Name:
Sarah Williams
Company:
Camp America
Job: Summer
Camp Staff
Location:
North America
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Camp
America
We've
spent the last 38 years in the business of sending young
people over the big pond for a summer of fun, sun, kids
and camp - so trust us …we know a thing or two about
this - we've been doing it a long time! |
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Website |
View
Placements > |
Ever
wanted to see the States for free? Well OK, there's a small
catch... you have to look after a few screaming kids. But
hey, just think about the spiritual reward too! Drama student
Sarah Williams tells us about her time at Camp America.
It’s
a long way from Staffordshire to Buffalo, New York, but
last summer I embarked on that very journey as part of the
Camp America programme! People from Staffordshire, can get
involved again this year by coming along to one of the many
‘job fairs,’ that Camp America holds across the country.
By
attending one of these fairs you will be able to speak to
the camp directors personally and get recruited on the spot
at an American summer camp to suit your tastes and skills.
This is how I got involved with Camp America last summer
and I’ve never looked back. So what are you waiting for,
apply today!
What
is a summer camp? Summer camps are a long established
tradition in the States. The majority of American children
will spend some part of their summer at camp, be this one-week
or two months! Positions up for grabs include working with
the children as well as office jobs, kitchen staff etc.
Choosing
a camp When I attended the Camp America recruitment
fair I was overwhelmed by the vast number of camp directors
who had flown over to Britain to hire staff.
Archery
classes With so many camps, each catering with a different
section of American society, to choose from, it's advisable
to have an idea of what kind of camp you would like to be
placed at before you arrive at the fair. As I am undertaking
a degree in drama and theatre studies I decided that I would
like to teach drama at camp.
Each
camp had its own stall at the fair, often displaying a poster
listing available positions such as general councillor,
drama specialist etc. By looking for camps that specified
they were looking for a drama specialist, the experience
became far less intimidating.
Knowing
what I wanted to do at camp, meant I was able to narrow
my search down to a handful of camps that interested me,
rather than enquiring about positions at the 300 or so camps
which were recruiting at the fair.
Flying
to America Before the Camp America experience I’d never
travelled to a foreign country alone. All kinds of fears
crossed my mind: ‘What if there was no one to meet me in
Buffalo?’, ‘What if I missed my flight?’ However there was
no need to worry! It is compulsory to attend an induction
session before you embark on your travels to the States.
During
this session it is most likely you will meet up with others
who are going to the same camp as yourself, thus you can
make arrangements to meet at the airport and catch the plane
together. I hoped I would meet people travelling to my camp
at the induction meeting, but I had no such luck.
I logged on to the camps website and got chatting to others
who were in the same position as myself. At the airport
I met up with another student who was to work at my camp
and this made the journey to Buffalo far less daunting.
By using the camp website’s message board before I embarked
on the trip to the States I was able to make friends with
the staff before I’d actually met them face-to-face! It
was great to put faces to names when I finally arrived in
America.
At
camp! Horseriding Camp America gives you the opportunity
to truly widen your horizons. I worked in a camp for Jewish
children - a religion I knew little about before my trip
to the States. Working for Camp America meant I got to experience
two new cultures, American culture and Jewish culture, whilst
teaching a subject I love!
Meal
times It wasn’t until I worked at an American summer
camp that I realised how different American and English
culture can be. At school in Staffordshire, I was used to
everyone sitting quietly at meals. Meal times in American
summer camps are a whole different kettle of fish! Aside
from the prayers sung at the beginning and end of meals,
children are encouraged to be raucous during their dinner
hour!
The
children were often found playing games, the purpose of
which were to determine who cleared the dirty dishes after
the meal. At meal times I also got a taste of the American
tradition of cheerleading. Children would stand on their
chairs and cheer a rhyme at a group of children across the
other side of the dining hall. The second set of children
would then respond with yet another rhyme and this would
continue throughout the course of the lunch period.
Teaching
drama I had great fun teaching children aged 7-15 drama
at camp. The chance to teach drama to such a vast age range
meant that I acquired a whole range of skills that look
great on my c.v. I had to construct age appropriate lesson
plans myself. By trial and error I learnt what activities
worked with children of different age ranges.
I also got the opportunity to direct to plays Cinderella
Wore Combat Boots, and Beauty and the Beast. This was great
fun but also a lot of hard work. While Camp America is a
laugh a minute, don’t expect it to be an easy ride.
Breaks
are few and far between and I was expected to give up my
rest hours to hold auditions and run rehearsal sessions.
International friends One of the best things about Camp
America is the close bond you make with other members of
staff. Camp America enabled me to meet people from many
countries including America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand,
Israel, and Poland. I travelled to New York City with many
of these people after camp and I am in still in contact
with many of them to this day.
After
Camp The best thing about Camp America is that they
sort out your visa, which means as well as being able to
work you can travel for an extensive period of time after
camp. Water climb During my three months in America, I also
visited Niagara Falls and took a 10-day holiday to New York
City after camp and had a truly fantastic time.
I
saw a Broadway show, went shopping at Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s,
visited the Empire State Building, took a ride in a yellow
taxi and visited the statue of liberty. There are many reasonably
priced youth hostels throughout the States.
Hostels
are the best places to stay as you get to meet other young
like-minded, jet-setting people just like yourself. I stayed
in a hostel called Jazz on the Park, which was very reasonably
priced and held free jazz concerts in the evening.
At
the hostel I ran in to many other students and young people
who had been part of the Camp America programme at various
other summer camps across the country.
What
will I do at camp? Camp Councellor – If you take this
position you will be in charge of the general well-being
of a group of children. You will put them to bed, take them
to breakfast, help them get dressed etc. You will be responsible
for taking them to various different activities throughout
the day and will be expected to participate in most of these
activities!
Specialist
– Like me you could teach a particular skill to the children.
You focus on teaching this skill for most of the day, and
therefore do not have to participate in so many varied activities.
Camp
Power – If the thought of screaming children is more
than you can bear, then fear not, there are still ways you
can get involved! Camp
power gives you the opportunity to work in the States without
dealing with the kids! You could work in the kitchen preparing
meals, in the office or maintaining the grounds of the camp
for example. Interested?
So......
you get to experience different cultures, bring some joy
into the hearts of others and have the holiday of a lifetime
- all for next to nothing! What are you waiting for?
More
Information
Website:
www.campamerica.co.uk
E-mail: enquiries@campamerica.co.uk
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|
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Camp
America
We've
spent the last 38 years in the business of sending young
people over the big pond for a summer of fun, sun, kids
and camp - so trust us …we know a thing or two about
this - we've been doing it a long time! |
| Visit
Website |
View
Placements > |
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