...And Just Like That, The Summer's Over

So summer has come to an end, all the kids and most of the staff have left camp, and now just a few of us remain to work the Fall season, which runs until mid-September. The last week of camp was just a crazy and awesome as I expected it to be, with so much going on and so much excitement and anticipation from all the first year staff for their upcoming travels.

The final week of the summer is always a good one and this year really didn't disappoint. I was super busy getting every last bit of footage we needed for our amazing promo video that's been my main priority this summer (look out for it online in the coming months...there's going to be a big release), so filming took up most of my days. Everything was very dependent on the weather, so as soon as the sun shone, out I went with the camera, instructing people to do this and that, trying to the get the perfect shots!

We also had our annual all camp Lip Dub activity on Thursday evening, which basically involves splitting everyone on camp (kids and staff alike) into separate groups, giving each group a part of a song, letting them come up with a dance routine, and then filming them all performing to the song in one long take. It's always a very stressful, but very fun evening and the result this year is possibly the best one we've ever done. It's a fantastic way to end the summer, and I love having a video that we can release straight away to all our followers and our #sloanefamily as soon as the summer ends.

Before all that though, we had the final intersession of the summer...where just some of the kids stay over from one session to the next, meaning only about a quarter of the staff are working and the rest of us are off (on camp). This is the perfect opportunity to hang out with people you don't often get to spend time with, and do some activities that you wouldn't otherwise have the time to try. We had out annual soccer match against Camp Hi Rock, our rival camp which, although the end result didn't go our way, was still a great game and a fun time. And then a bunch of us went horse riding...yup, I actually got on a horse for the first time since I was about 10! Mental. And it really wasn't as scary as I thought it would be!

Anyway, like the title of this post says...as soon as it started, summer was over and it was time to say our goodbyes to all the campers and then all the staff. We had an awesome staff banquet with awards, funny videos and a few tears, and then off they all went on a big yellow school bus, back to NYC and off on their travels.

And now it's Fall camp, one of my favourite parts of working at camp. There are 13 of us here, doing jobs around camp, working with the college groups that come for 1, 2 or 3 days at a time, and generally having a pretty great time. I'm here for about another 2 weeks and then it'll finally be time to go back to England, after almost a year and a half away.

So it's goodbye to summer, see you next year!

*NOTE*
If you want to stay up to date on all things Camp Sloane, follow us on any (or all) of the links below:

www.campsloane.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campsloane

Twitter: @CampSloane

Instagram: @campsloaneymca

One Week Left Of Summer

Yep, you read it correctly. There's only one week (ONE WEEK!) left of the summer until all the kids and staff go home and just a few of us remain on camp to work the Fall season (okay, well actually 1 week and 2 days, but you get the idea). Anyway, that's mental! I know I keep saying it, but this summer has completely flown by... much faster than any of my previous summer at Sloane!

Opening Campfire!

So much has been happening in the last few weeks since my last post...day to day life has continued on as normal, more kids have come and gone and I've been crazy busy (as usual) doing my Media thing, taking photos, making videos and planning the most awesome Promo video for camp that has ever been made. We've been trying to get this promo thing done for the last 3 years but other stuff has always just taken over, but this year (or rather in the last few days and then the coming week), we are really getting into gear and getting it DONE!

Doing My Media Thing

That's the sort of stuff that excites me, making things that everyone is going to see...hopefully this is going to be a video that helps camp in the long run and shows people how amazing Sloane really is!

We're working, I promise!

In the last few weeks we've had another square dance (no rain this time luckily!), another magic show, some pretty fun days off and plenty of laughs with friends and campers alike, and we even had a total first at Camp Sloane the other day in the form of Color War. It was absolutely awesome, probably the best theme day we've ever had, with everyone getting really into it and supporting their team throughout the day!

Color War!

So now we've got just one week left and I can't wait to see what it will bring. If you want to find out more about life at Camp Sloane, you can find us all over the web at the links below:

www.campsloane.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campsloane

Twitter: @CampSloane

Instagram: @campsloaneymca

 

Yeah, that's our Camp Director on a horse!

