What it's really like to be a camp counsellor in America

Picture this.

It's 6:45am and the sun is already warm on your face. Somewhere across the cabin, twelve kids are starting to stir. One of them is already singing. Another is looking for a missing sock. You've been awake for exactly three minutes and somehow you're already grinning.

This is a Tuesday. At a summer camp in America. And it's somehow the best job you've ever had.

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The day starts before breakfast

Life at a US summer camp doesn't ease you in gently. By 7am you're up, dressed, and helping your cabin get ready for the day. Breakfast is loud, chaotic, and brilliant. Kids who were homesick yesterday are laughing today. Small wins happen constantly if you're paying attention.

After breakfast the activities begin. Depending on your skills and the camp you've been placed at, your day might include anything from archery to swimming to drama to ropes courses. No two days are the same and no two camps are the same either.

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The bit nobody tells you about

Here's what the brochures don't always say: the hardest part of being a camp counsellor in America isn't the early mornings or the long days. It's the moment a homesick nine-year-old looks at you like you're the only stable thing in their world and you realise how much your presence actually matters.

That's also the part that stays with you long after you've come home.

Liam, who went through Americamp NZ, put it simply:

"They really got me excited about my summer camp experience. The whole process was smooth and easy and I would recommend it to any first-timers."

Sophie, who worked at a Special Needs Camp in Iowa, called it one of the most rewarding jobs in the world:

"It was an opportunity to help other people while having the best summer and experiencing a different country."

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What you actually earn

Camp counsellors at US summer camps are paid a salary for the duration of their contract, typically 9 weeks. Americamp NZ counsellors earn a guaranteed minimum of $2,250 USD, with Premium counsellors - those with specialist skills in areas like sports coaching, music, or special needs - earning a guaranteed minimum of $2,350 USD.

Your food and accommodation are provided by the camp for the full duration of your stay. That means your earnings are largely yours to save, spend on travel, or bring home.

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The NZ winter advantage

US summer camps run from roughly June to August - which is, conveniently, the worst part of the New Zealand winter. While your friends are rugging up at home, you're running activities in warm sunshine and building the kind of CV experience that genuinely impresses future employers.

Laura summed it up perfectly:

"I had dreams of going travelling, getting a bit of work experience, and being somewhere hot. Camp seemed like a great way to do all of those things at the same time."

She was right.

Ready to find out what your summer looks like?

Americamp NZ is operated by International Working Holidays, Auckland-based and Kiwi-focused. We're the NZ arm of Americamp - backed by over 24 years of placing New Zealanders at summer camps across the USA

Apply Today — it's free to start

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