Finishing your A-levels can feel strange. One minute you’re revising, stressing, and counting down exam days – the next, it’s all over. For many UK students, that moment comes with a big question: what next?
Before rushing straight into university, a gap year, or another summer stuck at home, it’s worth asking why work at summer camp in the USA instead. For thousands of UK students, working at a U.S. summer camp has been the thing that helped them grow up, gain confidence, and experience life beyond the UK in a way that no holiday ever could.
Browse our Wild Packs summer camp locations to discover some of the best American summer camps we partner with across the USA. From lakeside retreats in Maine to mountain camps in West Virginia, find the perfect fit for your 2027 summer adventure! |
Getting Out of the UK and Doing Something Different
There’s something incredibly freeing about leaving the UK after years of routine, school timetables, and exam pressure. Camp isn’t just travel – it’s living abroad, with real responsibility, in a completely different environment.
When students ask why should I work at summer camp, this is often the real reason. You’re not just visiting America for a week or two. You’re waking up in forests, near lakes, or in mountain surroundings. You’re living in cabins, eating meals together, and spending your days outdoors, moving, laughing, and learning.
It’s a proper break from the classroom – physically and mentally.
For more information on our camp counsellor positions, visit our dedicated Positions At Camp page! |
A Character-Building Experience You Can’t Fake
Camp builds character in ways you don’t expect.
You’re trusted with the care of children aged 7–15. You’re relied upon by teammates. You learn how to show up when you’re tired, how to stay patient, and how to lead with kindness and confidence.
This isn’t theoretical responsibility – it’s real life. You learn how to:
- Take responsibility for others
- Communicate clearly and confidently
- Solve problems on the spot
- Work as part of a close-knit team
- Handle challenges without running home
For students heading to university, this kind of experience can be transformational. Many Wild Packers tell us they arrived at uni more confident, independent, and sure of themselves than they ever expected.
The Physical Side of Camp Life
One of the things people love most about camp is how physical it is.
You’re outdoors almost all day. You’re walking, teaching, playing, leading activities, and being active in ways most jobs simply aren’t. There’s very little screen time, and that alone makes camp feel refreshing and grounding.
Whether you’re running sports sessions, helping with waterfront activities, or simply keeping up with energetic campers, your days are full – in the best way possible.
Meeting People From All Over the UK and the World
Camp has a way of bringing people together incredibly quickly. You’ll meet other UK students from all over the country – people you might never have crossed paths with back home – as well as staff from the USA, Europe, Australia, South America, and beyond.
Living and working together for weeks creates friendships that feel deeper than most summer connections. Many Wild Packers leave camp with friends they travel with, visit later, or stay in touch with for years.
This shared experience is one of the biggest reasons why work at summer camp is so special.
What American Summer Camp Is Really Like
Summer camps are a huge part of American culture, with millions of children attending every year. For staff, it’s a chance to experience a traditional American summer from the inside.
Expect:
- Campfires and evening events
- Cabins or bunks in beautiful natural settings
- Activities like sports, arts, adventure, aquatics, and horseback riding
- Traditions that have been passed down for generations
Here at Wild Packs, we work with over 300 American Camp Association (ACA)-accredited camps. The ACA is essentially the Ofsted of the camping world, ensuring camps meet the highest standards of safety, care, and quality.
We primarily work with camps across the North East of America, placing UK students in states such as New York, Pennsylvania, Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
Roles for Everyone (Even With No Experience)
You don’t need years of experience to work at camp. Camps are looking for enthusiastic, responsible people who want to get involved.
We place students in a wide range of roles, including:
Whether you know exactly what you want to do or are open to trying something new, there’s a role for you.
Why Work at Summer Camp With Wild Packs?
We’ve spent over 15 years helping UK students experience life-changing summers in the USA.
Wild Packs is run and managed by camp professionals – people who’ve done multiple summers themselves and know exactly what the experience involves. That means we don’t just place you at camp; we support you at every step.
When you apply through Wild Packs:
- There are no registration or interview fees
- You’ll earn a minimum of $2,400
- All food, accommodation, and training are included at camp
- Your J-1 visa and four months of medical insurance are included
- You’ll receive guidance before you leave, support while you’re at camp, and help if you need it during your time in the USA
Our programme fee for UK applicants is £385, split into two instalments so it’s manageable. You don’t pay anything until you’re confident this is the right experience for you.
Life After Camp
Once camp finishes, you’re allowed up to 30 days to travel around the USA. This is often when everything really sinks in – the friendships, the growth, and how far you’ve come since leaving home.
Leaving A-Levels Behind and Starting Something New
For many students, camp marks the moment they truly step into independence. It’s the bridge between school and whatever comes next – university, travel, or work.
If you’re asking why should I work at summer camp, the answer might simply be this: it’s a chance to do something bold, meaningful, and different at a time in your life when those experiences shape who you become.
Is Working at a U.S. Summer Camp Right for You?
If you want a summer that builds confidence, gets you out of the UK, introduces you to people from all over the world, and leaves you with stories you’ll tell for years, then working at a U.S. summer camp in 2027 could be the best decision you make.
Here at Wild Packs, we’d love to help you take that step.
Apply now and start planning a summer that will stay with you long after it ends.