scoobyis2cool
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| posted on 25/10/07 at 03:52 PM |
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Camp America - anyone done it?
As per the title really - has anyone on here done Camp America? It looks like good fun and I'm thinking of applying for next summer, just wanted
to see if anyone's got any experiences/advice to share?
Pete
It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care...
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twybrow
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| posted on 25/10/07 at 04:20 PM |
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For God's sake don't do Camp America!
Camp america is effectively an agency. they supply workers to the camps for a huge cut! I applied directly to a camp and ended up being paid 5 x that
of a Camp America person.
What are you looking at doing? I went to work as a watersports instructor - much fun to be had with a 5.7l V8 speed boat!
If you need contacts and dont have an area in mind, I can put you in touch with the camp I was at. I was based in New Hampshire, on an island, upon a
27 mile long lake surrounded by mountains. The weather was hot (35C) and the water warm. It was truly a wonderful place and an awesome summer (the
American ladies love the finest Queen's English!).
Just don't go their thinking of it as a holiday. It was stressful and hard work at times (when I wasn't ragging around in the boats,
drinking beer and chilling with the ladies from the surrounding girls camps!). The kids can be very demanding (one of the counsellors got sent home
after he punched one of his kids!).
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scoobyis2cool
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| posted on 25/10/07 at 04:29 PM |
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Hey twybrow,
Yeah I realise Camp America take a big cut of your pay - you only get something like $1200 for 9 weeks work :S But to be honest that doesn't
bother me all that much, I'm really more interested in going somewhere where I can meet people to travel round with afterwards.
I haven't got a particular area in mind, I'm not trained as an instructor in anything but I'm more than willing to have a bash at
stuff.
Oh yeah and I realise it'll probably be bloody hard work, but I guess overall its fairly rewarding (I hope!).
When you were on your camp what were the other instructors like? i.e. where were they from, how old were they, did they all go travelling around
America afterwards?
Cheers,
Pete
It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care...
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twybrow
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| posted on 25/10/07 at 04:41 PM |
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Pete,
I know you say you are not too bothered, but beleive me, when everyonme else around you is getting a lot more money than you, you will be bothered.
Surely if you want to travel, you want as much as you can get!?
I was working with a mix of Camp America and non-Camp America people. The guys/gals were great. A real mix of all nationalities (Oz, NZ, Canadian,
Polish, Russian, Swedish etc). They were a real mix of ages too - some as young as 18, the oldest was like 70! Most of the guys go back year after
year they love it so much.
Lots of people went travelling afterwards and during the camp itself. I went to Canada twice, Boston, and a load of other places, all paid for. The
best bit is, you meet so many people from all over the States (and world) that you can travel all over and stay with them.
Not having a specialist activity won't stop you getting a job, but it will make you less desirable. There were lots of general counsellors, but
the instructors all got more money and less shit! Do you have a hobbys that might be applicable? Football (sorry, soccer), tennis etc (I was asked to
referee a soccer match - I hate soccer and have no understanmding of the rules!)
If you want more info, I can talk you through my experiences on the phone some time. U2U and I will send you my number.
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 25/10/07 at 05:38 PM |
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scoobyis2cool, check out www.ccusa.com. Its pretty much the same as camp america but cheaper. Im thinking about doing it this year if i can get time
off work
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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Daimo_45
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| posted on 25/10/07 at 06:36 PM |
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My sis done it last year and loved it. Also went traveling round US with friends made.
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scoobyis2cool
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| posted on 25/10/07 at 07:23 PM |
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Thanks for all the advice guys.
twybrow, I see what you mean now about the wages. I was under the impression that the camps were pretty much fully staffed by Camp America people so I
thought everyone would be on the same wage.
I'll be sure to put down all my hobbies and interests on the application form if that will help. I'd be happy enough to have a bash at
refereeing a footie match!
Speedy, thanks for the link, I'll have a look through that site too. I didn't really realise there were alternatives to CA.
One thing I've noticed is that the visa you get only allows you to travel for 30 days after you finish working - is it possible to get a tourist
visa on top of that to extend your travelling time?
Pete
It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care...
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locoboy
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| posted on 25/10/07 at 08:06 PM |
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Yep did it 1995, i was not a 'go it alone' councellor so didnt get the top whack money but it was stil a great laugh and have friends all
over the world that i still keep in touch with and see as a result of it.
I taught water skiing for my 3 months.............bliss!
ATB
Locoboy
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Avoneer
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| posted on 25/10/07 at 08:48 PM |
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I did it in '93.
Great experience.
We were just outside NY and got every weekend off.
Hard graft in kitchen and general summer camp maintenance.
Would do it again though.
Pat...
P.S. Still got the NY plate I pulled off someones car - it's got to be done.
No trees were killed in the sending of this message.
However a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
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scoobyis2cool
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| posted on 25/10/07 at 10:20 PM |
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Yeah it really does sound like good fun and a great thing to do.
Will do some more research tomorrow, thanks for all the advice!
Pete
It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care...
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Fred W B
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| posted on 26/10/07 at 06:02 AM |
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Beware the food…..My stepdaughter put on 15kg in 6 weeks, even while working as a swimming coach / life guard.  Dessert twice a day, huge portions,
bucket size cokes etc
As said, no money in it, but she recons she had a really good time with some great people.
Cheers
Fred W B
You can do it quickly. You can do it cheap. You can do it right. – Pick any two.
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twybrow
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| posted on 26/10/07 at 08:28 AM |
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this is the camp I was at. I would be happy to put you in touch with my contact. It was a great camp.
Camp Winaukee
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scoobyis2cool
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| posted on 26/10/07 at 09:40 AM |
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Looks like a great place. Just one question - how did you get there from NY Airport? Is there a Greyhound service that goes that way?
And 15kg in 6 weeks is pretty damn impressive 
Pete
It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care...
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scoobyis2cool
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| posted on 26/10/07 at 09:41 AM |
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Scratch that, I've just noticed that they pick you up which is handy!
Pete
It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care...
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twybrow
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| posted on 26/10/07 at 11:35 AM |
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Pete, the camp covers all that sort of cost. They even give you money towards the flight cost. Once you are there, the only money you will need is for
drinking (which is a real pleasure I tell you). Oh are you 21 by the way? If not, no drinkies for you!
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scoobyis2cool
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| posted on 26/10/07 at 02:06 PM |
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Yeah I'm over 21 although for the last 3 months or so I've been pretty much completely off the booze in an attempt to get fitter and
healthier! Had a night out a few weeks back and I could really tell my tolerance had dropped - I started drinking like I normally would and was out of
in after a couple of hours!
Pete
It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care...
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