question here?

We’ve got answers

From Cali to Connecticut, we have 800+ American summer camps across the States in our hiring pool. When deciding where to go to camp, try to keep an open mind. It's a universal camp truth that wherever you end up, you'll come away thinking your camp was the greatest – and probably return year after year with a new camp tattoo. (Or was that just Niall, our Camp Co-Ordinator?). 

It's summer, so everywhere should be good weather. And by their very nature, summer camps have a front row seat onto some of America’s most beautiful scenery. So, go for a camp job that best fits your interests – not a camp location that hits your bucket list. Save that for your travels after camp!

Locations 

Where can I go to summer camp in America?

What’s summer camp in America actually like? Why is everyone always covered in paint? And why give up your summer to live in the woods with a bunch of strangers? Each year, we send a camp roadtester out to feedback on our camp program, so that we're constantly improving. Plus, bring you all the inside intel on life at camp.

Camp stories

The inside story on summer camp 

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Despite being the home of the doughnut, we're not going to sugar coat it. Camp is hard work. You've got to want to work with kids, love the outdoors, and mostly be ok with shaving foam pies to the face. But watching your campers grow in confidence, while also growing yourself? That's a summer job you won't find anywhere else.

Spilling the iced tea 

Is Summer Camp USA for me? 

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Employers and admissions tutors love to see Summer Camp USA on a resume. It shows you have the motivation to live and work overseas, can think on your feet, and have next level leadership and problem-solving skills. 

Pitch perfect

Career bootcamp

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We know the most authentic voices come from our community. Whether you want to come on board as an ambassador, roadtester or as a one-off collaborator for blogs, vlogs or images – earn some extra $$ on the road with a content side hustle. 