Who to Recruit
InterExchange Camp USA only recruits applicants who are eager and excited to work with children. Applicants who possess specialized skills are much easier to place than those who are only qualified to work as general counselors. However, all applicants should be prepared to assume some general counselor responsibilities and be willing to do a variety of jobs. Applicants who are interested in working in a religious or special needs camp are also very valuable to the program.
Activity counselors must possess relevant certification or training in the specified activity and/or show strong teaching experience. Camps look for certified activity counselors because many states require these instructors to hold certifications. However, camps are often willing to train candidates who lack actual certification to develop their skills and gain experience.
Different camps will have different requirements for their activity counselors. At some camps, an activity counselor will do nothing but teach soccer all day. At other camps, an activity counselor will teach soccer part-time but will also teach another activity. There are camps where the activity counselors will live with campers in the cabin, and others where they will live separately from the campers.The same variation of duties holds true for general counselors. Both activity and general counselors must be flexible, patient and willing to explore the different responsibilities that these positions entail. Camps classify whether a participant is an activity or general counselor.
Special needs counselors work with campers who face a wide variety of challenges including physical, mental, behavioral and learning disabilities. The position requires patience, lots of energy and most importantly, respect for the campers. Responsibilities may include bathing, lifting and assisting with the overall care of campers. The types and degrees of disabilities vary greatly between camps. A special needs counselor should have a general interest in or prior experience working with this population. Many special needs camps will take counselors with no previous experience as long as they are open-minded and motivated to learn.
The Role of a Counselor
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.
