CAMP WAH-NEE 2019 | my summer camp counselor experience in america 

Loved this video so much! I have a couple of questions as I'm getting ready for summer 2020! Tips for hot weather? (I'm from Cornwall UK so not use to the heat XD ) What size bag? do i need to leave space in the bag for stuff when i come home? are there any times when campers don't do what they're meant to... like how would you get a camper to do an activity they don't want to do? any essentials that you wouldn't originally think of when packing? And how do you have the energy for the whole summer?????

What did you put down as your 5 skills? If you put down a skill does it mean that you have to teach it to the kids?

1. What made you go with CCUSA instead of another agency such as Camp America etc? 2. When you fly over to America (I live in NZ so close to Aussie hahah) are there other people who are going to summer camp on the same flight? 3. Is it normal for people to travel before camp, or is it mostly after camp? 4. What have you done fr after camp travel in previous years? Favorite one? 5. What size group would you recommend traveling with after camp? 6. What are some extra things that will help me to get hired like any tips or things I can get certified in etc? Sorry there's a lot of questions hahah don't feel like you have to answer all of them :)

I've worked at two different summer camps, and I've noticed a trend that I wonder is true at other camps. Do you find that the use of cell phones and technology during staff training distracts staff members from growing closer? I had one camp that had not cell service anywhere and one with free WiFi throughout camp, and I definitely felt more connected to the staff members at the first camp. Also, how do you deal with exclusive returning staff?

I’ve been watching your camp videos for a long time before finally going to camp for the first this summer.. I’d quite like to know how you find it going back considering you have been for the last couple of years?

Oh man I'm so glad and proud to hear that could be felt through the video. I'm one lucky duck to know that place and those people, just as anyone who works at a camp is

That makes me so happy, truly! You're going to have an absolute blast 😌

I think I'm going in 2021 too!! 🤩

Sofie's Spectrum that’s so cool!!!! I don’t know anyone else who is thinking of going so maybe we could talk?

@@sophkaitlyn yes I would love too! We also have the same name so bonus points really 😉😂

Sophie Kaitlyn I’m thinking of going as well!! After I finish my a levels hopefully 😂

Mission accomplished ;)

Thank you!!! Let me know if you end up applying :) :)

I’m can’t wait to be one in 2025! I’m going to lots of camps as a camper to learn more about the wilderness, but then when I’m old enough I’ll be a counsellor!

Would it be open this year though, because of COVID-19?

Did you?

@@LindzFletch17 I work at a similar overnight camp and we plan to be open this year under certain guidelines and well thought out planning.

dude i still feel like i'm dreaming too, it's all too good to be true which camp did you work at??

@@AllySheehan Willow Springs! such a random little girl scout camp but made the most incredible friends also when else do you get to live in the woods surrounded by coyotes howling at night? hahaha

Andreas Skafi no I decided to travel around instead! I made so many friends at camp from America and Europe that I can go visit I decided to do that instead :)

hell yessssss

me too :(

Of course!!! Filming those videos brings me so much joy too. I have a few videos already scheduled and some I'm currently editing, but if you want to ask any specific/certain questions or if there are any topics you'd like me to talk about in detail - let me know!

yes yes yes yes YES!!

This warms my heart so much!! Which camp did you work at?

Camp Mary Atkinson Girl Scouts :)

Your 18 now!!!! Are you going

HECK YEAH

you should!!

Sike, you thought

I'm so glad!! Seeing your name pop up on my socials always makes me smile :)

Oh my gosh that's such a compliment, thank you! This one made me soooo happy to edit. Which camp did you work at? Welcome home :)

@@AllySheehan Camp Agawak in Wisconsin :))

Just answered in my new video!! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-CaC_19vRpeA.html

:( pain

Thanks so much Sean!!

How old are you?

@@AllySheehan How old you ask?? I mean really old... like older than dirt. Probably in the range of your grandparents. But hey, happy to have made this far... many I know haven't. Camp for old timers? Could work-- cheers!

Emma aw that’s so exciting! Your life honestly just changed :) Where did you get placed???

Got placed at French Woods as a film counselor!

Ohhh that's so wonderful!! You are most certainly welcome :) I have to apologise for now giving you a world where most of those friends live a world away D: I've heard great things about Mataponi too, was it beautiful???

@@AllySheehan Yah most of my mates were from Aussie so not too far haha but a few from uk and stuff kinda sad :( Mataponi was stunning and such a great camp!

oh my goodness, that makes my heart so happy! what's your role?

@@AllySheehan I was originally offered a position on Swim staff but I actually decided to push for General counselor- so that’s what I’m doing:)

Oh my gosh that sounds pretty exciting too!!

Aw thank you so much!!! Where did you go?

@@AllySheehan I went to Camp Pontiac in upstate New York!! I've just signed my contract so I'll be returning for my second year🥳

@@abigailsellers Pontiac!!! Our biggest rival haha

Aww! What do you mean it's sad?

@@AllySheehan I miss camp soooooo much! It’s probably was one of my best experiences ever. My favorite consular was form Germany and she might not come back!:((

@@ariana-sc7bz Which counselor was it!!

@@AllySheehan Oh it was her first year but her name was Meriam.

💗💗💗💗💗💗

Duuuude I feel you, it's a toughie. Can I help you make up your mind?

I’m Australian! Watch my Camp Q&A videos, I work at a summer camp there and you can too :)

its never too late!

That's awesome!! Which camp?

Ally Sheehan camp comeca and retreat center :) it’s a Christian camp 😊

@@inabongert Oh amazing!!

there are hundreds of camps and each camp is different in terms of how many counsellors they need. depending on its size and states ratio laws. I worked at Catalina Sea Camp and we had about 30 counsellors, 4 of us were international and I was the only australian.

