as anyone ever been? basically students go for the summer,my daughters got an interview in manchester today and if all goes well it looks like she be off for a 9 week workin holiday,i think the over all cost is about 600 quid but she'll be earning good money while she is there,i just need someone to put my mind at rest coz its sounds just a bit too good to be true.can anyone give me any info on it.to me it sounds a bit like an american butlins with obviously all the U.S. razzmatazz.

A friend of mine went as a camp counsellor (or whatever they call them) many years ago. She hated it, it was the embodiment of white, middle-class, Bible-belt born-again-Christian values. There again, my friend was a radical feminist so she probably made a bad choice.

If you have a quick Google, you'll see that Camp America is well thought of but still adheres to the American-Christian ethic. If that's something your daughter would be uncomfortable with, she might not enjoy the experience.

Eh up Kirky.
I worked for CCUSA.com which is the same as Camp America (just a different company - CCUSA pay better ;) )
I did two summers working in the US of A and loved it.

Tell her if she passes to ask if it's possible to request a summer camp to work at - choose Camp Romaca in Massacusettes.
It's a very well looked after camp with a lot of money put into it.

She wont earn a lot of £££ and she will need some spending money too from home and she will be working hard (not so much extreme physical work but long hours). However the work is a lot of fun and she'll make tons of new friends. Expect that after her 9 weeks at camp that she'll be wanting to travel for a week or two (possibly more) around the states with new friends.

The camp she ends up on will be based on the choices she made on her application form.
I was lucky cos I got an independant camp - which is run like a business, they make a lot of money and can afford to really give there staff the best.
The state camps dont have that luxury so it could be that her accomodation is maybe not what she's expecting - however even after all that she'll still have a lot of fun.

Not to give you the best impression of life over seas but hopefully she wont get pregnant while in the USA.
Lets just say even tho it's hard work n all that Jazz, counsellors (which is what the camp staff are called) have time off after work to go to local bars and mix with other camps or people from the same camps. Plenty of the other happened during these 'off duty times' I can tell you.

Originally posted by DaBouncer
Not to give you the best impression of life over seas but hopefully she wont get pregnant while in the USA.
Lets just say even tho it's hard work n all that Jazz, counsellors (which is what the camp staff are called) have time off after work to go to local bars and mix with other camps or people from the same camps. Plenty of the other happened during these 'off duty times' I can tell you.

Don't worry Kirky - she will be fine!! several of my friends have been, and all had a fantastic time. It's allready been mentioned but I think it is very important to choose the camp carefully. For example, some camps are quite general. others specialise in music, sports or arts or whatever.

I wanted to go, but decided I couldn't afford it because I would not make enough money to keep me going through the next year.

It might also be wirth checking out BUNAC or Council of International Exchange. They are both less about working with children, Bunac can get you a job in, say, a theme park, and CIE can help you get a job in a field you are interested in. Really depends on what you want out of the trip.

It's a fantastic experience and great on your CV!

Originally posted by DaBouncer
Eh up Kirky.
I worked for CCUSA.com which is the same as Camp America (just a different company - CCUSA pay better ;) )
I did two summers working in the US of A and loved it.

Tell her if she passes to ask if it's possible to request a summer camp to work at - choose Camp Romaca in Massacusettes.
It's a very well looked after camp with a lot of money put into it.

She wont earn a lot of £££ and she will need some spending money too from home and she will be working hard (not so much extreme physical work but long hours). However the work is a lot of fun and she'll make tons of new friends. Expect that after her 9 weeks at camp that she'll be wanting to travel for a week or two (possibly more) around the states with new friends.

The camp she ends up on will be based on the choices she made on her application form.
I was lucky cos I got an independant camp - which is run like a business, they make a lot of money and can afford to really give there staff the best.
The state camps dont have that luxury so it could be that her accomodation is maybe not what she's expecting - however even after all that she'll still have a lot of fun.

Not to give you the best impression of life over seas but hopefully she wont get pregnant while in the USA.
Lets just say even tho it's hard work n all that Jazz, counsellors (which is what the camp staff are called) have time off after work to go to local bars and mix with other camps or people from the same camps. Plenty of the other happened during these 'off duty times' I can tell you.

if your recomending mate thats good enough for me,she's got her interview at half one today.just one thing,you say she won't earn alot,it says $700 a week on here

http://www.campamerica.co.uk/Page.asp?originx291nm_773609961601 that sounds ok to me for a 19 year old:confused:

That's $700 for the summer mate not the week :lol:

Look at the bottom. If she stays on the close the camp AFTER her summer contract she'll then get an extra $200 a week (because the work is more messy and physical).

I seriously loved it mate - I'm jealous that she'll be going and I wont cos I loved my time there.
We all have to grow up tho I suppose :(

Kirky, a friend of ours son went to camp America and he had a great time, he had to save quite a bit of cash before he went, and his parents also got used to the begging emails, but he came back so full of it, and with the biggest grin on his face that it's obvious he had a wonderful time.
Good luck to your daughter and I hope she passes the interview.

well she got accepted,she's off to calafornia in june:thumbsup:

Congratulations!

Now all you need is a visa for the budgie to go too!

Originally posted by kirky
well she got accepted,she's off to calafornia in june:thumbsup:
California eh - nice work.
Does she know which Camp she'll be on already then?