The Halfway Mark

So last Saturday was the halfway point of the summer...I know, how crazy is that? I cannot believe that we are into the last 4 weeks of summer camp already, and really now there's only 3 and half weeks left! I'm staying for Fall camp too, so really I have about 7 weeks to go, but there's only just over 3 weeks with kids permanently on camp. This summer in particular, it seems to be flying by super fast, more than any other year, and I'm not sure I like it...I would work here forever if I could!

Anyway, these last few weeks have been the usual camp madness, with lots of photo taking and video making going on, as well as some fun evening activities, and some crazy weather. We had our square dance last week, which is always a good time, even if we did have to stop midway through and move the whole set up inside as a mental storm came crashing over us (honestly, in the whole of Connecticut, it only rained over Camp Sloane!).

Another fantastic evening activity for the Juniors & Pioneers (the two youngest sections on camp) was a magic show put on by the father of one of our counselors, and it was such a treat, just to be able to sit and be entertained for an hour or so...the best part was seeing the kids' faces when he did a cool trick and you could see them all wondering to themselves (and out loud sometimes too) 'how did he do that!?!'

Last weekend also saw us have our first official Alumni Day, where we welcome many camper and staff alumni from years gone by to camp for tours, a commemoration service for our new Swim Beach Pavilion, and a special campfire with extra special skits put on by current staff and campers. It really was an excellent day, and so interesting to hear about what camp used to be like from some of the alumni who haven't been back here in about 30 years!

Then Sunday was the all camp Theme Day, with the theme being Harry Potter vs Pirates. The teams battled it out all day, doing all sorts of crazy games, building immense forts and ending in a final game of capture the flag. The Pirates came out on top in the end, but fun was had by all and I'm sure the Wizards will be back with a vengeance next summer!

Yesterday was my day off again (it comes around so fast each week!), and we had a super chilled one, with excellent food and even better company. And now it's halfway through week 5 and things are getting hectic for me in the media department, as I try to gather all the footage I need for our Promo and Lip Dub videos!

Sloaning Around

Camp has, as always, been pretty excellent this past week. I'm loving almost everything about this summer (there are always going to be minor stresses and annoyances in any job, nothing's perfect), especially my friends and the kids that we've had these past few weeks. It's always awesome when some of your favourite campers come back summer after summer and you can watch them change and grow up into these amazing people, that's probably the best thing about working at summer camp.

Performing Arts: 'The Little Mermaid'

The weather last week was pretty incredible, with every day being sunny and hot, making a nice change from the previous week of rain and storms almost every day! It seems that the rain and sun are taking turns though, as this week looks to be just as rainy and wet as the one we had 2 weeks ago...it's a shame, especially as it affects my ability to film things like our annual lip dub video and the promotional video we are putting together this year...nobody wants a grey, rainy sky in the background really, do they? Last week I also got a chance to go out on the waterski boat and go tubing with all the other activity heads one evening as a reward for all our hard work, which was pretty awesome and an amazing way to watch the sun go down!

Tubing!

We've just started our new session, so camp is even more full than it was last week, as we now have around 278 campers, filling almost every corner of camp. I love camp when it's full like this, all the noise and chatter and laughter is what it's all about! On our intersession break (when only a handful of kids stay over from one session to the next) we were all 'off on camp', so the majority of the staff went down to the lake to go boating or swimming, but I thought that I'd just chill out, catch up on some sleep and all my favourite TV shows and then just hang out with my besties, lie in the sunshine and order food and ice cream. It was absolute bliss...I love being on camp but having a moment to just be us and not surrounded by children. Just a short break from the mayhem is lovely and totally refreshing.

And now it's the start of week 4 (or week 8 for me, as I've been here since the end of May) and everyone is ready and raring to go...we're almost at the halfway mark!

Opening Campfire moved inside due to rain!

