Summer Camp Employment Information

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Melvin Webb
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Summer Camp Emplyment Infrmatin CampStaffUSA is a site specifically designed t bring eligible and screened internatinal and dmestic students, teachers, caches and yuth wrkers t ne lcatin where US

1 Summer Camp Emplyment Infrmatin CampStaffUSA is a site specifically designed t bring eligible and screened internatinal and dmestic students, teachers, caches and yuth wrkers t ne lcatin where US camp emplyers can easily review and cnsider applicatins fr summer emplyment. It is the nly site created by multiple J1 designated spnsrs, recruiters and camp directrs wh wrk tgether t give yu the pprtunity t live and wrk in US summer camps. Enjy the Many Benefits: Valuable Wrk Experience Safe and Secure Wrking Envirnment Cultural Exchange Netwrking Great Fun & Friendships Travel Opprtunities

2 Why wrk at a US Summer Camp? Wrking at a US summer camp can be n f the mst rewarding, exciting and memrable experiences f yur life! Althugh, US summer camps vary widely in lcatin, prgram, activities, philsphy, facilities, and camper ppulatin they all share a cmmn gal t prvide each camper with a safe and rewarding summer they ll never frget! There are many benefits t wrking in a camp envirnment. Valuable Wrk Experience Planning n pursuing a career in childcare? Teaching? Psychlgy? Culinary Arts? Office Management? Wrking at a summer camp can prvide yu with the ideal envirnment t put yur skills t the test and t gain hands- n experience t build yur resume in mst all service fields. Yu will wrk alng side experienced prfessinals wh will guide yu and supprt yu thrugh the prgram s as yu are prmting grwth and cnfidence in campers, yu t are grwing in yur wn skills and cnfidence. Safe and Secure Wrking Envirnment Summer Camp prvides a family- like atmsphere in a safe and secure envirnment. N need t srt ut details r t crdinate where yu will stay and hw yu will eat. It is taken care f fr yu. All meals and accmmdatin are included as part f yur cmpensatin. * Cultural Exchange Mst US summer camps emply nt nly Americans, but als welcme staff frm all ver the wrld. This diversity prvides the ideal pprtunity t share infrmatin and experiences relating t culture, histry and appreciatin f cuntries acrss the glbe. Internatinal staff and campers learn mre abut America while American s benefit frm understanding the wrld frm a persnal perspective. Netwrking In the age f greater cmmunicatin access, wrking at a summer camp pens up endless pssibilities. Yu will meet peple frm all ver the US and in mst cases, the wrld. It is a great pprtunity t establish friendships and develp an internatinal netwrk f friends and cntacts. Fun Camp is nt nly gd fr yur resume. Wrking at camp means yu ll experience the excitement f living and wrking in a new envirnment, pssibly in a new cuntry. Mst camps are lcated in beautiful lcatins n r near lakes and have extensive facilities that staff can enjy during their time ff. While yur psitin at camp is imprtant and yur rle must be taken seriusly, Camps als encurage campers and staff t have fun, t play, and t be silly. Maximize yur Opprtunity t Travel Many staff becme clse friends during their time shared at camp and plan times t travel tgether. Many internatinal students and their American friends, plan pst- camp time t travel tgether and t visit ppular US sites. Internatinal staff n the J1 camp cunselr and summer wrk travel visas are permitted and encuraged t travel arund the US fr up t 30 days after their last day f wrk. American staff als ften reciprcate and plan visits t freign cuntries, meeting up with their internatinal friends. Seasn & Duratin The US summer camp seasn runs frm late May thrugh mid t late August with average emplyment between 9-11 weeks. Salary structure is based n 63 days cntract with additinal pay per day wrked thereafter. Sme pre- camp and pst- camp wrk pprtunities are available. There are different rles and psitins f emplyment in a camp envirnment. Summer camps ffer tw general emplyment categries: Camp Cunselrs and Supprt Staff. There are visas fr internatinal staff in bth categries fr eligible candidates. Bth visa prgrams have a minimum f 3 weeks and a maximum f fur mnths duratin and may nt be extended. Understand that many camps are lcated in rural areas thrughut the US with beautiful scenery. Yu shuld be prepared fr pssibly being in an islated lcatin where utside f camp scial activities may be limited during time ff. Rustic cnditins and uninvited wildlife including bugs, msquites, and spiders are cmmnplace at Camp. Yu shuld als be aware that in rder t ensure that Camp is a safe and nurturing envirnment, varius rules and regulatins are in place. These include curfews and restrictins n alchl cnsumptin, smking and mbile phne/internet usage. Camp emplyees and staff wrk as a team and everyne jins in when necessary t ensure its success. Yu may ccasinally be asked t d a jb r assist in an area ther than the ne yu were assigned t initially. Flexibility and teamwrk is key at Camp. * Camps nt exempt f minimum wage may deduct accmmdatin fees as permitted by state and federal mandates.

