AmeriCamp Blog

At eighteen, I went to America expecting a tan, a bit of adventure and perhaps the beginnings of a six-pack. Instead, I found myself responsible for eight boys who seemed convinced I was an adult. The life jackets were compulsory, homesickness was inevitable, and a particularly useful Kiwi phrase helped me realise we were all figuring things out together.

Wondering how much of your New Zealand winter a summer camp in America will take? Here's how long a counsellor season runs, what the weeks look like, and what you can do with the time either side.

Wondering how your summer camp pay actually reaches you? Here's what Kiwi counsellors need to know about cheques, US bank accounts, Wise cards and carrying a physical debit card.

Wondering who you'll actually be looking after? Here's how campers are grouped by age at a summer camp in America, and what that means for you as a camp counsellor.

Wondering if a summer camp in America means working non-stop? Here's what time off really looks like for a camp counsellor, from nights off to full days away from camp.

A quick, honest look at the medical clearance form every summer camp counsellor fills out before heading to America, and why it's routine rather than a roadblock.

New Zealand has working holiday deals with the UK, Australia and Canada, but not the USA. Here's the legal route Kiwis actually use to spend a season working in America.

Not every US summer camp looks the same. Here's a look at the different types of summer camp in America, and how AmeriCamp NZ works out which one actually suits you.

Thinking about quitting partway through your summer camp season? Here's the straight answer on your visa, your fees, and why most reasons to leave are worth talking through first.

Worried camp counselling is just a fun gap-year detour? Here's what a season at a US summer camp actually adds to your CV, and why employers rate it. Wondering if a summer camp counsellor season in America helps your CV? Here's what employers actually value about the experience.