Support At Camp

As your sponsoring organisation, we will always be there to give you as much support as possible when you need it. As mentioned earlier, you are adults and will be treated as such but if you have a problem you cannot solve, feel free to call our U.S. office. We are here to help out in any situation during the summer whether you encounter problems during the course of your summer or require assistance.

Phoning the office

Stamford maintains a phone enquiry service throughout the summer. You may reach us toll free at: 1-866-222-2074, Monday to Friday 9am-5pm EST (24 hours for emergencies). This number can only be dialed from within the U.S., and international callers can reach us at 1-203-399-5409. If the phones are busy please keep trying, and make sure that you have your membership number ready when your call does go through. It is also important that you always take the name of the staff member you are speaking to so you will be able to ask to speak to that person again should you be required to follow up.

What is an emergency?

When things go wrong in an alien environment, it is normal to assume the world is about to end. Please resist the temptation to phone parents immediately when problems occur. They are in a different country and time zone and are unable to assist. The Stamford Office maintains a 24- hour emergency service for dire situations that cannot wait until normal business hours. Please be aware that in most cases assistance after hours can only consist of telephone support and advice. Please refrain from calling our 24-hour emergency service for questions of a routine nature like return flight changes, confirmations, or items that can wait until the next business day.

Extreme emergencies

In the event of an extreme medical or legal emergency, you should take comfort in the fact that WorldNet Services Corporation is there to help. This support organisation is in place to assist you in a major crisis situation; whether it be a critical medical or legal issue, Team Assist is available 24-hours a day. We ask that you use this service in exceptional circumstances only, as in most cases Camp America's emergency service can help you. In the U.S., Team Assist can be reached at 1-866-509-7714 (still a free call inside Canada and USA), or outside the U.S. you may call collect at 1-603-328-1714

What if you are unhappy?

It is not unusual to be unhappy for the first week or so. With the combination of culture shock, homesickness, demanding guests or screaming children many of you will be wondering what you got yourself into. Don't worry; this is normal.

If you are still unhappy after a week, here is what you should do:

• Speak with your supervisors. They were also new once and they should understand the problems that you are having.
• Speak with other staff members for support.
• Speak with the director.
• Contact Stamford if you are still unhappy after you have exhausted the above avenues 

(NEVER LEAVE YOUR ASSIGNMENT WITHOUT CONTACTING THE STAMFORD OFFICE)

Culture shock

Adjusting does take a little while as U.S Culture is very distinctive so do not be surprised if you are taken aback upon your arrival, not everyone is like the set from "Friends." You are taking part in a cultural exchange programme where you will gain a lot of knowledge about U.S culture and Americans around you will gain a lot of knowledge from yourselves and about your country, it is a huge learning experience for everyone involved.

1. Familiarise yourself with your new surroundings. Walk around your camp/resort as you will feel more in control if you know where cabins, buildings etc are situated.
2. Making friends is a big step to alleviating homesickness.
3. Keep in touch with the people back home, but put a limit on telephoning. Write them letters or e-mails of your activities and new experiences. Let them know you'd like to hear from them, too.
4. Seek new opportunities. As scary as it is to see all those people concentrated at camp, it will provide opportunities to meet people who like what you like.
5. Do something! Look for someone to help! Don't wait for it to go away by itself as buried problems often emerge later disguised as headaches, fatigue, illness, or lack of motivation.
6. Find out who the returning staff are at camp. They can help alleviate some concerns or worries as they have been there before.

In extreme cases if you are still unhappy we may try to locate another placement for you. Please be aware that you will be responsible for paying for your travel and accommodation until a new placement is arranged. Before you leave your assignment, make sure that you are paid for your original travel costs and the pro-rated portion of your pocket money. If all else fails and you decide to quit..................

Remember that we will not be able to assist you with your situation unless you have spoken to the camp administration first.

What if you quit?

If you are finding yourself really unhappy at camp then you do have the option to quit. HOWEVER, quitting your job with Camp America is not as simple as quitting your job at home. Your VISA will be cancelled if we cannot find you another placement and you will be considered to be in the country illegally.
Just remember that you are taking a risk by quitting because alternate placements are not always available, and if we can't find you a placement YOU MUST RETURN TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY. THIS MEANS NO TRAVELLING AFTER CAMP.

If you decide to quit, here is what you need to do:

• Talk to your camp director during normal business hours (9 a.m. -5 p.m.) and let him/her know why you are quitting.
• Call the Camp America office so that we can help you with the situation. We can help you find transportation to get off camp and recommend someplace safe and affordable to stay.
• We will then either arrange a flight home for you or begin looking for another job. This is your decision. You may wait up to a week for another job and still not find one or you may get one the same day you quit. It depends on your skills and what point we are at in the summer (there are times when counselors and Campower are in lower demand.)

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ALL TRAVEL AND ACCOMODATION IS AT YOUR OWN EXPENSE. IF YOU QUIT, YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN FINANCIALLY. IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO STAY IN A HOSTEL OR HOTEL FOR SEVERAL DAYS THEN WE WILL INSIST YOU BOOK A FLIGHT HOME, WHICH WILL ALSO COST MONEY.

What if you are fired?

Those who are flexible, follow the rules, have a positive attitude, and honestly relate their skills on their applications will get on fine! Those who don't may get fired! Unfortunately for a number of participants this is how their summer ends.

If you have been fired, call our Stamford Office right away. We need to:

1. Discuss why you have been fired.
2. Ensure that you receive your pro-rated pocket money from the time that you have worked (including the pro-rated Own Transport reimbursement money if applicable). - Make sure that we know your whereabouts when you leave your placement and assist you with information on where to stay.
3. Discuss the possibility of re-assignment.

Getting fired from your assignment is not a pleasant experience but it does happen. In most cases you must leave the grounds immediately, with just enough time to pack your belongings. It is likely you will not be given the chance to say goodbye to friends or colleagues. While these measures may appear drastic, most terminations in the USA are handled in a similar manner to avoid potential disruption. Once you are off site, you are financially responsible for all associated expenses including food, accommodation and travel.

Once again, under no circumstances should you leave your assignment without first contacting the Stamford Office. Such a decision could cause you to be dismissed from the programme and have your visa and return flight cancelled, and you will be required to refund us the cost of your flight as outlined in our Conditions of Placement. This cost could be as much as $900. The same consequences apply if you are dismissed because of drugs, child abuse, or conduct deemed detrimental to the programme. In all of these cases you should be prepared to leave the U.S. immediately at your own expense.

The role of your parents

Just because you are halfway around the world, it does not mean your parents will not still be worried about you. So what role can they take during your stay in the States? Here are some helpful hints to keep your parents assured you are still alive and well:

• Many times you are having such a great time that you forget to call home. This will worry your parents, as they, for the most part can not contact you. This is especially true during your after camp travels. If an emergency situation were to occur during your travels (natural disasters, major news breaking events) please contact your parents right away to let them know you are safe. They will worry until they hear from you.
• Be careful how you explain things to your parents. You may say something in casual conversation, but they may take it as a call for help. Many times parents have called our offices to express their concerns without the participants knowledge. This may cause unnecessary embarrassment should we call your supervisor to investigate a problem that may not exist.
• Keep your parents updated. As soon as you know your travel plans, including your return flight details, please keep your parents informed so they know where you are.

IN THE END IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

Our programme treats all of our participants as the adults that you are. If a problem does occur you should attempt to solve it yourself first. If you are unable to solve the problem yourself, you may contact our Stamford Office for advice. Your parents or your local office cannot help you, only you can help yourself with the support of the U.S. office. In the end the quality of your cultural exchange experience is your responsibility.