3 Camp Cunselrs Obtaining a jb as a camp cunselr is the best way t meet diverse peple in the US and build an impressive resume. It's ideal fr teachers and caches interested in summer emplyment r students wh are pursuing degrees in teaching, cunseling, caching, physical therapy, athletic training, sprts psychlgy, etc. r wh simply lve wrking with yuth and want a summer jb that feels like play. Camp Cunselrs interact directly with grups f American and internatinal yuth, verseeing camp activities and ensuring the general welfare f the campers thrughut the summer. As a cunselr yu will wrk with campers ranging frm 7-16 years ld. Yu have the respnsibility f being a friend, a leader and a psitive rle mdel regardless f the type f cunseling psitin yu accept. If yu have the right persnality and a psitive attitude, yu will have lts f fun! Yu ll eat meals with the campers, entertain them, sing with them, laugh with them, and even cry with them (n the final day f camp!). It is hard wrk and can be physically and emtinally draining at times. While yu have the supprt frm yur c- cunselrs and ther staff, yu must LIKE and want t wrk with children t have a successful experience. General Cunselrs. These individuals are invaluable staff members wh spend their whle day with ne grup f campers. They are rle mdels wh assist and mtivate campers whether they are trying t learn a new skill r they have cncerns abut an issue r idea. Thrughut the day general cunselrs mnitr and participate in the grup's activities and d everything in their pwer t make each f their campers' summer the mst memrable yet. General cunselrs must be fun- lving, patient and genuinely cncerned fr the welfare and develpment f yuth. Activity Cunselrs. Activity cunselrs are hired bth n their merit in a specific teaching area and their experience r desire t wrk with children. Mst activity cunselrs will either lead r assist in a particular activity during scheduled instructinal perids during the day and will live and wrk with a designated grup f children during the rest f the day and in the evenings. Activity Specialists. Specialists are individuals wh are hired fr their abilities and experience in leading particular areas f interest in the camp s instructinal fferings. CampStaffUSA identifies three (3) levels f a cunselr s skill and psitin that are determined based n certificatins, and experience in teaching and leadership. 1. General Skills (general cunselr, activity cunselr r cmbinatin based n camp need) 2. Advanced Skills (cunselrs with American Camping Assciatin certified skills in areas such as Rpes, Life Guarding, WSI, etc. r pssess years f experience with success in a variety f areas) 3. Key Staff (staff wh accept leadership psitins t versee a particular prgram, health and welfare f campers and ther staff) Applicants fr Cunselrs must: Be a mature adult ver the age 18. Pssess strng English language skills Willing t wrk lng hurs with kids and sme prir experience Pssess tw r mre camp related skills that yu can teach r assist in teaching t kids at camp the strnger yur skills and applicatin, the better the chance f a placement at camp Be pen minded, energetic, flexible & prepared t wrk lng hurs! Have n criminal recrd Have sufficient funds t pay fr flights and all additinal csts Be independent and self- mtivated. Yu are required t be pr- active in the applicatin prcess, t research yur emplyment psitin, lcatin and travels fully. It is imprtant t understand that living and wrking in a new living envirnment will be challenging at times and is a learning and life experience, nt simply a hliday. *Internatinal applicants must meet the eligibility fr the J1 Camp Cunselr Visa:

4 Supprt Staff Supprt Staff at US summer camps encmpass all f the ther areas f the summer camp peratins. Psitins typically include a variety f culinary level psts frm fd prep t bakers t chefs, maintenance and grunds wrk, ffice assistance, secretary, husekeeper, laundry, security, etc. There are a myriad f summer camp supprt staff psitins available that require a variety f skill sets and many schls ffer credit hurs upn cmpletin; Culinary/Dining Hall Staff. Cks, bakers, fd preparatin, dishwashers, and servers will wrk alngside seasned prfessinals. They will serve an integral part f a small t large vlume fd service facility. This type f rle requires applicants t be energetic and willing t wrk n a team with thers. It is ne f the hardest, mst demanding rles in that wrk teams are respnsible fr the preparatin and clean up f each meal and hurs may span much f the day with breaks in between. Previus fd service experience will mst likely be required. Husekeeping. Husekeeping staff wrk in small teams t maintain cleanliness f facilities thrughut camp, including such tasks as: cleaning and disinfecting restrms, shwer facilities and flrs, washing windws, dusting, sweeping, and laundering. Maintenance. Assistants maintain camp prperties by helping t prepare camp facilities fr pening, repairing, cleaning, and maintaining sites and facilities as directed and may include general duties related t daily refuse pickup, grunds wrk (leaf & brush remval), landscaping, grass cutting, mving equipment, painting, plumbing, electrical repair, animal care. Office: General ffice assistants and drivers may fcus n ne r mre f the fllwing duties: answering telephnes, taking messages, light secretarial, duties that keep the ffice running, keeping files rganized and up- t- date, ruting mail, prcessing dcuments, perating basic ffice machinery, greeting visitrs, scheduling turs, type letters and dcuments, create events ntices, driving camp vehicles t run assigned errands, etc. As supprt staff yur wrk may vary but all rles are imprtant in making the summer a success fr the campers and staff. Keep in mind, that althugh yu are hired t perfrm ne jb, yu may be asked t fill a variety f supprt staff rles as needed by the camp. CampStaffUSA identifies three (3) levels f a supprt staff skill and psitin that are determined based n certificatins, and experience, wrkmanship and leadership. 1. General Skills 2. Advanced Skills (supprt staff with exceptinal educatin r experience in culinary arts r ther field that directly relates t the camp psitin as determined by accunt managers) 3. Key Staff (staff wh are accepted r experienced in leading a team in the kitchen as a head chef r assistant chef r the maintenance staff as a campus management) Applicants fr Summer Camp Supprt Staff must: Be a mature adult ver the age 18 Pssess strng English language skills Willing t wrk lng hurs Be pen minded, energetic, and flexible Have n criminal recrd Have sufficient funds t pay fr prgram fees, flights and all additinal csts Be independent and self- mtivated. Yu are required t be pr- active in the applicatin prcess, t research yur emplyment psitin, lcatin and travels fully. It is imprtant t understand that living and wrking in a new living envirnment will be challenging at times and is a learning and life experience, nt simply a hliday. *Internatinal applicants must meet the eligibility fr the J1 Summer Wrk Travel Visa: wrk- travel/

Additinal Infrmatin fr Internatinal Applicants Exchange Visitr Prgrams are designed t prmte cultural exchange and understanding between cuntries by allwing eligible freign natinals t live and wrk in