Follow along with all the goings on at Camp Sloane YMCA here:

www.campsloane.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campsloane

Twitter: @CampSloane

Instagram: @campsloaneymca

Another Busy Week At Sloane

It's been another very busy week at camp, just like all the weeks past and all the weeks to come. I've been out and about all over camp taking lots of photos, making videos and keeping the parents up to date via our social media channels (do you follow us yet? Check out the links to find us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram)...all the usual Media stuff. I even went to the batting cages on my day off to hit some balls and get a bit of a break from the camp 'bubble'.

Boy's dining hall.

This week was the start of a new session, which meant we saw a lot of new kids and our numbers increased MASSIVELY from about 50 kids to just over 200...so the noise levels have definitely gone up too! It's awesome to see camp busy and full of life and energy, not just from the kids but from the staff too, all of whom have been on top form all week.

Girl's dance party.

The weather this week has been totally insane, ranging from incredibly hot, humid and gross at the start of the week to having two enormous storms the last two evenings, meaning that the whole of camp has to head to the dining hall to stay safe and dry. Last night was particularly spectacular, with huge lightening strikes ripping across the sky which meant that we were inside from dinner at 6pm until about 8:45pm...quite a long time to keep all the kids entertained and happy. But we just turned the music on and danced the evening away, with the boys even having a 'boyband off' and coming up with their own dance routines.

The storm approaching!

Some amazing stuff this week, with plenty more to come this summer I'm sure, starting with our Square Dance tomorrow evening (fingers crossed the weather holds up for us!)

Where Does The Time Go?

We've come to the end of Session 1 here at Camp Sloane, and I really can't quite believe how quickly this past week has gone. I feel like it was only yesterday that I was writing about how excited I was for the kids to arrive! And now they're here, for the next 7 weeks, or 49 days, however you want to look at it. I remember my first year at camp and how long the 8 weeks of summer camp felt, but this year I have a feeling it's just going to absolutely fly by...it's going to be the end of the summer before we know it, so it's time to make the most of it while we can!

Opening Campfire

It's been a busy week, full of fun activities, lots of games and many laughs. It's so awesome to be back surrounded by all these kids, some of whom I've now known for 4 summers, and some of whom are brand new to camp. It's great to see them all having a great time and making new friends and really enjoying their camp experience, and experience that can truly impact their lives for years to come.

A little bit of Wake boarding

This week has been super fun for me too - I've been making videos, taking lots of photos and just loving being back into the swing of everything this summer. I've been out on the water ski boat (one of my favourite things to do here), hung out down at swim beach and I even ran an all camp evening activity the other night with huge success. It was a Scooby Doo themed mystery night where the kids had to figure out which villain (or supervisor) had 'taken' our Program Director... it was pretty special to watch the kids (and staff) having such a great time doing something that I'd planned. And I think that's my favourite thing about camp really, that moment when you can see the effect you are actually having on a child's whole experience.

The Mystery Machine to the rescue!

Check out our closing campfire skits from this first session!

 

Follow along with all the goings on at Camp Sloane YMCA here:

www.campsloane.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campsloane

Twitter: @CampSloane

Instagram: @campsloaneymca

And So It Begins...Almost.

It's been another pretty full on week at camp, full of more training and lots of fun. Almost every member of staff has arrived now and everyone is starting to get excited at the prospect of the kids finally arriving on Sunday! For those of us who have been here since the end of May, it really feels like it's been a long time coming, and I for one, am so pumped for this place to be full of chatter and noise and all the tiny humans having an absolutely amazing time this summer!

My home for the summer

This past week has also been a pretty incredible one weather wise too - everyone is sporting some sort of tan (or burn) lines as we've been out and about in the sunshine either swimming, kayaking, de-weeding the lake, sleeping outside in the middle of a storm (with tent-ripping results), and even square dancing!

De-weeding the lake!

Yes that's right... square dancing. During every two week session we have a square dance with all the campers and last night we had one just for the staff so that everyone can get to grips with the songs and dances so they can then in turn help out the kids with their own groups dancing. It's always a pretty special night (and ALWAYS absolutely boiling hot... the lovely clothes and make up we all put on is totally ruined by the end of the night and we all end up a hot, sweaty mess) and a great way to get to hang out with a few more people that you haven't yet had the chance to properly chat to.

