Summer Camp USA

Each summer, children and teenagers attend sleepaway camps for 1-8 weeks between Jun-Aug. A supported place for them to learn new activities, grow their skills and experience living away from home in the great outdoors – camps are seen as integral to a child’s social and cultural development. Each year, Camp Directors hire 18-30 year olds from all over the world to work as Camp Counsellors, Activity Specialists and Additional Needs Counsellors.

Summer camp is the opportunity for international students and 18-30s to experience living and working overseas in beautiful parts of America. You’ll help to shape the lives of your campers – while also developing your own leadership and problem-solving skills. Great for your resume, bank account and social life – you’ll earn a camp salary, have meals and accommodation included, and make friends from all over the world.

Depending on the camp and your role, summer camps typically run for between 7-12 weeks each summer.

Summer camp happens over America’s summer school holidays, which are longer than in most countries. Therefore, arrival dates are set between 1 May and 20 June. Typically, you’ll arrive a week before your campers to help set up the camp, learn the ropes and do your training. Preference is often given to applicants who are available at an earlier date and for longer periods of time, so for the best chance of securing a camp job, be open and flexible.

You can apply for the program year-round, however, applications for the summer will typically close by April. If you apply after that, it will be for the following year. It can take 30+ days to complete your camp application, have your camp consultation with us, and gather the two references you need to be placed into the hiring pool. We recommend applying as early as possible so that you’re ready when Camp Directors start hiring – which is typically from Oct-Apr. Jump to camp process and timelines.

No, this type of J-1 visa is open to non-students and most nationalities aged 18-30.

You can apply for the Summer Camp USA program when you’re 17, but you must be 18 by the 1 June for the summer you’re travelling.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept joint applications, as each application is viewed on an individual basis and merit – with Camp Directors hiring based on their need for a specific skill, activity or applicant. However, there is nothing to stop you and a friend expressing an interest in the same camp once you’re in the hiring pool or applying for the same camps at one of our hiring events. However, being hired together is not guaranteed. While it can seem daunting to go to camp alone, the majority of people do so everyone is in the same boat. You'll quickly make friends at camp who fill fast feel like you've known each other forever.

Depending on the camp, you’ll typically get 1-2 days off a week. This time is free to explore, travel into local town and cities, or simply to chill. Trust us when we say that camp can be exhausting – so make sure you’re using your time off to relax and recharge!

Accommodation is included at camp, but every camp is different. Accommodation can vary from cabins to dorms to permanent tents. And can either be staff only, or accommodation where you’re with your campers. This type of communal living can be a bit of a shock to the system at first, but don’t be put off – guaranteed you'll be missing living 24/7 with your camp family when you return home!

There are three ways to get hired for summer camp – via our camp hiring pool, attending a BUNAC in-person camp hiring event, or attending a BUNAC virtual hiring event. In all cases, you can express your interest in camps and if your skills are a match, Camp Directors will reach out to interview you. We would advise being open-minded about where you go to camp and recommend accepting your first job offer.

The short answer is yes, you do. The longer answer is that childcare experience can come in many forms and many people don't realise that they have some experience that may qualify. Here's a handy article for what counts as childcare experience and what specific experience our Camp Crew had before they applied for camp.

• If you haven’t been to camp before, you need to select first-timer.
• If you have been to camp before but are going to a new camp for the summer, you need to apply as a first-timer.
• If you’ve booked summer camp in the past with BUNAC or either of our sibling brands, JENZA or USIT, AND are returning to the same camp - select returner for our loyalty returner price.
• If you are returning to the same camp but haven't booked with BUNAC or either of our sibling brands before, a £100 (or currency equivalent) surcharge will be added to your booking.

You’ll need a J-1 cultural exchange visa to work at summer camp. This visa allows you to work for the duration of your camp job, plus travel for 30 days after. The J-1 visa currently costs USD $185 ($300 for Australia passport holders) and consists of an online application and in-person interview at a US Embassy or Consulate in your home country. Our Camp Crew have done this thousands of times, so will provide you with step-by-step guidance and interview prep.

To work at summer camp in America, you need to be sponsored by a government approved sponsor. Together with IENA, our in-country partners, we provide your sponsorship paperwork – otherwise known as your DS-2019 form or ‘Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status’. You cannot apply for your J-1 visa without a DS-2019. We’ll send this to you electronically once you have a camp job offer, you’ve paid in full, and have completed the steps in your online account.

SEVIS stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System and is a database where the US Government keeps track of cultural exchange visitors travelling on a J-1 visa. The cost of being placed in the SEVIS database is USD $35 and is included in your camp program.

We have a 99% placement rate, so are confident that if you apply early enough when plenty of camps are still hiring, we’ll be able to get you an interview with a camp. If you choose not to accept your camp job, you can roll over your application to the following year without penalties. If you wish to cancel, you’ll get a refund minus the cost of your deposit plus 30% of your second payment. This typically works out at around £100 or the equivalent in your own currency, but check the pricing box here for the exact installment amounts you will have paid.

Committed to keeping camp as affordable as possible, BUNAC has one of the lowest camp program fees. Jump to the top of the page to find the cost of Summer Camp USA in your local currency. On top of the program cost, you’ll also need to factor in the J-1 visa, flights, travel insurance and support funds. Jump to what’s not included.

Yes. Medical insurance is included that covers against accident and illness while you are in the USA, but does not cover for routine care. You must also purchase comprehensive travel insurance to cover you against other aspects of your trip – including cancellation, curtailment, legal cover, luggage, personal items, repatriation and more.

Just like any earned income, you will pay tax on the money you earn at camp. You will have to pay 10% income tax, then depending on what state you are working in, you may also be charged state taxes. You will need to file a tax return before April the following summer, you can either do this independently or use a company to do it such as taxback.com.

Yes!