BUNAC’s annual Summer Camp Recruitment Fair is coming to Edinburgh next week on Wednesday 13 January 2016.
The fair will take place from 2.30pm to 5.30pm at the Hilton Edinburgh Grosvenor Hotel, 5-21 Grosvenor Street, EH12 5EF, giving students and other young people the ideal opportunity to plan ahead and secure a Stateside summer job for 2016. Camp Directors will be flying over to attend the Fair, interview candidates and potentially hire them on the spot.
As the original and best provider of the Summer Camp USA experience, and with more than 50 years and 125,000 placements to its name, BUNAC continues to stand head and shoulders above other much younger organisations, using its long-established relationships with Camp Directors to match applicants, skill sets and personalities to the different roles and environments available.
Summer Camp USA is a tried and tested cultural exchange programme, which offers successful applicants who have experience of working with children a taste of life in the great American outdoors for 8 to 10 weeks between May and August. And, with more than 10,000 J1 camp counsellor visas issued in the UK every year, there are plenty of jobs to choose from!
However, competition is fierce, and those wanting to increase their chances of placement are advised to complete their application in advance of the Recruitment Fair, then book a place and meet the Camp Directors they may be lucky enough to work with during the summer.
New for summer 2016, BUNAC will be recruiting general Camp Counsellors in addition to those with the skills and experience to teach a specific activity. Camp Directors will be especially keen to employ those with a positive attitude, lots of energy, and recent experience of working with children, ideally in a leadership or coaching role. Teachers, trainee teachers, special needs workers, play scheme workers, scout leaders and sports coaches – particularly those specialising in lifeguarding, swimming, tennis, horse riding and outdoor skills such as ropes and climbing – are all welcome.
Different types of camps will be represented at the Recruitment Fair, including traditional American summer camps, those dedicated to children with special needs, others specialising in performing arts or sports and some faith-based camps.
Among the comments received from previous participants, Hannah, who worked at Camp Nashoba in Maine, New England, said her role on the programme had taught her: “patience, the ability to work together, being able to help with difficult children, responsibility and adaptability”.
Following two months of living and working on Camp, participants have the opportunity to travel for up to 30 days around North America.
Submitted by FIONA ELLIOTT