For campers? Ours isn’t that much but yeah it’s expensive for two months of childcare around the clock, all meals, excursion etc :)

Jamie Sulimani I hope it is too, bud 💛

Hey girl! I totally get you. I would say that your best bet is to go along to a CCUSA open/info night :) You'll see a slideshow about the program, they'll talk all about it (everyone has a different experience so you can see someone else's time, rather than just mine) and can ask a bunch of questions - as well as hear answers to everyone else's. I personally LOVE being off the grid and out of the city, which is why camp makes me so happy. That said, we can still use technology at ngiht and connect to the outside world or loved ones at home then. A few of my friends felt super homesick in their first week (thankfully i didn't!) but then immediately fell into place - I was shocked when they told me months later, because everyone loved them immediately and they seemed to be loving it, it was just an adjustment I think.

Yep! I just don't post about it online obviously for privacy reasons :)

I forgot to say, I absolutely adoooore this video, and all your videos tbh you're the reason I pushed myself to apply!

Thanks so much! I actually just use iMovie :)

I feel like you should just know some basic techniques to help you swim from point A to point B AND to know some techniques to use so you dont drown. You don't have to be an expert swimmer because there will most likely be swimming lessons and activities to help you practice at camp!

@@neilah7466 thank you for the reply!

You apply through an agency :) Companies like CCUSA are the sponsor for your J1 visa, which you need to work in the states!

Yessss!! Best decision of your life. It really depends how much travel you'll be doing! I flew over to the states mid-may, so I had to sustain myself for three weeks of travel before camp, including a few flights, trains, busses, concert tickets, broadway shows etc, but I also had friends in each city that I could stay with. If you're not traveling at ALL before camp, I'd want to have a minimum of $1000 just to be safe, but only a few hundred of that in cash (I don't think I took any cash this year, I just used my debit card and a travel card). It obviously depends also how many days off you get at your camp and what you intend on doing on them. Some days I'd hang out at an American friends' house and spend nothing at all, others I'd hire a boat with friends, go to the movies, go shopping, buy food and drinks, rent a car, rent an airbnb, etc etc Then there's travel after camp! It depends again if you want to fly to a bunch of places, rent a car, rent an RV, stay in one place, or head straight home. As you can see, it's kinda hard to say haha! I don't know what your salary will be or how much you want to spend travelling, but usually around $1500-2000 for the month following is PLENTY.

Ally Sheehan thank you so much! I’m so excited!!! This helped heaps!

@@AllySheehan is that AUD??

yes!!

Camp is 8 weeks (1 week training, 7 weeks with campers) and I usually travel for another two months, but you obviously could go home right after :)

@@AllySheehan For another 2 months? Grace Period is 30 days after the J1 visa is rotten. Do you have a U.S passport? Oh and awesome video I must add. Top shelf stuff.

Well thank you!! Sometimes it's a song that I just love and get a vibe from (aka Heartbreak Dream, circa 2016 video), but usually it's a song that has been big that Summer and reminds me of that year at camp :) Every song pretty much has related to love, unsurprisingly

my canon g7x or phone!

june!

You needed some time to shine !!! My lacrosse queen!!!

Summer camps are a lot of times church oriented but there are some who aren’t, there are plenty you can find online. If you are planning on doing one in the USA it would be a very good idea to learn English well, but it’s not a requirement. Hope this helps!! ❤️

There are some camps that run multiple shorter sessions, but it might be harder to get placed. I would definitely talk to CCUSA because there are over 10,000 camps in the states and I'm sure there are some that your dates would benefit!

@@AllySheehan Thanks so much!! I was losing hope. I thought I couldn't do this and its a dream for me. Since I watched the parent trap when I was little. I also loooove that movie. Love from Spain😘

@@juliabl6471 Keep me posted!

Just looked at their website and they do!

camps are all across the USA! yes everyone who applies will typically get hired by a camp :) and yep you can travel a month before and after!

@@AllySheehan can anyone from any country apply? I tried making an account on their website but when they ask which country I currently live in my country isn't an option. So does that mean any country that's not on the list isn't able to apply?

Oh my gosh that makes me so happy for you!! The lifeguards/waterfront staff DEFINITELY socialise too! My bunk mate and one of my closest friends this year was a lifeguard, and I would get so excited when she could come to activities or even just eat meals with us. Waterfront staff are pretty much the closest group on camp because you guys will spend so much time together, so that's definitely something to look forward to. If you want to be more involved with the kids activities and be with them all day long, then mention you'd rather be a bunk counselor :)

Ally Sheehan Thanks for the advice!

Ally Sheehan Hey Ally! I just found out my placement for next year. I’m going to Camp Cody in New Hampshire and I couldn’t be happier, the camp looks incredible! Thanks so much for making these videos and inspiring me to apply for Camp America! SOOOO EXCITED

@@mylesjames9625 Ah thats so amazing!! Dude I'm so excited for you :) Are you going through Camp America or CCUSA?

Ally Sheehan Thanks Ally! I’m going through Camp Leaders

Hey!! I talk about the age range in a few of my camp Q&A videos :) that should be fine

nope!

That's so cool!! There are DEFINITELY camps that would have a skatepark!

Thanks! :-)

7 - 17!

A helicopter landing in the middle of my 5th period lacrosse game haha!

you can go work at the camp if you're international :) i'm not from america!

hahah i promise you camps wont stop! they may not run this year, but 2021 and beyond things will be back in full swing

Yes, 18 is the minimum age :)

@@AllySheehan thank you

I have consent :)