Sleeping in Hammock Haven

That's one of the greatest things about coming here to camp every summer - the amount of people I get to meet and interact with, people whom I would never have met otherwise. It's a fantastic opportunity to learn from others and open your eyes to the world a little bit more.

And so, we're all off out tonight on our day off after a hard slog this week, then tomorrow afternoon brings the final prep to make sure we're ready for the influx of kids on Sunday! Here we go!

Everybody loves a Square Dance!

Staff Training Is Underway

We're well into our staff training here at Camp Sloane... last week was our supervisory and specialty training (lifeguards and adventure/ropes staff) and it was full of fun discussions, lots of learning, note taking, many many group bonding games, and a lot of time to just generally get our areas prepared for the coming summer. It was nice to have the time in a slightly smaller group of staff to get to know the new people as well as to get all my lesson plans written for my media classes, get my media room moved and reorganised, and have more of an overall sense of how the summer is going to go.

 The weather last week was pretty poor, so respect to the lifeguards for getting in the (really cold) pool and lake everyday without any complaints at all! In fact, everyone all week has been quite impressive, there haven't really been any complaints about anything, everyone seems to be working to their absolute best and it's looking like this summer is going to be pretty spectacular! I think this staff group is one of the best ones we've had to a while and I'm super excited to see everyone in action once the kids arrive at the end of this week!

On Friday we all had the night off and it was great to get off camp and get to know one another under different circumstances - it's always fun to get out of the camp 'bubble' every now and again. And then on Saturday a whole bunch of new (and returning) staff members finally arrived! It was super exciting to see lots of people whom I haven't really even spoken to since we all left camp last summer... there were lots of excited squeals and hugs going on!

Then yesterday was one of my favourite days at camp so far this summer... a bunch of us were taken down to our new climbing tower (check out a photo of it in last week's post) and were then formally trained and certified so we can run it this summer and in our Fall season too. We basically spent the morning tying knots, learning about the ropes and different safety measures and the afternoon saw us belaying and climbing. It's a sport I never really got a chance to do much until my second summer here at camp and now climbing is one of my favourite things ever! And I'm super proud of myself too because I managed to climb to the very top of the 'hard' wall, which is actually really hard!

Putting up tents!

So it's all go go go this week as it's only 6 days until the kids arrive! Wow, that's come around quickly!

Two Weeks Down...

I've been at Camp Sloane for almost two weeks now and this Spring season has been pretty excellent. I've loved getting back into the swing of things and basically have the run of the place... being able to just have a wander around, or have a go on our brand new climbing tower, or even take some boats out on the lake for an evening is part of the reason I love this place so much!

Climbing our awesome new tower (that's me on the left!)

A few more people have started arriving already and then tomorrow we get the first big load of arrivals as the supervisor and lifeguard training starts on Sunday! I'm super excited to see all my returning friends (whom I havent seen since camp last year!) and am also really looking forward to meeting all the newbies too... these next few weeks of training are always fun, getting to know people and work out who's going to be living where and what activity they'll be working in.

Taking the boats out on the lake

If you're making your way to camp for the first time (or have just arrived at your camp for the summer), I hope it's going to be awesome for you! Just remember, you will probably feel a bit weird at first, especially with all these returners around you who haven't seen each other in a year and are ridiculously excited to see each other... they are all lovely people I promise. Just try to be yourself and get involved in EVERYTHING as much as you possibly can, and you'll soon feel just as at home as everyone else seems to.

My favourite view in the whole world!

You can find out what's going on at Camp Sloane YMCA by 'liking' our Facebook Page, or following us on Twitter.

Oh It's Good To Be Back!

So I've finally made it halfway across the world and I'm back at Camp Sloane YMCA for the summer. I've been here just under a week now and I am loving being back in my home away from home. There's only about 10 of us at camp at the moment (and for the next week until supervisor and lifeguard training starts), so it's a lot of fun having camp all to ourselves! I always love being one of the first to arrive, getting the lay of the land and settling in before the mayhem of staff the summer really begins.

