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Camp America: Is It an Agency or Just a Summer Camp Experience? Here’s the Truth.

09.06.25

The Camp America Original Summer Camp Agency 1

If you’ve been researching summer camp jobs in the USA, you’ll have definitely come across the phrase "Camp America". It’s all over TikTok, Google searches and YouTube and you’ll hear people saying things like “I did Camp America” or “I’m going to do Camp America this summer.”

But what does “Camp America” actually mean? Is it the name of an agency - 'The Camp America', or just a general term for working at summer camp in the USA?

Let’s clear it up, because it’s important to understand exactly what you’re signing up for!
 

Camp America is an agency - not a generic term

Camp America is the name of an agency.

We’re an official UK-based organisation (also operating in other countries) that helps young people arrange work placements at summer camps across the USA.

We organise your placement, provide visa sponsorship, handle key paperwork, arrange flights and support you throughout the entire process.

Once you’re in the USA, we provide 24-hour on-the-ground support and ensure you have the right coverage in place for your stay, so you can focus on making the most of your experience.

When you apply through Camp America, you are applying through our agency - not just signing up for “a camp in America”.
 

Why does everyone say “I did Camp America”?

The Camp America has been placing young people at summer camps across the USA since 1969, and we still place more staff than any other agency. We were also the first to introduce summer camp jobs fairs back in the 1980s, and today we host the largest summer camp job fairs in the UK, every November, January and February.

With that kind of history, it’s easy to see why we’ve become so well known. But with so many people talking about summer camp online - especially on platforms like TikTok - it’s more important than ever to make sure the information being shared is accurate, and that people understand the difference between agencies.
 

Why it matters

Choosing how you get to camp and who you go through makes a big difference to your experience:

  • What’s included in your fee?
  • What level of support do you get - both before you leave and while you’re in the USA?
  • Are you properly covered for your entire stay in the USA?
  • Are your flights included? (Camp America offers a flight package for the UK & selected countries, so your return flights can be arranged for you.)
  • Do you get help with your visa?
  • Who is actually sponsoring your visa? (Many agencies pass this through another company. Camp America sponsors your visa directly, so you know exactly who’s responsible for your support)

Not all agencies offer the same thing. And you can’t organise a placement like this on your own - you need an agency that is a licensed sponsor and works directly with camps.

Camp America places more people at US summer camps than any other agency. We’ve built strong relationships with camps over decades, and we’ve handled every kind of situation - from last-minute flight changes to global crises.

If something unexpected happens, you’ll be glad you went through an agency with the experience and scale to look after you properly!
 

How to spot the difference

If someone says “I did Camp America,” it’s worth asking:

  • Did they apply through Camp America the agency?
  • Or did they use a different company or agency?

Neither option is right or wrong. But knowing the facts will help you make a decision that's right for you.

 

The takeaway

We love that so many people are passionate about their camp experiences - whatever path they took to get there!

But as the world of summer camp jobs grows and online conversations get bigger, it’s more important than ever to understand the difference between:

  • Camp America - the agency that places you, sponsors you and looks after you
  • The wider experience of working at summer camp in the USA

👉 Camp America® is a registered trademark of Camp America (USA) Limited.

If you’d like to know more about what THE Camp America offers, or how the process works, we’d love to help.

Email: [email protected] and one of our summer camp experts will get back to you.
Ready to apply? Go with the originals - start your application here: mycampamerica.com/register.

FAQs

  • Is Camp America an agency or an experience?

    Camp America is a placement agency that helps young people work at summer camps across the USA. We’ve been doing this since 1969 and place more staff than any other UK agency.

    Some people use the phrase “doing Camp America” when they’re talking about working at camp in general, but it’s important to know that Camp America is the name of a specific organisation with its own placement process, visa sponsorship, and support structure.

  • Why do people say “I did Camp America” if they didn’t go through the agency?

    Camp America is one of the most well-known agencies for placing staff at summer camps in the USA. Sometimes people will casually say “I did Camp America” when talking about working at camp even if they went through a different agency, or are unsure which organisation sponsored them.

    Only official sponsors can arrange the correct visa for summer camp work in the USA. Camp America is a designated sponsor and works directly with camps, which is why it’s important to understand exactly who you are applying through and what support you’ll receive.

  • Can I work at a summer camp without going through Camp America?

    You must go through an official visa sponsor to work at a summer camp in the USA. Camp America is a designated visa sponsor and works directly with camps to arrange placements and provide full support.

    Some other agencies also sponsor visas, but not all agencies do this directly - and not all routes offer the same level of support. You cannot simply organise a placement or go to camp independently without the correct visa and sponsorship.