5 Additinal Infrmatin fr Internatinal Applicants Exchange Visitr Prgrams are designed t prmte cultural exchange and understanding between cuntries by allwing eligible freign natinals t live and wrk in the United States ( US ) with the purpse f engaging in cultural exchange while ffsetting travel csts thrugh emplyment. The US Gvernment allws certain rganizatins t prvide the visa spnsrship necessary t participate in these prgrams. CampStaffUSA prvides infrmatin t spnsrs that are designated by the Department f State. The camp cunselr and summer wrk travel exchange visitr visas cver all camp emplyment. Camp Cunselrs Thrugh the Camp Cunselr prgram, American staff and campers have the chance t experience freign cultures, while freign participants increase their knwledge f American culture. Fr thse wh enjy wrking with yuth it is a wnderfully rewarding experience that prvides invaluable insight and practice in wrking with yuth thrugh leadership rles. Camp cunselrs require a camp cunselr visa. Fr mre infrmatin abut the prgram, click here. Camp Cunselr Supprt Staff Freign supprt staff participate under a different visa categry called Summer Wrk Travel. Under this prgram yu are permitted t wrk in a variety f areas in camp and can even secure secndary emplyment utside f camp after finishing yur camp cntract s lng as yu d nt wrk utside f yur hme cuntry s prgram dates, yu submit prper emplyer dcumentatin t yur spnsr fr apprval and yu return hme in time fr the beginning f the university term. Althugh there are a variety f psitins yu may fill in a summer camp, yu cannt, hwever, accept a rle as a camp cunselr, Au Pair r any ther prhibited psitin as utlined by the Department f State. It is imprtant t verify the summer wrk travel dates established by yur hme cuntry. Camp supprt staff are gverned by the summer wrk travel prgram and as such are subject t the summer wrk travel permitted dates as established by their hme cuntry. Dates are subject t change SWT Prgram- Dates.pdf Fr mre infrmatin abut the prgram and required visa, click here. Summer wrk Travel J1 Emplyment Yur emplyment site is apprved by yur spnsr and is registered in SEVIS. Any changes in emplyment psitins, even minr changes, must be updated with yur spnsr. If emplyment is initially facilitated thrugh CampStaffUSA, yu must cmplete the initial jb ffer frm the initial emplyer unless yur spnsr agrees t a transfer t anther apprved camp. Yur spnsr will wrk with yu t reslve issues shuld they arise and t insure that the emplyer is meeting the agreed upn emplyment cntract. Early departure r wrk terminatin f that jb ffer may result in prgram terminatin r end f prgram shuld US laws be brken r Participant behavir be detrimental t the Exchange Visitr Prgram. Fr mre infrmatin see questins/

6 What is the Tw- Year Freign Residence Requirement? Participants may be subject t a Tw Year Hme- Cuntry Physical Presence Requirement. This means that the exchange visitr must reside and be physically present in the cuntry f natinality r last legal permanent residence fr an aggregate f at least tw years fllwing the departure f the US befre the exchange visitr is eligible t apply fr an immigrant visa r permanent residence, a nnimmigrant H visa as a temprary wrker r trainee, r a nnimmigrant L visa as in intracmpany transferee, r a nnimmigrant. Are yu subject t the tw- year freign residence requirement? An exchange visitr (EV) may be subject t the tw- year freign residence requirement f Sectin 212(e) f the Immigratin and Natinality Act (INA), fr ne r mre f the fllwing reasns: The EV's participatin in an exchange prgram was funded by the United States Gvernment, EV's wn gvernment, r an internatinal rganizatin. The educatin, training, r skill the EV is pursuing in an exchange prgram appears n the Exchange Visitr Skills List (1997 Amendment) fr EV's cuntry. The EV acquired J- 1 status n r after January 10, 1977, fr the purpse f receiving graduate medical educatin r training. If yu are subject, what des that mean? If yu are subject t the tw- year freign residence requirement, yu may nt change yur status t that f H, L, r K, r t immigrant r legal permanent status until yu have fulfilled the tw- year freign residence requirement by ging back t yur hme cuntry r receiving a waiver f this requirement. What if I am nt sure if this applies t me? If yu are nt sure whether the INA 212(e) tw- year freign residence applies t yu, yu may make a written request fr an advisry fr the applicability f INA 212(e) t yur situatin. The advisry pinin request shuld include legible cpies f every/all DS- 2019/ IAP- 66 ever issued t yu, alng with a self- addressed envelpe, and shuld be sent t: INA 212(e) Advisry Opinin Request The Waiver Review Divisin, CA/VO/L/W SA- 1, L- 603 U.S. State Department 2401 E Street, NW Washingtn, D.C Mre infrmatin can be fund n the website fr the Department f State, US Cnsular affairs;

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