The United States of America is a country like no other and a summer spent between the sparkling waters of the Pacific, to the bustling and vibrant streets of New York is truly a life-changing experience. At USA Summer Camp we pride ourselves on organising working holidays for thousands of individuals every year!

The choice of roles and summer camp jobs available is endless, and can seem rather daunting, especially for first-time applicants! We have compiled a synopsis of the different job roles to make your decision a little easier!

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Summer Camp Jobs

Working at an American summer camp is – in our opinion – one of the most epic ways to spend a working holiday! Eight weeks in the sun at a camp with incredible facilities, learning new skills, making lifelong friends, and earning money at the same time is an experience of a lifetime.

While working at a summer camp, you can take on a variety of roles:


General camp counsellors:

Engage directly with campers, participating in activities and providing mentorship.


Specialist counsellors:


Teach specific skills such as sports, art, or media.


Support staff:


Work in kitchen, office, or maintenance roles, ensuring the camp operates smoothly.

You will be hired either as a general camp counsellor or a specialist counsellor, or as a member of the support staff. As a camp counsellor, the main role is to do all of the activities with the kids and support the specialist counsellors. You will be taking them to each of their activities throughout the day. Specialist counsellors teach a specific skill or run an activity. They’re sports coaches, lifeguards, they teach art, drama, music, gymnastics, and the majority of camps now have insane elective centres where the kids learn 3D printing, Photoshop, robotics, and videography.

Remember, as a camp counsellor, you will be joining in on these activities with the kids too! Then, support staff members are the backbone of camp. They work in the kitchens, the office, landscaping, and ensure that camp looks beautiful and runs perfectly!

When you sign up for our summer camp programme, you are embarking on an incredible working holiday experience. You’ll be guaranteed one of the highest salaries in the camp industry – a minimum of $2,300, with accommodation and food included. Additionally, you’ll receive visa sponsorship and assistance with paperwork (essential for working in the US), access to online hiring fairs, pre-departure support, and a 24/7 hotline while you are in the US. After your camp placement, you’ll have 30 days to holiday in the US, making the most of your working holiday!

At USA Summer Camp, we collaborate with over 700 camps across the US and maintain a 100% placement rate, so you are guaranteed a job at camp once you sign up!

With your job, food, accommodation, and pocket money included in this working holiday there is literally nothing to worry about and so much to enjoy! The eligibility requirements for the camp programme are also amazing! You just need to be 18 or older by the time camp begins, and you do not need to be in full-time education to be a counsellor! However, if you see yourself more as a member of the support staff, then you will need to be in full-time education.

J-1 Visa

Importantly, you cannot spend a working holiday in the US without first obtaining the correct visa. The visa process can seem rather confusing, but at USA Summer Camp, we guarantee to make the process as simple and painless as possible!

We work with a visa sponsor designated by the USA State Department and ensure that your visa paperwork is organised in time for your Embassy interview. You will receive your DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility as well as your SEVIS Receipt – you cannot work in the US, and you cannot apply for your visa without these!

When it comes to the time that you need to book your Embassy interview, we are on hand every step of the way. You will have access to our helpful instructions and guidebooks, and we are only a phone call away throughout the process should you ever have any questions or need any assistance!

Applicants who hold American passports who will not need a J-1 visa, will still have access to top-paid positions at camp and will be supported in securing an amazing job at camp!

American Embassy Appointment

Another element of the visa process will be your Embassy interview which will be conducted in person in Dublin for participants working with our Irish office, and in either Belfast or London for participants working with our UK office. With our support, the Embassy appointment is a super simple process.

Preparation is key for this step and with our support and instructions, the process will be straightforward. We will help you ensure that all of your documents are in order so that all you need to do on the day of your interview is head into the Embassy and have your passport and documents stamped. After your interview, your passport will be sent back to you in the mail and your J-1 visa will be printed inside!