Please rate my ops good, i need money to get outta this hell hole that is UK
Please rate my ops good, i need money to get outta this hell hole that is UK
Member since:27.02.2004
Reviews:3
Members who trust:2
In the summer of 2004 I spent a hectic yet enjoyable 3 months working in the USA as part of CCUSA's camp counsellor programme.
CCUSA (Camp counsellors USA) is one of many companies that provides young people the opportunity to experience other countries and cultures at an affordable price.
APPLICATION PROCESS: I began my appliacation in December 2003 and had been wanting to do the CCUSA programme for many years. The application asks all the basic questions such as address and employment history but also looks into your skills in activity areas (however skills are not always required). After paying my intial £86 for the application deposit I had an interview 2 weeks later with a local interviewer (I only had to travel 20 miles to this interview which was convienient). The interview was very formal and involved chatting about your skills written on your application form (for this reason I wouldn't advise lying in your application). The interviewer also asks about your experience with children and how you have/will cope with certain situations at camp. My interview lasted about an hour and we chatted mostly about camp life and I also got the change to ask some questions about what I was letting myself in for.
After this stage the interviewer sends all your information off to the CCUSA head office and then determines your suitablity for placement. After 2 weeks I finally got the all clear and was told that they were now actively looking for a camp to employ me.
THE CAMP INTERVIEWS:
In March 2004 I finally got my first interview with a camp in California which Is the area I told the interviewer I would like to work. Because I had ticked the special needs camp box on the application form the interview was for a diebetics camp, which I was a little wary about as I knew little about the condition. The interview lasted about an hour and a half and was possibly the hardest interview I had ever had! Anyhow I managed to blag my way all the way through the interview with stupid answers and covered in sweat...NICE!
I had been waiting now for a good month and had so far not recieved a reply from the camp so I decided to call CCUSA for an answer. CCUSA always answer quicky when you phone them and
are always helpful and friendly. This time I wasn't successful but 2 weeks later I had obtained a job in NYC, and this time without a grueling phone interview (God I hate them things).
FROM PLACEMENT TO CAMP:
Woohoo, I finally had my camp placement just east of NYC and I now knew that I could say goodbye to England for the summer (thank God)!!!
From placement to camp several things happen:
VISA:
Now this is a pain in the ass as after 9/11 the US govenment requires all people needing a Visa to attened a interview at the American London embassy. This can be costly as you have to pay a £69 visa processing fee and ,depending on where you live, travel into London (which for me was about £20 return so you can see how this adds up with food and underground passes for the day) The US emabssy interview lasts about 3/4 hours depending on how busy it is that day - although you spend 3 hours and 59 minutes of those four hours sitting down which is GREAT (Sense the sarcasm there?!?!). However you do get to meet other cool CCUSA people at the interview! CCUSA assists you with all the visa paperwork and even double checks it at their office before you head to the embassy which ensures that you visa will go through (unless you have been involved in armed conflict and other such curcumstances - the best question on the visa being "are you a terrorist"?...hmmm?)
PRE-DEPARTURE MEETINGS: Around May time CCUSA holds the pre-departure meetings which are held in London (Leeds as well I think) and are mantatory. These meetings are pretty much common sense ans a waste of time as everything they go over is in the manual you get, but its all part of the US governments J1 Visa requirements. The pre-departure meetings however give you a great chance to meet up with others from your camp and also talk to others who have been to camp already!
POLICE CHECK:
This is required by CCUSA , your J1 Visa and also the US government. Its easy to obtain and can range from £10 to £20 depending on your police force. All you have to do is pop into your local police station and ask for a police background check and then send that form off to be processed by the CRB (Criminal records Bureu). By law the force has to release your information by 40 days of reciept of the application so make sure you don't leave this part just before you leave for camp as you won't get your flight ticket from CCUSA.
MEDICAL CHECK:
Again this is a requirement of CCUSA and also the medical insurance they take out on your behalf. Its pretty straight foward but can be rather costly depending on how nice your doctor is (mine was nice and didnt charge me anything, however i have heard some doctors to charge up to £125 - but CCUSA do a special on one of their open days for £65)
FLIGHT:
Your flights are paid for by CCUSA through your placement fee BUT only allows UK - NYC and NYC - UK so if your at camp in California you will have to pay to get back to NYC for your flight (however CCUSA does pay for your travel TO camp).
CCUSA meet you at your departure airport and issue you with you tickets and ensure you get on the flight - from their to NYC on the flight your on your own! In NYC you will be met at the airport by a CCUSA rep and taken to the orientation site (the place you goto before heading off to your camp the following morning) by bus once everyone has cleared immigration and collected their baggage.
