Ever wondered where a summer at camp could take you?

When you join USA Summer Camp, you’re not just signing up for a job – you’re opening the door to exciting new skills, unforgettable experiences, and even the possibility of shaping your future career. In this blog, we catch up with Doyin, a former Creative Cooking Specialist, who swapped her final year exams for a summer in New York – and went on to launch her own cupcake business!

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Meet Doyin

Hi, I’m Doyin! If you’d told me at the end of my final year at Bournemouth University that I’d be jetting off to work as a Cooking Specialist in America, I would have laughed. But 2015 turned out to be a life-changing year.

It all started with a banner in my university foyer – the USA Summer Camp programme instantly caught my eye. I’d never heard much about summer camp beyond the movies, but with uni behind me and a long summer ahead, I took a chance. Best. Decision. Ever.

From art specialist to cooking queen

At first, I applied to be an Art Specialist, but USA Summer Camp encouraged me to explore other talents to boost my chances of getting hired. Cooking was something I did for fun with my housemates – I never thought it was strong enough to teach! But when I attended a Camp Fair in London, I landed a job on the spot as a Creative Cooking Specialist at a camp just outside New York.

I pitched my skills to the Camp Director in 90 seconds – and I got hired! It turned out to be one of the best personal development opportunities I’ve ever had.

Life at camp

The idea of spending three months in the USA was both exciting and nerve-racking, especially travelling solo. But USA Summer Camp supported me every step of the way – from securing my J-1 visa to helping with flights and accommodation. My camp was just a couple of hours from NYC, so I got the best of both worlds: camp life and city adventures!

In the kitchen, no two days were the same. Each morning, campers picked the activities they wanted to specialise in – anything from horse riding to circus performance – and we ran six cooking sessions a day. We worked under a professional chef, learning complex recipes and industry-level skills, which we then passed on to the campers.

Watching the kids grow in confidence (and fall in love with food!) was so rewarding. We even celebrated birthdays with cupcake decorating parties – they were a big hit!

Gaining skills for life

I’ll be honest – I struggled on cupcake days. I wasn’t the strongest baker and things often went wrong, from split frosting to using the wrong ingredients. But I learned from every mistake and slowly built my confidence. By the end of the summer, I’d fine-tuned my baking skills – and developed a real passion for it.

That passion turned into something bigger. In January 2016, I launched my own online bakery, The Cupcake Avenue. I’m now running the business alongside my full-time PR role, and I can honestly say camp played a huge part in getting me here.

Want to see what I’ve been baking? Check out @cupcakeav on Instagram!

Doyin’s top tips: How to get hired as a cooking specialist in America

Thinking about applying as a Cooking Specialist? Here’s what helped me stand out:

  • Show your cooking experience – even if it’s just at home
  • Practice leading a recipe as if you’re teaching kids
  • Bring photos of your dishes to interviews
  • Know one go-to recipe off by heart and be ready to pitch it
  • Be confident, even if you’re nervous – camp directors love passion!
  • Keep an open mind and be flexible

One summer. Endless possibilities.

Whether you’re figuring out your next steps after graduation, want to do something meaningful, or just love working with kids, becoming a Specialist Counsellor at camp could be the perfect fit. Plus, once camp ends, you’ve got 30 days to travel across the USA with your new best friends.

My advice? Just go for it. You’ll come back with new friends, new skills – and maybe even a business idea or two!