This past week has been pretty busy, full of random jobs around camp, preparing for the kids to come. During the Spring season we also have groups come to camp with whom we do all sorts of activities, ranging from canoeing to hiking to fishing to creative arts. For the three days after I arrived we had a primary school group of the loveliest kids you'll possibly ever meet and we had so much fun showing them around camp, doing initiatives and games with them, and challenging them to work out all our camp riddles or, as we like to call them, 'never tell' games.

I've been doing some bits and bobs to start preparing for this summer's Media program, which I'm in charge of. There's been a lot of ideas floating about for new videos and classes and it's all exciting stuff, if not a little stressful at the moment, just because I haven't quite had time to wrap my head around everything I need to do yet... give me another week and I'll be entirely sorted though!

That's about it for this week. Next week a lot of my friends whom I haven't seen for about 8 months are going to be arriving AND it's my birthday (birthdays at camp are the BEST), so it's going to be a pretty awesome time!

For those of you that aren't at camp yet and are so excited you can barely sleep (I know I was), don't worry, it'll come around soon enough!

The greatest kids ever!

Planning Your Activities

So it's getting pretty close to camp starting now and I'm sure a lot of you have already started packing and planning for your summer ahead (some of your may actually be at camp already...jealous!) I've only got 3 more sleeps until I'm back at camp and I don't think I could possibly be more excited!

So what have you got planned so far? You know what you're taking with you, and you've thought about where you want to travel after camp ends, but what about while you're actually AT camp? Have you thought about what you're going to be doing each day, or what you're going to be teaching (if you're running an activity that is).

You don't need to have EVERTHING entirely mapped out, because you'll be doing a lot of planning with your supervisors during staff training, but it's a good idea to have some sort of plan of how you're going to structure your lessons, what sort of things you want the kids to be learning, or even just a few ideas for how to deal with a homesick camper or how to entertain your kids during some daily down time.

I'm sure most of you already have some experience in teaching your specialty but for those of you that don't, it's really not as daunting as it may first seem. The biggest thing I would suggest is that you think about how YOU were taught the skills you'll be passing on to the kids. Did your teacher have a good way of explaining things, was there a particular thing about the activity that stood out for you, something you could use to engage the kids at camp? Once you've got your hook, it's really just about planning your lessons around that - use it as a starting point and work from there. I'm not saying have every lesson for the entire summer planned out (although your supervisor will probably love you forever if you do!), but just jot some notes down so that when you get into staff training and someone asks you to fill in a lesson plan, your brain is already in gear!

I know some of you might be going to camp without knowing what you'll be teaching yet...sometimes it will get changed around or decided mid way through training, but have a think about what you like to do, and what you are passionate about. Think about how you could pass on your passions to the kids. As a general counselor it's also really important that you get thinking about the things you're going to do to bond with your kids - do you have a book you could read them in the evenings, some nail polish for makeovers, or just some random games up your sleeve? As a counselor it is your job to make absolutely everything fun, whether that be teaching your activity, eating in the dining hall or merely getting the kids to brush their teeth before bed.

So get your thinking caps on and get ready for the summer of a lifetime!

A Day In The Life Of A Summer Camp Counselor

In the run up to summer (it's only a month until I'm back at camp!), I'm sure a lot of you who will be heading to camp for the first time have quite a few questions about what a typical day at camp is going to be like. I know I did before my first summer. So I thought I'd give you the play by play of how a typical day at camp goes. Obviously this is specific to Camp Sloane (my camp), but the majority of camp's run the same way and have a similar schedule, perhaps with a few changes throughout the day (and a lot of things will go by different names too), but just to give you the general idea...

7:00 AM - Wake up. Shower (personally I shower in the evenings, but other show now), get dressed, brush your teeth etc.

7:15 - Wake up your kids. Get them out of bed (this is the tricky part, especially with the older kids), make sure they get dressed (no pj's at breakfast please!), use the bathroom etc.

7:45 - Send your waitress/waiter down to the dining hall (a different kid each day) - they will set your table and clean up after the meal.

7:55 - Assembly in front of the office. Raising of the flag and any messages for the day will be given out.

