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BUNAC

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BUNAC are interning abroad & working abroad experts, offering summer camps in the US and working holidays for 60+ years. 

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Read

All the inspo and intel 

Summer Camp

Travel Talk

Paddle boarding on the lake at summer camp

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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

Author Victoria sits in the gymnastic area of her camp, Tyler Hill

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Victoria is here with all the info – from what to do with socials to what to wear 

What to expect at your J1 visa appointment 

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

Is summer camp USA worth it?

Author Victoria hugs her camp best friend in the sports hall

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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

A young boy and a Camp counsellor during a tug-of-war

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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?

Girls at summer camp covered in paint smiling

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Have you got the skills to thrill... Camp Directors when they read your application?

Camp skills: activities you can teach at summer camp

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How to fill in the gaps after your summer working at camp

Transforming your camp skills into valuable work experience

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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. 

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The team who’ve been

**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  

To work at camp in America, you need to be eligible for a J1 cultural exchange visa. This allows you to work for the duration of your camp job – with 30 days before and after to travel. The application process for a J1 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 work at an American 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

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United Kingdom

Spend your summer living, working and having the time of your life as a Camp Counsellor in America. Our BUNAC Camp Crew will go over who can go, when to apply, how to get hired, plus answer all your campfire burning questions. 

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Virtual travel talk | 25 Feb @ 17:00-17:30 GMT

Summer Camp USA | Everything you need to know

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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07 Mar '26 - register for times and location 

Camp hiring fair | LONDON, UK

Our Manchester hiring fair has been and gone, but don't worry if you missed it. The quickest way to get hired is in our hiring pool where we have 100s of camp jobs for summer '26. Apply now, have your coaching call, and get your camp application in-front of Camp Directors. 

Girls make s'mores on the lawn beside the lake

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This event has already happened

Camp hiring fair | MANCHESTER, UK

This fair has been and gone, but don't worry if you missed it. The quickest way to get hired is in our hiring pool, or we're back in Madrid for another hiring fair on 31 Jan '26! 

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This event has already happened



Camp hiring fair | MADRID, SPAIN

Don't worry if you missed our in-person Dublin camp hiring fair. We have 100s of American summer camps in our pool actively hiring for 2026 Camp Counsellors. Apply now, have your coaching call, and get your summer camp application in-front of Camp Directors – with step-by-step support along the way. 

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Camp hiring fair | DUBLIN, IRELAND

Don't worry if you missed our in-person London camp hiring fair. We have 100s of American summer camps in our pool actively hiring for 2026 Camp Counsellors. Apply now, have your coaching call, and get your summer camp application in-front of Camp Directors – with step-by-step support along the way.


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Our in-person Sydney hiring fair has been, but don't worry if you missed it. The quickest way to get hired is in our camp hiring pool where we have 100s of Camp Counsellor jobs for summer '26. Apply now, have your coaching call, and get your application in-front of Camp Directors. 

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This event has already happened 

Camp hiring fair | SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Our in-person Brisbane hiring fair has been and gone, but don't worry if you missed it. The quickest way to get hired is in our camp hiring pool where we have 100s of Camp Counsellor jobs for summer '26. Apply now, have your coaching call, and get your application in-front of Camp Directors. 

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Camp hiring fair | BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA

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 an American camp?

How long is summer camp in America?

What dates do I have to be available to work?

When do I need to apply for summer camp USA?

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

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

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

Do I get time off when working at camp?

What is the accommodation like at camp?

What should I do to my social media to go to the USA?

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

Can I choose my own camp placement?

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 camp 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?

Ask a question

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 Operations Manager... 

It's summer, so everywhere should have 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!

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.

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.

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Is Summer Camp USA for me? 

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Employers and admissions tutors love to see a camp placement on a CV or 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. 

CV bootcamp

How working at summer camp can help your career

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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. 

Get it for free (ish)

Earn back your adventures

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If you go down to the woods today. You’ll find minimum USD $2,300 camp pocket money, the best 18-30s you’ve ever met, and the ultimate summer job working as a Camp Counsellor in America. 
