Getting Placed at Camp

Everything you need to know about getting placed at one of our Camps.

How long is your hiring season?

Our hiring season runs from August, and Camps can keep hiring all the way up until the summer starts, however most roles will be filled by February of the program year.

How long will it take for me to be hired?

There is no exact time frame for how long it takes to get placed - for some applicants it will happen quite quickly, and for others it takes several months. Don’t worry if it takes longer for you to find the perfect Camp for you, it’s different for everyone.

Can I choose where I get placed?

Every Camp will be hiring for a slightly different set of roles and experience levels, so your placement will depend on you, your skillset and your experience. For example, if your AmeriCamp application outlines that you are an accomplished rock climber, then you will naturally be considered by Camps who are hiring for a climbing instructor role.

Because of this, it may not always be possible to place you at a specific Camp of your choosing - but trust in our team to match you with a Camp that matches you perfectly!

Can I be placed with a friend?

We cannot guarantee placement with a friend, however it is definitely possible. Every AmeriCamp participant has their own application so it is rare for two friends to be hired together through the online hiring portal, since you will be presented to Camps as individual profiles.

However, if you are keen to get placed with a friend, your only option will be to get hired together at one of our in-person Camp Fairs. At these events you can meet with Camps face to face and enquire about being hired as a pair/group. You can check out the Camp Fair page on our website to see what events we have upcoming.

Please be aware that this is still not guaranteed, as it is a Camp Director’s decision whether to hire more than one person together, and they may be reluctant to do so.

Don’t let this put you off - we encourage our applicants to embrace the adventure of going to Camp solo. After all, you can always meet your friends after Camp to go traveling if they are elsewhere in the country.

Can I choose which State I am hired in?

Since we work with hundreds of Camps across the US you could get hired just about anywhere. Because of this we always recommend not getting too hung up on one particular city or state. One of the special parts of the Camp Counsellor program is being able to immerse yourself in the culture of an area you may have never had the chance to experience otherwise.

If there is somewhere in particular you want to visit, you can travel just about anywhere in the US during your 30 day Post-Camp travel grace period!

Can I contact Camps independently?

You can contact Camps if you would like to but we do not necessarily recommend it! The reason being that most Camps prefer to hire through an agency, like AmeriCamp, to ensure:

Applicants have been properly vetted.
Everyone they speak to is eligible and available for their Camp dates.
AmeriCamp does the heavy lifting of finding applicants that match the roles Camps are hiring for, in effect sifting through applications for them.

If you do contact a Camp independently or apply directly on their website, it is possible you will not hear back from them if their preference is to hire through agencies. If they do respond to you, you will need to verify if they work with AmeriCamp. If the Camp does not currently work with AmeriCamp, our US team may be able to onboard them. You can contact AmeriCamp to inquire about this process.

Why have I not been placed yet?

Everyone gets placed at a different time, so don’t worry if you have not been placed just yet, it might just take a little time! Remember, every Camp hires at different times of the year so the right Camp for you may have not even started hiring yet.

Two things to consider that may be affecting your ability to be placed are:

If it’s later in the season, you may be skipped over by Camps if you are not Visa Ready. Camps know the processing times for important documentation and visa applications can be long, and so may not risk hiring someone who could potentially not get their Visa in time for the start of the summer.
If you are not receiving contact from AmeriCamp there could be an issue with your email, such as emails bouncing or ending up in spam. This could affect your chances of placement if Camps cannot reach you or never hear back from you.

How do I improve my chances of being placed?

If you want to improve your chances of being placed, you could:

Update your preferences and availability - broadening your availability dates or Camp type preferences will get you seen by more Camps!
Review your application - check your skills, application video and broader written application are really strong. If you want to add any additional or new details, get in touch with AmeriCamp.

Attend a Camp Fair - the majority of attendees will be hired on the day!
Be open minded - don’t reject interview requests or disregard certain Camps before you have had a chance to speak to them!
Get Visa Ready - towards the end of the hiring season, Camps are more likely to contact applicants that are ready to apply for their Visas to avoid delays to their arrival at Camp.
Contact us - if you have not heard from any Camps and need some more support getting placed!

Will I receive a refund if I am not placed?

If you are not placed, by no fault of your own, by June 1st of the intended year of travel, you will receive a full refund of program fees paid to AmeriCamp.

This refund guarantee does not apply if:

You have failed to respond to Camp offers in a timely manner or otherwise contributed to the lack of placement.
You reject a placement from a Camp (for any reason other than the Camp not aligning with the dates and preferences stated on your application).
You are not fully Visa Ready by April 1st.