8:00 - Breakfast. Sit with your kids and make sure they actually eat something. Breakfast consists of cereal, toast, yogurt, fruit, pancakes, bacon and other hot variations depending on the day.

8:45 - Go back to your living section with your kids, tidy up your area and make sure your kids have everything they need for their activities (swimsuit, towel, water bottle, are they wearing sunscreen?)

9:15-10:05 - First activity period. The kids go off to their activity and you go to wherever you are teaching period 1.

10:15-11:05 - Second activity period. The kids move to their next activity and you go to yours (or stay where you are, depending on your schedule)

11:15-12:05 - Third activity period. Same as above.

12:10 - Return to your living section. The kids can change out of wet swimsuits and get ready for lunch.

12:15 - Send waitresses/waiters to the dining hall.

12:30 - Lunch. Like breakfast, you will sit with your kids and eat lunch with them.

1:00-1:25 - Store and Oval time. Oval is like playtime or recess - all the kids can hang out and play together and go to the camp store to buy camp merch or extra snacks. Make sure you also get involved with the kids and dont just hang out with other counselors (not counselor clusters please!).

1:30-2:30 - Rest hour. This is where you go back to your living section and relax and talk quietly with your kids in your tent (yes, we live in tents). Encourage them to write letter home (you can do the same too!) or read a book. Anything quiet and restful goes. This is also when the campers will receive their mail.

2:40-3:30 - Fourth activity period. Make sure your kids know where they are going for their next 2 periods, then head off to your next class.

3:40-4:30 - Fifth activity period. This was a free choice for the kids that they chose during Oval time, and it changes everyday, so you will often find kids wandering around a bit lost because they've forgotten what activity they chose. In this case, take them to the office where you will be able to find out.

4:40-5:35 - R&R. This is free supervised time back in your living section for the kids. 3 counselors will be on duty for every R&R, which means just watching out for the kids and (if you're in girl's camp) supervising showers - make sure the kids are in and out in a timely fashion and remind them to check for ticks! If you are not on duty you are free to go to the staff lodge or have a nap or go do something else fun! At the end of R&R you should send your waitress/waiter to the dining hall to set up for dinner.

5:35 - Eventide. This is a short little program where the counselors tell a story about themselves (or read a book, or tell a tale) to the rest of their camp (girls in one area, boys in another) that has a moral that can be applied to camp life. It should be something that makes the campers think and gives you a chance to talk about something special to you in a safe environment.

5:50 - Assembly in front of the office. Lowering of the flag and any announcements.

6:00 - Dinner. Just like breakfast and lunch, you will sit with your kids family style and chat about any and everything that they did that day.

7:00 - Evening Activity. This will be something different everyday, and is usually done with just your living section (there are co-ed nights once a week and all camp activities once or twice a week) but could range from a pool party, to a game of kickball and an ice cream social, to an overnight camping in the woods and making s'mores, to the kids dressing up the counsellors in newspaper.

9:00-9:45 - Get your kids ready for bed, make sure they've brushed their teeth and used the bathroom. Tent chats (we call these vespers) where you can discuss many a random thing with your campers, or just simply read them a story. This is a time to find out what they are liking or disliking about camp - do they like their activities, is anyone being mean to them, are they homesick? Lights out (time depends on age group).

9:45-11:30 - Like R&R, 3 people will be on section duty, which means you are required to stay in section (and stay awake), so that any kid who has a problem in the night can come to you. If you are not on duty, then you are free to do what you like (within reason) - go the staff lodge, go hang out with friends in another section, shower, or even go to bed early! Once every counselor is back in section, the on duty people can go to bed (even if it's before 11:30)

11:30 PM - Curfew. There is no leaving section after this time. My advice would be to get into bed and go to sleep as quickly as you can, because you'll be doing it all again tomorrow!

Camp Is My Favourite Place In The World!

