Imagine spending your summer by a sparkling lake, surrounded by Pennsylvania’s Endless Mountains, leading fun activities for kids, working with others from around the world, and getting paid for it. That’s exactly what awaits you at Camp Starlight, one of the most beautiful and exciting summer camps in the United States!
If you're an international applicant dreaming of experiencing authentic USA summer camp life by working as a camp counsellor, this is your chance of a lifetime. In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about working at Camp Starlight, including:
- The history and values of Camp Starlight
- Camp Starlight amenities and programs
- Why you should work at Camp Starlight
- The role of Camp Starlight’s counsellors
- How to become a counsellor at Camp Starlight with AmeriCamp
AmeriCamp can help you secure a job as a camp counsellor at Camp Starlight or one of the many other prestigious summer camps in our network. We connect you with the perfect summer camp, organize your visa and medical insurance, provide pre-departure support, and more.
Whether you’re passionate about sports, drama, outdoor adventure, or just love working with kids, there’s a place for you at summer camp, and we’re here to help you get there! Learn more about Camp Starlight below, or start your camp counsellor journey today by applying to AmeriCamp.
Camp Starlight: The Basics
Before you apply to work at Camp Starlight, you need to know what makes this camp so unique, and why it’s such a popular summer camp in America for international camp counsellors. Let’s dive in.
Camp History
Camp Starlight was founded in 1947, making it one of the most established summer camps in the U.S. For over 75 years, it has welcomed thousands of campers and staff members from across the country and the world. The camp was built on a strong foundation of tradition, community, and youth development, and those values still shine through today.
Many of the staff who return year after year say it feels like a second home. The legacy of Camp Starlight is one of meaningful friendships, lifelong memories, and personal growth. As a camp counselor, you’ll become part of that rich tradition and help write the next chapter in its story.
Camp Values
Camp Starlight fosters a nurturing environment where kids are encouraged to be themselves, try new things, and support one another. Respect, kindness, teamwork, and inclusion are not just buzzwords here, they’re embedded into the daily rhythm of camp life.
Camp Starlight has a brother/sister arrangement, which means the girls and boys enjoy separate activities during the day, with everyone coming together for meals and evening activities. This brings many of the benefits of a single-sex camp, but still offers time and space for group mingling at Camp Starlight.
Camp Location and Facilities
Camp Starlight is located in the scenic Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania, just a few hours from major cities like New York City and Philadelphia. The camp’s 385-acre campus is nestled along a private lake, offering a postcard-perfect backdrop for summer adventures.
The facilities at Camp Starlight are what make it one of the best summer camps in the U.S. You’ll enjoy:
- A beautiful lakeside waterfront for swimming, boating, and watersports
- Sports fields, tennis courts, and a full-size indoor gym
- A performing arts centre, recording studio, and multiple creative arts studios
- High ropes course and outdoor adventure areas
- Comfortable, well-maintained cabins for campers and staff
Whether you’re leading a soccer game, teaching arts and crafts, or just taking in the sunset by the lake, the facilities at this top-rated summer camp in America provide the perfect setting for the summer of a lifetime.
Camp Programs and Activities
Camp Starlight offers an incredible variety of programs, with over 100 activities to choose from. The camp programs can be broken down into a few different categories:
- Athletics: Camp Starlight has many different sporting and athletic activities, including baseball, basketball, European handball, cheerleading, figure skating, aerobics, flag football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, tennis, soccer, volleyball, and so much more!
- Waterfront: With twin spring-fed private lakes, Camp Starlight is the perfect location for waterfront activities like swimming, water skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, sailing, kayaking, fishing, water polo, and water aerobics.
- Performing arts: The Starlight Playhouse features professional recording studios, dance studios, and theatre halls. Camp Starlight offers performing arts programs in Theatre, Dance, Music, and Voice.
- Creative arts: Campers can let their creativity shine with arts activities like woodworking, ceramics, painting, jewelry, sewing, candle making, and more, all held in the camp’s brand-new “Carriage House” facility.
- Adventure: Get the heart pumping with high and low challenge courses, fire building, archery, nature lessons, overnight camping, and hiking. There are rock climbing walls, a zipline, rope courses, and more.
If you have specific skills of a camp counsellor or expertise related to a Camp Starlight activity, you’ll most likely be hired as an Activity Specialist. You’ll spend your days teaching campers of all ages a specific activity, and won’t be assigned to a specific set of campers.
If you don’t have specialised camp counsellor resume skills, there’s still a place for you at Camp Starlight! You’ll be a Bunk Specialist, who follows a specific group of campers around during the day, supervising and supporting them across all their different activities.
Why Work at Camp Starlight as an International Counsellor?
