J-1 Camp Counselor Program - Odyssey

The Camp Counselor Program enables post-secondary students, youth workers, teachers and applicants with specialized skills to share their culture and ideas with the people of the United States in camp settings throughout the country. Participants in the program receive pay and benefits, such as meals and accommodation, commensurate to their American counterparts at the camps. The programs vary in length depending on the season of the camp with a maximum program duration of 3 months. After the program is complete, participants have 30 days to travel and explore the United States before they need to depart the country.

America offers a broad range of camps with different focuses such as sports, outdoor activities, cultural and religious emphases, gender specific, arts and crafts or any combination thereof! There is undoubtedly the perfect camp for you depending on your skills and interests. The only common denominator is that you must be enthusiastic about working with children and interested in exploring America!

Interested applicants must be able to provide proof of the following in order to participate in the program:

• Must be 18-33 years.
• Valid Passport above 6 months.
• Digital Passport Photo.
• A copy of your CV/Resume (Please use Odyssey CV/Resume Template here).
• Proof of your status as a student College or University (Part-Time & Full Time), teacher or youth worker. Having specialized skills is a accepted: Lifeguard, Childcare, Teaching and Personal Care.
• At least two references from a current or past employer or teacher attesting to your suitability to participate in the program. If you are qualifying based on a specialized skill, at least one of your references should focus on your skill.  (This can be provided before or after your submission).
• Police Record dated within the last 6 months (This can be provided before or after your submission).

After you receive your J-1 Visa, you will coordinate the details of your arrival with Odyssey and your camp. Most camps will have several days before campers arrive for new counselor orientation where you will learn the camp rules and expectations as well as the fun stuff like camp songs and activities. Most camps last approximately 9 weeks with new campers arriving every 7 days. You will be the leader of your group of campers and responsible for ensuring they have a great experience while making sure they stay safe. You will also lead specific activities for campers throughout the day. One day you may be teaching beginner archery and the next judging a cannonball competition at the lake!

Your accommodation and food will be provided by your camp free of charge. Keep in mind that this is a “camp” so you should expect open-air cabins, sleeping bags, and simple but healthy food choices. Payment varies based on different Host Camps, commensurate with your American counterparts. As part of your orientation, you will need to apply for a social security number so you can be paid.

At the completion of your program, you will have 30 days to remain in the U.S. to travel and explore! We highly encourage you to take advantage of this grace period and visit all the sites you can before returning home.