USA Summer Camp Avis 

Not too pleased with this company overall. I applied under the impression and their word that they have hundreds of camps in almost every state and when it came down to applying for camps I could only register my interest but none of the camps ever got back to me. Instead my application kept getting put on hold by camps I wasnt interested in and due to this no other camp could see my application. When I outlined my concern they encouraged me to go to each interview even if I wasnt interested in going to the camp and when I did that I got a job I wasnt interested in and had absolutely no say in whether I accepted the offer or not. As soon as i got the job my visa paperwork was already being processed at which point I had messaged them asking how to decline this and they kept avoiding my questions and repeating themselves. In the end I had no choice but to go through with this offer and was then told that if I opt out of camp I will owe them money for not going/ leaving early.
In my experience you do not really get a choice in where you are placed and if you have an issue, dont count on them to help you.
There are also a lot of hidden fees along the way, 500 to the agency, 175 for the embassy appointment, 75 and another 50 for documents, all this they dont tell you prior to applying.

This was my first time looking into working in a US summer camp traveling from Ireland, they made the process really stress free, they would answer WhatsApp messages every working day and would be available for phone calls at short notice. Somedays they would respond to messages late but were usually very reliable. Compared to other US camp recruitment companies they may be more expensive costing about 525 euros total, but make the process much easier for a first timer. They send regular emails to ensure you are progressing through your application to allow you to get your VISA very quickly. Would definitely recommend to a first timer looking to work at a US camp but with no idea where to start.

USA Summer Camp has been really great in helping with the whole process. I haven't been to camp yet (it is a month away) but USA SC have always been very easy to contact and responsive. Despite me arriving later than basically all other participants due to exams, USA SC allowed me to participate and I was able to get hired doing my dream job (equestrian). I had tried with other agencies and was not allowed but was able to take the risk with USA SC and I'm so glad I did.

- I will say if you think that will be you, do apply early as this will increase your chances.

For a 17 year old applying for my VISA for the first time, the process was a bit complicated at moments, and it was so useful having USA SC to help guide me. Emails were frequent and informative, and even a month before departure USA SC have been sending me reminders before flying (eg. important forms to bring on your flight).

Word of caution: I have to say the placement will be more expensive than you will think- expect to earn back around the same amount you put in. (This is because of the flight, VISA application fees, VISA appt, USA SC fees, police check with ACRO etc.) That being said, I am finalising my plans for 2025 and hope that if this summer is good I will do it again next year, using USA SC again.

Shoutout to Danielle for dealing with my questions ;)

Very patient and helpful, they were so understanding of delays and did a brilliant job at placing me with a camp so quickly.
Would recommend to anyone looking to attend camp, the only drawback I can think of is there are a few hidden fees but they’re not through iena.

Excellent with all the help I needed and great and talking me through any issues I had

USA Summer Camps were always so helpful in organising and booking my trip for the Summer, any questions we had about packing, visas or anything in between they were more than happy to help. Lauren, Laura, Jade and Abbie always responded promptly and with great advice! Thanks so much!

I definitely made the right choice choosing USA summer camp to help get me on my J1 to summer camp, everyone has been so helpful and kind since the first interview, always able to answer any questions I had. I got placed in my camp so so quickly and I couldn't imagine a better agency to go with 🥰🇺🇸 Looking forward to an amazing summer thanks to them.

Fie fra USA Summercamp har ydet en enorm unik service for mig og de andre counselors.

Allerede efter et par sekunder, dannede jeg mig et vældigt godt indtryk af Fie, som er ydmyg, er god til at formidle og mest af alt, har stor kunnen og passion for at hjælpe mig og de andre counselors gennem ansøgningsprocessen.

Stor anbefaling til Fie og resten af USA Summercamp.

Med venlig hilsen

Jacob

They found me a job for my J1 Visa very quickly and they’re very quick to pick up the phone when you call them about certains questions or issues and the ambassadors on the phone explain everything very well.

They are very money hungry, during my first interview they asked me for my credit card details. And they add you to a payment plan which will automatically take money after a week.

USA have been fantastic from day 1 from organising paperwork to confirming payments to finally just being there no matter how small or big of an issue you have which has the whole process so much easier!

A special mention goes to Danielle who has been exceptional always happy to help and has been there at the end of a phone every step of the way.

I can’t think of a better company to go out to the states with than USA Summer Camp!!!!

Usa summer camps is an amazing organisation with extremely responsive and helpful staff that help you along every step of the process but the whole experience is more costly than it seems. It is advertised as a 500 euro process and it technically is just bare in mind you will have to pay for an embassy fee which is about 175 euro as well the 50 euro SERVIS payment. So it totals everything a bit higher than 500. As well as your flights which will probably not be included with your contract with the camp. I'd heavily suggest saving up and watching payments where you can. Overall if you can afford the process it is a really streamlined step by step process which is far more simple than I thought it would be.

They are extremely helpful, with helping you through the process of applying to their programs step by step.

The team at USA Summer Camp were absolutely incredible!😊They were very helpful - great communication, in particular Lauren, Laura and Abbie! These girls helped me get placed at an amazing camp in Maine for this summer 2024 as a camp counsellor & swimming instructor and I am so excited!❤️ I would highly recommend this agency!💯

This is going to be a long(ish) post about my experience with USA Summer Camp. I hope it will be useful for anyone thinking of applying with them.