NOW TO TELL YOU A LITTLE ABOUT CAMP LIFE....
My camp was situated on Long Island, NY state which was great as it was close to a major city that everyone loves yet still out in the middle of know-where. The first week has hard as being in a new country, with new people, with hot weather and strange living conditions is a shock to the system...not to mention the jet lag! The accomadation was errrr basic - how can i describe it.... a bit like a garden shed with some lights and 5 bunk beds and 2 single counsellor beds (not sure you can call them beds though...more like rubber blocks). This was to be my home for the next 9 weeks..eek!
Anyway... the first week was a "get to know everyone" week, getting camp ready for campers and also the rules and regs of camp. This involved long hours and often hard work cleaning cabins and ensuring everything is ready for the campers the follwing week - but you do get that ever important time to have a england vs USA footy match (sorry soccer i mean...no football arrgghh).
The second week arrived and this was D-Day, was I gonna survive being a counsellor and will the kids like me being their counsellor?!?! Luckly I was placed with an American counsellor who had previous experience, which was a massive relief and allowed me to be slighty more open and learn much more quick;y about what being a counsellor was about! (I know this is possibly the feeling of most people who sign up but trust me your be fine once you get there).
CAMP FACILITIES/TIME OFF (WOOHOO):
Luckly the camp had its own beachfront which was quality and great for the time off we got at weekends! The camp also had the following facilities/equipment which we were allowed to use during our time off:
Time off at my camp consisted of one night off per week (roughly about 4hrs) and 7 out of 9 weekends off throughout the whole camp session. These weekends and nights off where what we loved the most as it gave us the relaxation we needed whilst also allowing us to get to know other counsellors from all over the world. During our time off at weekends we often visited NYC for shopping, gigs or just sightseeing, which was great but an expensive option as NYC isnt cheap! Weekends also consisted of drunken parties around our American friends houses which was great fun...specailly seen as most of the ones i went to has pool and a BBQ...allll riggghhhtt - jackpot!
Time off is the word you will love to hear at camp but not for a bad reason!
THE KIDS:
The children you work with are gonna be annoying, funny, depressed, hyper (especially when the candy shop opens - no its nothing to do with fiddy) homesick and a lot more so you can ensure a fun summer whether its laughing with a camper or helping them to fit into camp life. This is the most rewarding work I have ever done as I helped so many children overcome their fears and hopefully made their summer a whole lot better. You will be working with another counsellor in a cabin with about 10 kids (more or less depending on your camp) and some how you have to help all of them enjoy their time at camp, make new friends and return the following year.
PAY:
The pay over camp isnt great but it gets you through the 3 months - thus the "pocket money" title. These are the following pay scales for the 2005 season:
Age 18 $675 (USD) Age 19/20 $775 (USD) Age 21+ $875 (USD) Support Staff $1225 (USD) ARC Lifeguard $975 (USD) Returnee w/ CCUSA Flight $1600 (USD) Returnee w/ Own Flight $2000 (USD)
TRAVEL AFTER CAMP:
This is by far the best fun I had in my time in the USA as after camp I travelled down the whole east coast with several other friends from camp. I travelled with a Dutchman, German and S.African, which just proves that camp life is full of different nationalities and cultures! In the 10 days i travelled I managed to cover the following using CCUSA's discounted Greyhound bus pass (great value and a great way to travel - so many weird yet wonderful people ride it- haha):
Niagra Falls Boston Washington DC Virginia Beach St. Augustine , Florida NYC
My 2004 adventure ended at JFK airport where i had my CCUSA flight back home to good old Blighty - I missed home a few times during my 3 months in the USA but the Kids, staff/friends and travel all made it worth while!
AND THATS WHY I'M GOING AGAIN THIS YEAR - oh plus i get paid more, lol! Hope to see some of you there!
USEFUL LINKS: www.CCUSA.co.uk www.gapyear.com - several other gapyear camp stories.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
Splendia, a unique selection of luxury and design hotels with character in the most beautiful locations: Marrakesh, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Dubai.... Book directly online or contact our customer service available any day of the week.
Record Rent a Car is present in the main spanish airports and has a very wide fleet. We offer: exceptional discounts, free additional drivers,
unlimited mileage... subscribe to our Club Record and take advantage of special offers.
Advantages: Amazing summer Disadvantages: Don't do it for the money
summercampworldwide 15.10.2007 (15.10.2007)
·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: not helpful
Review of CCUSA (Camp Counselors USA)
Advantages: Amazing summer Disadvantages: Don't do it for the money
summercampworldwide 15.10.2007 (15.10.2007)
·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: not helpful
Review of CCUSA (Camp Counselors USA)
exceptional by (18%):
very helpful by (82%):