I'm off to California end of April as it happens :D

Originally posted by DaBouncer
California eh - nice work.
Does she know which Camp she'll be on already then?

I'm off to California end of April as it happens :D

she's not home from the interview yet so i don't know all the details all i got was a 10 second call:mad: she'll be too busy celebrating with her mates as they are all going together.

Originally posted by cgksheff
Congratulations!

Now all you need is a visa for the budgie to go too!
i'm afraid the budgie drew the short straw.....she's at the mother in laws:help:

Originally posted by kirky
i'm afraid the budgie drew the short straw.....she's at the mother in laws:help:

Your lass must be slipping..she should have kept the budgie and sent thee to the inlaws :P

Tell your daughter congratulations on getting through, and to enjoy it :thumbsup:

Originally posted by DaBouncer
California eh - nice work.
Does she know which Camp she'll be on already then?

I'm off to California end of April as it happens :D

camp mendocino:)

Originally posted by owdlad
Your lass must be slipping..she should have kept the budgie and sent thee to the inlaws :P

Tell your daughter congratulations on getting through, and to enjoy it :thumbsup:

cheers owdie:thumbsup: wish i was goin.....them surf chicks would be all over me eh:D :D

Maybe this is it?

http://www.bgcsf.org/camp/

Originally posted by kirky
cheers owdie:thumbsup: wish i was goin.....them surf chicks would be all over me eh:D :D

Like a rash mate like a ra..........ooops forgot you only just got rid of the last rash ;)

Congratulations to your daughter, kirky. She's very lucky. Mendocino County is one of the most beautiful in all of California.

She'll find lots to see and do when she's not working. There's many fine wineries to visit, (although she can't legally drink in California until she's 21) but the tours are nice, and most wineries usually have restaurants as well.

Point Arena and Point Cabrillo lighthouses. The skunk train. Redwood trees. She should have a wonderful time there.

The weather there is gorgeous, sunny and warm during the day, and cool nights. They are pretty far north, and the ocean water is very cold. But you do see a few brave souls swimming anyway.

http://www.mendocinocoast.com/index.htm

When she's done with work, and wants to sightsee, I would really recommend a drive south down the California coast. (shameless bragging here) Some of the most lovely scenery you will ever see. Anywhere in the world.

Places like Bodega Bay, where Alfred Hitchcock filmed The Birds.

http://www.bodegabay.com/index.shtml

Take a tour of Hearst Castle.

http://www.hearstcastle.com/

And Monterey and Carmel.

http://www.monterey-carmel.com/

Alas, Clint Eastwood is no longer the mayor of Carmel, but it's still worth a visit.

Too many other places to name here! Hope she has a wonderful and safe trip!

:) Sierra

thanks seirra,and everyone for that matter i'm gonna email this thread so she can have a look at the links..cheers:thumbsup:

Camp Mendocino (http://www.bgcsf.org/camp/) website.

Looks cool - she'll have a LOT and I mean A LOT of fun Kirky and she'll be looked after by the people who organise these things.

She'll have a great time!

Originally posted by DaBouncer
Camp Mendocino (http://www.bgcsf.org/camp/) website.


Bit of deja vu here!

Originally posted by kirky
well she got accepted,she's off to calafornia in june:thumbsup:

my doesn't time fly..she's off a week tommorra....i know a few of her mates from colledge use the forum so if ya reading this we're having a bit of a send off for her in the merrie monk pub on sunday (5th june) all welcome

:thumbsup:

Originally posted by Sierra

She'll find lots to see and do when she's not working. There's many fine wineries to visit, (although she can't legally drink in California until she's 21) but the tours are nice, and most wineries usually have restaurants as well.


When my brother did a US Camp thingy, his most useful piece of equipment apart from a passport, was a fake ID. They ask anyone under the age of 40 for ID in Californian bars. I go frequently and always take my driving licence. Always get asked despite the tragically obvious fact that am 34.

Originally posted by kirky
my doesn't time fly..she's off a week tommorra....i know a few of her mates from colledge use the forum so if ya reading this we're having a bit of a send off for her in the merrie monk pub on sunday (5th june) all welcome

:thumbsup:

Ahh, time does fly. I know you and the missus will miss her while she's gone, but this is an excellent opportunity for her, and I know she'll have a wonderful time.

Who knows? Maybe she'll end up marrying an American and living here. Or coming back here to go to school. You never know.

Here's wishing your girl the best of luck, and a safe trip!

:) Sierra

heard from her wednesday night she got there ok:thumbsup:

Originally posted by kirky
heard from her wednesday night she got there ok:thumbsup:

Nice to know she arrived safe and sound mate :thumbsup:

Now can you get her to join the Forum (if tha dare risk it) so she can keep us up to date on her big adventure.

Originally posted by owdlad
Nice to know she arrived safe and sound mate :thumbsup:

Now can you get her to join the Forum (if tha dare risk it) so she can keep us up to date on her big adventure.

she's been a member of the forum for yonks(stacey k) but i don't think she's ever posted,i'll mention it to het though

well that went quick,fetched her home this morning and sounds like she had a great time,not really spoke much yet as she's a bit tired but she did say she's goin back next year.