I had initially applied during lockdown in Ireland since the US was opening up and USA Summer Camp said that they were confident it would go ahead. They would have had no idea if the US Embassy would be giving out visas but were nonetheless happy to take applicants non-refundable money. Contrary to their replies to other people on here about how they were not to blame for the pandemic, the reality is that other camps offered refunds if cancelled because of COVID and they did not. That was there decision. Here is a list of my complaints against the company:

1) Per the USA Summer Camp Terms and Conditions, if you are not placed by the 7 July you will be cancelled and are entitled to a refund. I had not been placed and they emailed me saying I had been cancelled and that my application was being deferred. When I asked about a refund, USA Summer Camp told me they do not do refunds. I then quoted them their own T and Cs and they became quite aggressive.

2) I was interested in working as a football coach or as a Specialist Summer Camp Counselor role as advertised on USA Summer Camp's website here:
usasummercamp .com/ie/ football-coach-summer-camp
and here:
usasummercamp. com/ie/ specialist-summer-camp-counselor

I had numerous years experience coaching activities to children and the $2400 minimum salary would make it more worthwhile. I was told by Laura before I applied that I was a suitable candidate (they say this to everyone). Their national support staff member also said that there were lots of these roles. However, after I started receiving Camp Counselor roles, I contacted USA Summer Camp and was informed that they did not offer these roles at all!

3) USA Summer Camp's claim to place 100% of applicants is simply not true. It is blatantly and knowingly false advertising.

4) USA Summer Camp's marketing techniques are predatory. When I first called asking about information, I was asked if I had my credit card on me. They want to sign up young people with false information to a non-refundable contract (which they do not send in advance to read), and under the circumstances when you are entitled to a refund, they point-blank refuse to engage. You would need to go through the English legal system

5) USA Summer Camp's customer service is awful. I had agreed a time and date with USA Summer Camp where we would discuss an offer I had received and they never called. I could not get in contact with them either.

I would strongly recommend avoiding USA Summer Camp. If you want to go to a summer camp, their are plenty of alternatives to USA Summer Camp.

Lovely to Speke to the interviewers , very polite !

So far the team have been great and very helpful. I have my camp sorted next year in Minnesota and I’m delighted.

I had an amazing experience with USA Summer Camp Ireland. Their team made the entire process of finding a summer camp in the USA incredibly easy and stress-free. From the initial application to securing my placement, they provided outstanding support and guidance every step of the way. I can't thank them enough for helping me fulfill my dream of working at a summer camp in the USA. If you're looking for a reliable agency to make your summer camp adventure a reality, I highly recommend USA Summer Camp Ireland!

brillant company to deal with makes the whole process so much easier. great for commuincation about any concerns you may have, i am going to camp in 2024 and my whole process has been smooth sailing, highly recommened !!

DON'T USE THESE GUYS, JUST GO STRAIGHT THROUGH CCUSA.

I went out for my first summer in the states in 2019, was the only person they managed to get out in 2021 and then worked in 2022 and 2023, so I feel like I have more than enough information to give an accurate review of them.

The positives are that the people on the phone have always been wonderful, kind, friendly and as helpful as their role allows them to be.

The negatives are that overall, as a company, they are not helpful and don't actually listen to you.

Before going to America I worked as a magician but I did not want magic to be any part of my camp experience to involve magic. The person helping me apply said 'you should definitely put the magic on, it'll look really good' after expressing that I didn't want to end at a performing arts or magic camp he assured me that that definitely wouldn't happen and I would only be contacted by regular summer camps.
Fast forward to the hiring process and the first 6 camps to contact me were performing arts camps. I told each of them that I wasn't interested in the position. USA summer camp then called me and told me that it wasn't my position to refuse the job, you get put with whatever camp selects you. I explained my position and after speaking with a supervisor they seemed to reluctantly agree with me. I then linked up with my camp which was great.

Obviously 2020 was cancelled due to COVID.

In 2021 it was still uncertain that we would make it our there but their sister company (and the sponsor of our VISA) sent a message saying we could try going to mexico to get the VISA issued (spoiler alert: this worked and I made it out there).
I told USA summer camp that i was going to take the risk and go out there and they told me that they wouldn't allow it. I explained that it wasn't their choice to make and that they need to send me my DS-2019 (the only thing they do for you as a returner) and they still refused. It ultimately took me calling CCUSA and them contacting USA Summer camp telling them they had to send it to me.
Needless to say they ultimately did and i ended up in America that summer. After the fact they had the nerve to ask me to leave a review since they got me out there. They didn't I had to force their hand.

My final year I bought my wife out with me and despite me finding the camp for her, arranging the interviews and sorting everything out, USA Summer camp still charged her fees as if they had done any of the work.

I would not recommend them at all, the only thing they do for you as a returner is to sort out your DS-2019 for you, they don't even sponsor the visa themselves.

You are best going through CCUSA, or at a push, Interexchange as all my friends who used these companies had a more seamless experience than I ever had.