• Work at summer camp in the USA and experience the best of American culture
  • Work as a camp counselor directly with kids
  • Contracts last 9-11 weeks (May/June- August). Upon completion, enjoy up to 30 days of travel around the USA.
  • CCUSA summer camps offer competitive salaries, free meals and accommodation
Camp Counselors USA

Types of Camps

Every camp in America is unique; they vary depending on location, environment, activities, facilities and campers. All the camps CCUSA works with are carefully examined and match our high standards, as well as those of the American Camp Association (ACA). You will be required to choose at least four of these camp types (five if you are applying to work as Support Staff).

Traditional Program Camps

  • Includes both privately owned camps and camps run by an agency (such as the YMCA, JC, and 4-H)
  • They can be either co-ed or single-gender. Single-gender camps often have a brother/sister camp nearby.
  • Often campers and staff return to these camps year after year
  • Campers stay overnight for one to eight weeks and participant in typical summer camp activities.
  • Accommodation is typically cabins or dormitories with the campers.

Specialty Program Camps

  • Camp focuses on one specific area such as performing arts, gymnastics, horseback riding, or adventure sports.
  • Programs teach and develop skills in a specialized area.
  • Run on a traditional camp structure and philosophy, incorporating general camp activities into the daily schedule
  • Often require highly specialized staff
  • Accommodation is typically cabins or dormitories with the campers

Girl Scout Camps

  • Scouting or Girl Guide experience is not necessary to work at these camps.
  • Camps based on the traditional philosophies of the Girl Scouts
  • Campers stay overnight for normally one to two weeks and participant in typical summer camp activities.
  • Some specialize in Outdoor Adventure, Camping, and Pioneering.
  • Camps are large in size with facilities spread out over the camp grounds.
  • Accommodation is either cabins, lodges with campers or platform tents.

Underprivileged/Inner-City Children Camps

  • Make a difference in the lives of kids from low income families.
  • Run by charitable and government agencies such as the Salvation Army, Fresh Air Fund, and Department of Youth and Family
  • Help give many streetwise urban campers their first rural experience with many new activities.
  • Campers stay overnight for normally one to two weeks and participant in typical summer camp activities.

Special Needs Camps  

  • No previous experience working with these populations is necessary
  • Serve children and/or adult campers who have physical and/or developmental disabilities.
  • Focus on one specific disability or a wide range of disabilities.
  • Counselors help campers with traditional camp activities adapted to meet camper needs.
  • At some special needs camps, counselors also assist with daily living tasks such as eating, dressing, and showering.
  • Campers stay overnight for normally six to nine days.
  • A challenging but extremely rewarding experience

Camps for Campers with Specific Requirements

  • No previous experience working with these populations is necessary.
  • Serve children and/or adult campers who have specific medical conditions.
  • Conditions including emotional disorders, learning disabilities (i.e. ADD and ADHD), diabetes, terminal illness, hearing/sight impairment, and weight control)
  • Offer traditional camp activities geared to meet the needs of the specific camper population.
  • Some campers may have full-time nursing support.
  • Campers stay overnight for normally six to nine days.

Religious Camps

  • Serve campers from a Christian or Jewish background.
  • Offer traditional camp activities while incorporating religious values.
  • Some camps have Bible or Torah studies.
  • Campers stay overnight for normally one week and participant in typical summer camp activities.
  • CCUSA works with camps representing a wide spectrum of faith, ranging from conservative to liberal philosophies.
  • Not all religious camps require their staff to be religious; it can be a good way to find out more about a religion.

Day Camps

  • Campers typically come only Monday to Friday from 8 am to 6 pm. They do not spend the night.
  • Locations of camps include city parks, beaches, church halls, or community centers. Some are also part of larger traditional residential camps.
  • Staff usually has most weekends and evenings off.
  • Housing ranges from a staff dorm/cabin to host families. If the camp is part of a residential camp, staff may live in a cabin with overnight campers.