As well as writing on this camp specific blog, I also have my own travel blog on which I write about anything and everything travel related (including all my summer camp escapades!). I've just put a new post up about how camp is my favourite place ever in the world and how it has changed me over the years. I thought it could make an interesting read for those of you who are heading to camp for the first time this summer, as it may give you an insight into what your camp is going to teach you over the course of the summer!

You can check it out here: http://www.rooaroundtheworld.com/place-changed-life-keep-going-back-summer-camp/

So You've Been Placed… What Happens Next?

Firstly, congratulations on being placed at a camp for this summer! If you haven't been placed yet, don't worry and just keep waiting, because CCUSA haven't forgotten about you and are on the hunt for the perfect camp for you… you WILL be placed, so just be patient.

So now that you've been placed and are getting all excited about heading off to the USA for the summer, I bet you're wondering what's next in the process. Finding a camp job is just the beginning! Don't panic though, if you take it step by step it's all super easy and you'll be at camp before you know it.

Step 1: Your Camp's Paperwork
Read all the info you receive from your camp, sign your contract (and any other paperwork they request) and send it back. This might also include setting up a US bank account (depending on how your camp choose to pay their international staff) which can seem a bit complicated so I would just advise emailing your camp if you get stuck as they'll be able to easily help you out… they have been hiring international staff for a VERY long time!

Get that passport ready!

Step 2: Getting Your J1 Visa
The biggest thing you'll have to deal with between now and leaving for camp is getting your J1 visa so you are actually allowed to work in America. It seems very overwhelming at first but really if you just follow CCUSA's well laid out instructions you'll have nothing to worry about. I would suggest putting aside an afternoon to just get it all done and dusted so it's a weight off your mind. I'll break it down into simple steps you need to take:

1. Wait for your CCUSA footprints account to update with you SEVIS and Program numbers as you will need this for step 3.

2. Get some US visa photos taken, or take them yourself and resize on your computer - they need to
 be square and 600x600 pixels.

3. Wait for CCUSA to send you your DS2019 form. DO NOT LOSE THIS…YOU NEED TO KEEP IT WITH YOUR PASSPORT THE ENTIRE TIME YOU ARE IN THE USA.

4. Fill in the online DS160 form, following the downloadable instructions from CCUSA . Just take it page by page, upload your photo and answer every question as fully as you can (you will need to know your parents dates of birth!). There is a little question mark button next to each question which will help you out on any confusing questions, but if you're really stuck, don't try and blah it, just give CCUSA a call/email and they'll be able to quickly help you out. You will also need the names, phone numbers, email addresses and home addresses of two people (who aren't relatives) who can verify who you are and why you are going to America.

5. It's time to book your Visa appointment! Again, using the instructions that CCUSA provide, go through the government website to book your appointment at your nearest embassy or consulate. Select 'Non-Immigrant' visa, follow the instructions and then when you get to the bit that asks what type of visa you are applying for, click on Student, find where it says Exchange Visitor, then select J1 from the drop-down menu. Pay the MRV fee and save your receipt (you will need this to complete your appointment booking.

6. Next up is to print your SEVIS fee receipt. Go to the website, fill in the required details and print off your receipt! Simples.

7. If you are applying with an Australian passport, you will need to pay a visa issuance fee (sorry), which you pay at the time of your visa appointment by cash, credit card (NOT debit) or bank cheque.

8.You're almost there…time to get all your documents together. You will need
       - Passport
       - DS160 confirmation page with your photo on it
       - Printed copy of your Interview Appointment Letter (emailed to you)
       - Signed DS2019 Form
       - MRV fee receipt (this will also be in an email)
       - SEVIS fee receipt
       - Visa Issuance fee.
       - A letter explaining your travel purpose
       - A copy of your CCUSA placement letter
       - Current bank statement (preferably showing that you have $500+)

9. Go to your visa appointment. It's super easy…just show up with your documents, be polite and be ready to do a lot of waiting around. If you have all the correct documents the process should be pretty simple and you'll know before you leave whether or not your visa has been granted.

10. Your passport (visa visa stuck inside) will take about a week to be returned to you. Check everything on the visa is correct and then celebrate!

Here's the visa!