A summer camp job at Camp Starlight opens doors to personal growth, cultural exchange, and life-changing friendships. As an international counsellor, you’ll get to step into the heart of American summer camp culture while bringing your own unique perspective and energy to the experience. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of being a camp counsellor at Camp Starlight.
Experience the Great American Summer
There’s nothing quite like the sights and sounds of summer camp. Camp Starlight gives you a front-row seat to an iconic part of American culture, featuring bonfires, colour wars, sing-alongs, s’mores by the lake, and the kind of community spirit that feels straight out of a movie.
You’ll get to fully immerse yourself in camp traditions and daily life. You’ll wake up in a cosy cabin, eat in a buzzing dining hall, and spend your days leading fun activities, encouraging campers, and laughing alongside a tight-knit staff team from all over the world. It’s an authentic, all-American summer experience that goes way beyond sightseeing.
Gain Transferable Life Skills
Sure, camp is fun, but it’s also a place where you’ll grow. Every day at Camp Starlight will teach you valuable life and career skills that employers love to see:
- Leadership and communication
- Problem-solving and adaptability
- Teamwork and cultural awareness
- Responsibility and independence
These aren’t just camp skills, they’re transferable abilities that apply to any future role, whether in education, hospitality, healthcare, or business. Plus, when you work at a USA summer camp, you gain a massive confidence boost from completing a summer full of challenges, rewards, and meaningful relationships.
Travel Opportunities After Camp
Another big perk of working at Camp Starlight as an international counsellor? The chance to travel the U.S. after camp ends! To work as a summer camp counsellor in the U.S., you’ll need a J-1 camp counsellor visa (AmeriCamp can help you with that). The visa allows you to work (and get paid) for the duration of summer camp, then gives you up to 30 days of travel within the United States before returning home.
Many counsellors team up with new friends from camp and go on unforgettable post-camp adventures to places like:
- New York City
- Los Angeles and the California coast
- National Parks like Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon
- Washington, D.C. and historic East Coast cities
- Orlando and Florida’s theme parks
Whether you're into sightseeing, road trips, or relaxing on a beach, your U.S. summer doesn’t have to end when camp does!
What Do Camp Counsellors Do at Camp Starlight?
Working at a summer camp is fun, fast-paced, and full of meaningful moments. As a camp counsellor in America, your job isn’t just to supervise campers, it’s to guide, inspire, and support them throughout their summer of growth and discovery. Here’s what you can expect.
Typical Day in the Life
Camp Starlight has a structured daily program, but no two days at the best camp in America are the same. The program consists of six activity periods each day, and every day starts with group breakfast, announcements, and bunk cleanup.
There are three morning activity periods, so counselors will either lead specific activities (Activity Specialists) or travel through activities with their campers (Bunk Specialists). Lunch is a buffet picnic outside, followed by an hour to rest and relax. Like the morning session, there are three afternoon activity periods.
Once the afternoon activities wrap up, it’s time for showers, dinner, and evening activities, where the boys and girls usually combine. Bedtime varies from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm, depending on age group, and counsellors are either on duty until curfew or have scheduled time off in the evening.
Staff Culture and Community
One of the most incredible parts of working at this summer adventure camp is the sense of community among the staff. The moment you arrive, you’re joining a tight-knit family of passionate, adventurous, and supportive people from all around the world, and you’ll start building friendships that can last a lifetime.
Staff bond over shared responsibilities, late-night conversations, team-building activities, and just living life together in a beautiful natural setting. You’ll support one another, celebrate each other’s wins, and be there during the tougher days, too. Camp Starlight has a huge number of returning staff each year, because it’s such a fun, positive, and encouraging work environment.
Different Camp Counsellor Roles Available
We’ve touched on it, but it’s worth mentioning again. There are two main types of American summer camp jobs for camp counsellors at Camp Starlight:
- Activity Specialists: These counsellors spend most of the activity day in one particular program area, instructing campers of all ages and various skill levels in activities relating to their specific area of expertise.
- Bunk Specialists: These counsellors follow their campers from activity to activity each day. They are still relied upon for leadership and instruction at these activities, but their first responsibility is to ensure their campers' well-being and participation in the daily program.
All Camp Starlight counsellors live and work in a bunk with a specific group of campers.
What Camp Starlight Looks for in Its Camp Counsellors
The hiring team at Camp Starlight looks at your resume to make sure you match the summer camp counsellor job description, but they’re also interested in who you are, what drives you, and how you’ll contribute to the energy and culture of camp. Let’s take a closer look at what Camp Starlight values in its counsellors, and how you can stand out.
