Kamp USA - a support role but fun

Summer camps in the US do not run by themselves. In addition to the camp counsellors there is a team of workers that prepare the food, act as waiters and waitresses and keep the sites tidy. It may sound mundane but it is both rewarding and fun.

I was interested in working for a summer camp, however didn't have much experience working with children. Then I found out about the KAMP USA programme, which offered job roles including admin, kitchen, and maintenance work.

One of the biggest highlights of the programme was the chance to stay in New York. For years I had wanted to visit, and suddenly there was an opportunity for me to go. As soon as I could, I registered with BUNAC online and was guided step by step during the application process.
Two months later, I received an email to confirm the offer of a job working a summer camp in Pennsylvania. The role was waitressing and food preparation. I excitedly accepted and started preparing for my nine weeks summer adventure in America.

Arrival in New York

On arrival in America, I spent my first day in New York with people on a variety of BUNAC programmes I'd met on the plane. We visited Central Park and later that day we went to Times Square, which consisted of sky scraping buildings marbled with florescent lights. The streets were really busy, and so it was a relief when we decided to go for a quiet meal. I remember looking around the table, sitting with twelve people I hadn't known ten hours previous but who felt like friends already. It was strange, but also made me feel independent.

My role at camp

My position at camp was to help prepare food, serve it, clear and prepare for other meals, and help out with events around the camp.

My job keeps me very busy, which I like, and allows me to see and speak to everyone. I start work at 7:30am everyday and finish at 8:30pm every night. However, I do get 2 hours off, twice a day, between breakfast and lunch and lunch and dinner, which is really good, because I get to join in with the campers' activities. I worked alongside people from the UK, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and Holland.

I get to see everyone everyday and interact with them at their favourite time of day...meal time! The kids are great, so energetic and happy all the time, which wore off on me; it's fantastic. They constantly asked us to say phrases as they thought our English accents were hilarious. Most of the children were from New York, and so I would talk to them about places they had been, and the best and worst tourist attractions.

My flights, food at camp, and accommodation were all included in the cost of the programme, which made my stay extremely affordable. I lived with my co workers, and so had more freedom than the counsellors who lived with the children.

Weekend fun

On our days off, we would visit different towns, and the camp even provided a bus to take us there. We visited a place called ‘Skinners,' which was a huge river, with large smooth rocks for us all to lie on. The weather was sunny so people sunbathed and went swimming. After Skinners, we went for a meal in a traditional American Diner.

BUNAC's support

During our stay, a BUNAC rep visited us individually. This eased my stay as I knew BUNAC were taking care of us. Realising I had to fly home a week earlier than the date my flight was booked; I called BUNAC and explained the situation. They were really helpful, and guided me through the process of changing my flight. They even emailed me to ask and if I had received the confirmation needed for the flight change.

Some hard goodbyes

On our final day, staff members waved each other off as the coaches departed. We had lived and worked together for nine weeks, and so it was really sad leaving behind the friends I had laughed with all summer.

Ready to go back

I would definitely advise people considering working abroad in the summer of 2012 to travel with BUNAC. They were really helpful and ensured my travels were safe. I would also advise people to apply early to get the best possible job suited for each individual.

The whole experience was so much more than I imagined. I fulfilled a lifelong dream to visit New York, worked in a foreign country and met lots of new friends from all over the world. Going to work in a country knowing no one is quite daunting. However, at camp I made friends for life.