The camp counselor program gives foreign nationals an opportunity to work at summer camps in the US as camp counselors for up to 4 months during the summers. It is a great program, especially for international students, as there is job security and the pay is good. Camp jobs come with a contract period and a set salary; this way, one does not have to worry about issues such as layoffs, number of hours or overtime. Since it is necessary for summer camps to maintain minimum staffing levels, you can be sure of a secure job.
A great benefit that comes with a camp counselor job is that you do not have to worry about renting an apartment or a house; since you will work on the camp site itself, your accommodation will be provided by your employers, saving you both time and money. Along with free accommodation, you will also get free food and meals. The only downside is that you will not be left with enough time to take up a second job, as you will have to work longer hours during the contract days.
The camp counselor program is open to any foreign national who is at least 18 years old and a post secondary student and sufficiently fluent in the English language to interact with children. They should also possess a strong desire to work with children and have one or more teachable skills. However, camp counselors will occasionally have to perform some non counseling duties but they cannot serve as staff acting as cooks or janitors. Participants in the camp counselor program should obtain a J1 visa through the US embassy and sponsors are required to interview the participants, secure references and ensure that they have round trip airfare, accessible funds and the required health insurance coverage.