Core Qualities They Value
At Camp Starlight, the best counselors share a few essential personality traits and values, regardless of their backgrounds or skillsets. These are some of the camp counsellor qualities the hiring team looks for:
- Responsibility and maturity: Counsellors are trusted to look after children, solve problems, and lead by example. Even though the environment is playful, you must be someone campers and fellow staff can count on.
- Energy and enthusiasm: Camp life is full-on. Long days, high-energy activities, and lively camp-wide events demand someone who brings a positive attitude and isn’t afraid to dive in and get involved.
- Kindness and compassion: Campers sometimes struggle with homesickness, social conflicts, or personal challenges. Being a source of support, encouragement, and empathy makes all the difference.
- Team player mentality: Camp is collaborative by nature. Whether it’s helping clean the cabin, planning a talent show, or stepping up when a teammate needs support, being a strong team player is key.
- Adaptability: Things don’t always go as planned at camp, and that’s part of the fun! Being flexible, solution-focused, and open to change helps you thrive in the camp environment.
Skills That Make You Stand Out
While personal qualities are essential, having specific skills and experience can boost your chances of landing a summer camp job abroad at Camp Starlight. You don’t have to be an expert, but the following skills can help set your application apart:
- Experience working with children: Whether you’ve tutored, coached, babysat, or volunteered with kids, having any background in youth leadership shows you’re prepared to guide and care for young campers.
- Specialty skills in activities: Camp Starlight offers a wide variety of activities, so they’re always on the lookout for counselors with talents in specific sports (like tennis, football, gymnastics, and swimming), creative or performing arts, adventure activities, and more.
- Leadership or mentorship roles: Have you led a team, organised events, or worked in a peer support role? Highlight any examples that demonstrate your ability to lead, motivate, and inspire others.
- Cultural openness and global perspective: As an international applicant, you bring your unique cultural background and global view to camp. Camp Starlight values diversity and sees international staff as a key part of its multi-cultural, inclusive atmosphere.
How to Become a Camp Starlight Counsellor
Ready to turn your summer dreams into reality? Here’s how to get a job as a summer camp counsellor at Camp Starlight, or one of our other incredible camp partners.
Eligibility Criteria and Requirements
Before you start your AmeriCamp application, make sure you meet our eligibility criteria:
- Age and experience: You must be at least 18 years old by the start of camp. Prior experience working with children, whether through babysitting, tutoring, or youth programs, will strengthen your application.
- Language proficiency: All daily activities at Camp Starlight are conducted in English. You’ll need strong conversational and instructional English skills to effectively lead activities and communicate with campers and fellow staff.
- Background check: For camper safety, you must pass a criminal background check and provide references who can vouch for your character and responsibility.
- Specialized skills: These aren’t essential, but experience in team sports, water sports, arts and crafts, and other specialised skills will strengthen your application.
Above all, you need to be enthusiastic and excited about the opportunity to work with youth and experience new customs and cultures at camp.
Visa Requirements for International Applicants
All international applicants will need a J-1 visa to work at a summer camp in the U.S. This visa allows you to work legally as a counsellor, earn a camp counsellor salary, and then travel for up to 30 days afterwards. AmeriCamp will issue the forms you need to apply for your visa, and guide you through every step of the process.
AmeriCamp’s Application Process
Whether you want to work at Camp Starlight or another incredible Summer Camp, your journey starts with AmeriCamp! Here’s how it works:
- Register online with AmeriCamp here
- Attend a call with an AmeriCamp rep so we know you’re a good fit
- Provide all necessary documentation, including your camp counsellor resume
- We’ll circulate your application among our network of host camps
- When a camp feels you’re a good fit, they’ll schedule an interview with you
- Once selected, you’ll receive an offer letter from the camp
- We’ll issue your J-1 visa paperwork and provide pre-departure support
Once you have your visa, it’s time to pack your bags (our AmeriCamp packing list might help) and get ready for a summer you’ll never forget!
Shine Bright as a Camp Starlight Counsellor With AmeriCamp!
A summer camp job in America at Camp Starlight will fill you with once-in-a-lifetime memories under the Pennsylvania sun. From leading exciting activities to becoming a role model for campers, you’ll walk away with a stronger sense of purpose and the kind of experiences that set you apart in any future career.
If you’re applying from overseas, Camp Starlight offers a rare opportunity to dive into American culture, connect with a diverse community, and explore the U.S. in a way that tourists never get to. And with AmeriCamp guiding you every step of the way, from your application and visa to your post-camp travels, you’re never doing it alone.
If you’re ready to swap your routine for a summer of impact, adventure, and laughs, Camp Starlight is waiting, and AmeriCamp can help you get there. Start your application today!
