Regardless of if you have previous experience or a special skill, if you have the desire and enthusiasm to work at a summer camp and you express this in your application, then you have a great chance of being placed. Camp directors want to hire people who are friendly, flexible, great with kids and who have a positive attitude. Not to mention those who are willing to throw themselves into ANYTHING.

 

Your camp organisation will begin the process of finding the perfect summer camp for you once you have completed your application and had your interview. The organisations applications are viewable by camp directors looking for candidates who are a good match. Your organisation will also be looking for a camp for you because many camps prefer to let the organisation suggest candidates that fit their staffing needs, but if a camp director does see and like your application, he or she may decide to go ahead and offer you a place.​ However, this might not happen straight away. A camp may chose to have you on review first, allowing them to spend time checking out your application and even speaking to you directly, whether that be via email or Skype. While a camp is reviewing you, other camps will not have the access to view your application. The organisation’s placement co-ordinators will send your application to another camp if, for any reason, the camp delays making a decision. It’s normal for a review term to take up to two weeks, but the process is usually faster depending on what skills you have and how suitable your application is to the camps needs.​ If a camp has you on review, check out their website and maybe even drop them an email just to say Hi! 

Don’t worry if you are taken off review without being placed. It can take several camps to review your application before one offers you a placement. I was taken off twice. It just means that maybe your personality and skills don't meet their exact needs.

Once you are placed, then congratulations! You will receive detailed information from the camp and the organisation. The next part of the process is for you to obtain and supply all the required documents for being able to travel to America (this can be a long winded process so allow yourself plenty of time). While you are waiting for the organisation to find you a summer camp, get started on obtaining any documentation you can. You will usually have no more than thirty days to turn in all the documents required once you receive your camp contract.



With regards to your passport, it will need to be valid for a minimum of six months after your expected return date. If you need a new passport, or if you do not already have one, apply for one right away. Without a copy of your passport, the organisation cannot proceed to get your visa paperwork, nor would you be able to attend the required visa interview. The placement process may have to be delayed until you are able to supply your passport.