Elizabeth W.

Im currently completing my last days at a summer camp in Missouri. I have had a positive time. There are obvious negatives to the experience (40 degree heat, barely and time off, and the area camps are situated in is typically the 'middle of nowhere' so it feels very isolating) but anyone who does the appropriate research before signing up should be very aware of these facts.
What first timers are typically unaware of is the amount of money Camp America take of your paycheck- particularly in comparison to other agencies (Americamp, BUNAC etc).
To put it into numbers, my camp paid me around 4500 dollars this summer (10 weeks work), however after Camp American deductions, this totalled to 1500 (and i booked my own flights). Camp America sorted my insurance (also this is incredibly limited) and placed me with my camp, however I have a very hard time figuring out how this would cost 3000 dollars.
Camp America are a for profit agency, and typically capitalise off of young people with little experience or knowledge about working abroad- so little understanding about the extent of money taken from them.
Costs prior to arriving in America are also EXTENSIVE. Visa fees around 200, flight costs were around 800, background check 70, additional "agency fees" around 500.
Camp America have took around 3600 dollars from me this summer, with very little to show for it. My international camp friends who went with BUNAC or Americamp earnt significantly more than me each paycheck for doing the same role.
Camp in America is a very good experience, just go a non-profit agency!x