The Camp Counselor

Camp Counselors are part of a team that help create a fun, safe and rewarding experience for the campers. Their main duty is to coordinate, conduct, and lead all activities for children and young teenagers during their stay at the camp. Camp counselors also have responsibilities within the cabin. A camp counselor typically shares a cabin with a group of campers. They must ensure their safety and act as a role model during this time.

From the U.S. Department of State CFR 62.30: In order to promote diverse opportunities for participation in educational and cultural exchange programs, the Department of State designates exchange sponsors to facilitate the entry of foreign nationals to serve as counselors in U.S. summer camps. These programs promote international understanding by improving American knowledge of foreign cultures while enabling foreign participants to increase their knowledge of American culture. The foreign participants are best able to carry out this objective by serving as counselors per se, that is, having direct responsibility for supervision of groups of American youth and of activities that bring them into interaction with their charges. While it is recognized that some non-counseling chores are an essential part of camp life for all counselors, this program is not intended to assist American camps in bringing in foreign nationals to serve as administrative personnel, cooks, or menial laborers, such as dishwashers or janitors.

The Camp Placement Program 

• Supervising another person’s child is an enormous responsibility. Therefore, working as a summer camp counselor is an extremely important job. Counselors must be patient, mature and responsible individuals.

• The ability to speak English proficiently is another critical skill for a prospective counselor. Strong English skills are a must when teaching an activity and in communication for all other aspects of camp. If a counselor does not understand or speak English well, he or she will be difficult to place and will likely be denied a visa.

• Camp is an ever-changing environment, so the counselor needs to be open-minded, flexible and have a positive attitude. The ability to handle stressful situations in a constructive manner is essential for a counselor. He or she must be prepared to spend all day with the campers and always act in a mature and responsible manner when around them and their fellow teammates.

• Most importantly, an individual who wishes to be a camp counselor in the United States should genuinely care about the welfare of children and be interested in learning about life in the U.S. They should not view this experience as an inexpensive option for visiting the U.S.

What do participants receive for the fees they pay? 

• J1 visa sponsorship and DS2019 Form 

• Support and assistance throughout visa application process.

• Travel insurance for your contract dates.

• Free room and board while working

• 24 hour support and emergency assistance while in the U.S.

• A job offer.

• 30 day travel period after camp.

• Access to cultural events and discounts

• The experience of a lifetime!

Eligibility for Camp Counselors

All participants in the InterExchange Camp USA program must be:

• Students, teachers, bona fide youth workers, or individuals with specialized skills

• At least 18 years of age by March 1st of the year of participation. Not older than 28. 

• Strong English speakers

• Highly dedicated individuals who are committed to participating in the program for 9 to 15 weeks.

• Available to work from early to mid-June through late August (Possible dates are between May 15-September 15)

• Genuinely interested in working with children in an outdoor setting