Step 3: Flights & Insurance
CCUSA provide you with 90 days insurance cover, but depending on how long your contract runs for, you may need to extend it (someone from CCUSA will most likely contact you if this is the case). Get your flights booked as soon as you can (just FYI you are allowed to arrive in America up to 30 days prior to your camp start date) - STA Travel have some great deals - and it's time to start getting VERY excited.

Step 4: Double Checking & Packing
In the month or so before you depart for the USA, it's a good idea to just go back and double check you've returned all the required documents to both CCUSA and your camp and have everything you need for a brilliant summer. Do you need a Global SIM card for your phone, what are you doing about money (get some US$ or maybe a travel money cash card), and have you booked your first night's stay in the US before you head to camp the next day? And finally, do you know what you're going to pack?!

Working at summer camp is an absolutely amazing experience and the 'getting there' process doesn't need to be difficult or stressful at all. If you just follow the steps and do one thing at a time as required, it's really pretty simple and totally stress-free. Good luck and get ready to have an amazing summer!

If you have any other questions about the process between getting placed and getting to camp, just pop a message in the comments and I'll get back to you asap!

Summer Camp Packing List

Knowing what to pack for any trip is always a bit of a guessing game, but trying to pack for an entire summer, especially when you don't really know exactly what you're going to need, is almost impossible. So I've put together a little list to give you a bit of an idea of the things you're going to need at camp.

Shoes
- 1x pair of sandals
- 1x pair of flip flops (my camp doesn't allow flip flops to be worn other than to the bathroom)
- 1x pair of trainers (that you don't mind getting a bit trashed)
- 2x pair of shoes that you'll want to wear on day off (e.g. converse/vans/heels/whatever you like)

Clothes
- 6x tshirts
- 5x tanks/vests
- 5x shorts
- 1x jeans
- 2x trackies/sweatpants/leggings
- 1x lightweight sweatshirt/cardigan
- 1x hoodie
- 3x day off/camp dance outfits
- Underwear (enough for a week plus a few extras for those times you decide to jump in the pool with all your clothes on)
- 2x pyjamas
- 1x onepiece bathing suit (more if you are on swim staff/lifeguarding)
- 1x bikini
- 1x waterproof jacket
- 1x hat

Washbag
- toothbrush & toothpaste
- shampoo & conditioner (or 2 in 1 to save space)
- moisturiser
- sun cream & after sun (you will get burnt at some point)
- deodorant
- razor
- shower gel
- baby wipes
- hairbrush
- bug spray & anti itch cream

Misc.
- flashlight/headlamp
- towels x 2 (or just 1 and you can always buy another)
- phone (see if you can get your phone unlocked and get a US or global sim card)
- iPod & headphones (make a kid friendly playlist before you go and everyone will love you for it)
- camera
- chargers for your electrical items
- notebook & pens
- books (one for you and one you can read to your campers)
- watch (an absolute MUST)
- any medications you need (make sure it is labelled to prevent any customs issues)

Obviously this list will vary slightly depending on who you are, what you like and what you'll be doing at camp (if you are going to be working in adventure or riding for example you may need specialist shoes and clothes), but hopefully it gives you an idea of all the things you are going to need for every occasion at camp this summer. Also don't forget that you can always buy things out there, so no need to take massive bottles of shampoo etc!

I wouldn't suggest taking your laptop to camp unless you really, REALLY want to because honestly there won't be much of a chance to use it unless you are running your own activity area or, like me, you are doing media stuff for your camp. Your camp will most likely have a staff common room with computers and internet access but you will quickly learn that there are far more exciting things at camp than checking your facebook.

By all means add and remove items from this list, but just remember... you have to be able to carry everything you pack, especially if you plan on travelling after camp!

Getting Ready for Camp

I'm Roo and I am a writer, traveller, photographer and filmmaker. Ever since watching 'The Parent Trap' as a child I'd always wanted to go to camp in the USA and finally in 2011 I applied and got placed at Camp Sloane YMCA in Connecticut, and I haven't looked back since.

Camp has changed my life in so many ways and I can't wait to return for my 4th summer at my favourite place in the world!