Name: Katherine Schofield
Company: CCUSA
Job: Summer Camp Counselor
Location: Camp Wah-Nee, USA

	CCUSA CCUSA has been a summer camp specialist since it was established in 1986. CCUSA can now interview and place you in camps in the following countries: * USA * CANADA * CROATIA * RUSSIA.
	Visit Website	View Placements >

What is the difference between David Beckham and Durham University student Katherine Schofield? We are both going over to America this summer to play a sport that we both love - Beckham with LA Galaxy and I'm heading to Camp Wah-Nee, but I bet I'll have more fun!

That's right, Beck's may earn slightly more money than I will…..in fact £127, 999,000 more, but in my opinion, I'm more of a celebrity than Becks in Camp Wah-nee. This will be my second summer and I know compared to 'Golden Balls' I'm the man at camp ….. does Beck's get dressed up as Harry Potter (not if Posh has anything to do with it) … no I don't think so!

Last year I made the big step of deciding to experience what a children's American Summer Camp has to offer. Summer camp in America is a huge tradition, but it is something that people in the UK rarely have opportunity to experience - although, after watching films like 'American Pie', I hardly thought that I was missing out on much - I mean 'Band Camp' is not my idea of fun, but as I found out there are other types of camp's which are definitely fun.

On June 14th 2006, whilst I sat playing Super Mario on a plane bound for New York, the waiting was almost over. Only three months earlier I had expected that my holidays would be spent working in the local supermarket, watching the days drag by. I had applied with a company called CCUSA to work at a summer camp, and with exams and the usual end of year routine, the time flew and I was suddenly on my way to Camp Wah-nee camp in Connecticut to be a Sports counselor.

What had I let myself in for? I was going to spend all summer in a good job looking after bratty American Kids. Surely I had gone insane. I was nervous at the thought of having to play teacher and surrogate parent to hundreds of children, and especially American ones. In reality, unlike the notorious American stereotypes, the children turned out to be well behaved and inquisitive - obviously with the occasional mischievous little kid.

For three months, being an English person in camp full of Americans, I became a celebrity, just because they loved my accent! I remember one kid saying "You're so cool", and I asked why and he replied "oh, just coz your British and British people are always cool", but that wasn't it, I thought I could expand on my celebrity status when another kid asked me if I knew David Beckham? "Of course I do!" ………. It went down a treat, although that may come back to haunt me if they ask me if I can get tickets to the first LA Galaxy game which Beck's will play in….well they assume you know everyone from the UK!

My days comprised of teaching/assisting sports whilst getting a tan, cookouts, campfires, playing all those wacky American sports, doing overnight trips, and I learned how to mountain board because it looked like a laugh. I had never been in a place where you could do everything -even stuff that you have never done before, like water skiing, rock climbing, horse riding, baseball….I found I had plenty of spare time to do all these.

Then there were the night activities where you needed a spray-on layer of mosquito repellent to be able to effectively play 'Capture the Flag' out in the wilderness! I always looked forward to meals of corn dogs, tater tots, PB & J sandwiches (that's peanut butter and jelly, jelly really being jam) and of course, the ultimate in camp treats, S'mores (a biscuit, marshmallow and chocolate campfire creation). I had to be there for triumphs, disappointments, laughter and tears.

If someone had told me before I left just what I would have to deal with, I would probably have cancelled my ticket and stayed at home, but being there, and learning new things, it became second nature. You're the one that tucks the kids in at nights, wakes them up in the mornings, and the ones they look up to and idealize.

Although camp life probably isn't for everyone - I had to dress up for theme nights (I was Harry Potter more than once) and be more patriotic than ever with the Union Jack painted across my face in international team games (the UK team always beat the other international counselors heading up the Australian and New Zealand teams!), there are different camp types to choose from - private camps, special needs camp, underprivileged camps, day camps, agency camps, religious camps - so what ever your interest there is a camp suit you.

But the good thing with CCUSA is that you choose what style of camp you go to, as well as the type of job you do (General Counselor, Specialty Counselor or Support staff). Camp was followed by one month, 6000 mile trip around the USA by train with my 8 new best friends from camp - paid for by the wages I received from working at the camp. I visited Portland, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago and New York. I was knackered by the time I reached New York, but I saw so much and met so many people that it was definitely worth it.

Highlights include lying on the beach in California, Quad Biking in Utah, White Water Rafting in Denver, visiting the Sears Tower and a Cubs baseball game in Chicago and the silence of thousands standing at the World Trade Centre site on September 11.

I left the USA with memories I won't ever forget and friendships I couldn't have made back home. Working with people 24/7 and not being able to leave when the going gets tough, you get to know your co-workers (your friends) better than anyone else. How else can you get an experience, where you play sport all day, whilst earning money and getting a tan? Certainly not in Yorkshire anyway!

I would recommend CCUSA as a way to get you there (www.ccusa.com or 0207 637 0779) - they are a great help getting everything sorted and so cheap at only £249 - you get your job, return international flights, insurance, visa help, food and accommodation all for £249!

I know it sounds cheesy, and I would have never said this before I experienced it, but it was definitely the best summer of my life, and I would recommend it to anyone - including you Mr Beckham!

More Information: www.ccusa.com

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	CCUSA CCUSA has been a summer camp specialist since it was established in 1986. CCUSA can now interview and place you in camps in the following countries: * USA * CANADA * CROATIA * RUSSIA.
	Visit Website	View Placements >