This is the first step in having the summer of a life time. All of the camp hiring organisations will assist you in the details of their application process, but there are a few common key elements that you can expect from each company.

You are going to need to provide at least three professional references. This is a requirement set by the U.S. Department of State and is required to grant your visa application. References should not come from personal associates such as friends or family. If you don’t have any prior job experience, you could seek references from a teacher, coach, pastor, trainer, or anyone who knows you from a professional standpoint.
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Additionally, you will need to obtain a criminal background check. The camp organization has a responsibility to check this since they are sponsoring your visa and need to comply with the U.S. Department of State regulations. The summer camps themselves will also require proof of a clean police background check. If you have any concerns about what may be on your background check or about spent offences, simply check with your camp organization to make sure these concerns will not be an issue for you. Please bear in mind that this is around £45 to obtain and none of the companies will pay for your criminal background check. So bear this in mind as an additional cost.
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The Association of Chief Police Officers provides police certificates for people in the U.K. who are planning to travel to other countries.
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If you are in the U.K., visit: http://www.acro.police.uk/police_certifi- cates.aspx 

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Your CRB will be valid for a year, so if you already hold one that expires AFTER the last day you are required for camp work, you may use this. 
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A vital part of your application is where you have the chance to outline your skills and experience and to make a bold statement about yourself. Have fun telling the camp organisation about yourself and about why you would be a great camp counsellor/support staff. (From the classic song), EXPRESS YOURSELF! You need to express your passions, your goals and your skills. Talk about how your skills and existing experience can be used at camp to make you stand out from everyone else. 

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Remember, this is the first thing your potential employer will see so it is important you make a lasting impression. Take care in making yourself shine bright like a diamond! (Ok, enough of the song lyrics on this page)

Your application is also likely to contain a questionnaire including sections about why you think kids go to camp, what camp directors look for in their employees etc. They will also ask you to fill out your availability, and what types of camps you are willing to work at. Remember the more flexible you are, the more employable you are. You will also be asked to submit a photo of yourself, and will be asked to agree to the terms and conditions of the organisation. 

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Another important part of the application process is making an application video. This is great for camp directors as it gives them more of an idea of what you are like in person, rather than just getting an impression of you words on a boring computer screen. There is a great guide on making a perfect application video in the 'Guide' section of this website. Check it out!

Once you have your application ready, turn it into your camp organisation. They will review it and assess it in order to determine if you qualify to become a camp counsellor/support staff. They want to work with you quickly in order to get you into the placement system sooner, ensuring they can satisfy the staffing needs of the various summer camps. The next part of the process will then be your preliminary interview.

Apply sooner rather then later, if you leave your application too late then there might not be any places left for you to join. A great rule of thumb if you are thinking about going for the next summer coming up, is to apply around October-January time as this is when camp directors usually begin their long search for suitable staff.