What you get from the programme

Only Camp America Summer Camps provide our unique support service. We take the effort and hassle out of organising your child’s summer & ensure that they enjoy a safe and secure time at camp from the moment they arrive at the US airport, to the moment they arrive back home.  The programme typically lasts for 3 weeks and includes;

• All inclusive guaranteed camp fees for some of the best American summer camps!
• Assistance & guidance from our specialist staff in selecting the right camp for your child
• Support in preparation for summer camp – what clothing to take & what you need to know before you go!
• Full board, accommodation & extensive activities - 3 great meals a day and all the activities campers can cram into 3 weeks!
• Insurance – specialist comprehensive medical & baggage insurance with ACE Insurance for the entire duration of the trip with coverage of up to $500,000.
• Safe, chaperoned travel – We offer group departures on Virgin Atlantic (from the UK; other airlines for other countries) with the full service of our experienced and trained staff that will chaperone campers through airport processes and travel with campers escorting them on their flight to America & back at the end of the summer.   

About the Camps

Camp America Summer Camps has specially selected high quality summer camps across the US.  From camps in California to Massachusetts, each one has been carefully selected by us to offer a unique experience to suit every camper.  The camps are a mixture of single sex, co-ed and Jewish.   Some camps specialise in certain sports or activities whilst others are classified as a general camp.

Typically, camps are either owned by families that have passed them down from one generation to the next, or are operated by nationally recognised agencies.  Most are accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) in the US and comply with the ACA’s strict guidelines & best practices and all have been inspected in accordance with their state’s stringent health & safety laws.   Additionally, all camps partnered with Camp America Summer Camps have been personally visited by members of our staff and we conduct regular visits.  We also provide them with international Camp America counsellors. Take a look at the camps on offer over the following pages.    If you are looking for something very specific, such as a special needs camp, call our office on 08458 727 650, to learn about other opportunities.

Great value for money

Fees start at £2,015 (without airfare) for three weeks.  The optional airfares start at £660 and includes basic airfare, fuel surcharge, airport tax, chaperone and airport meet & greet.  

The fees quoted include the following services:

Camp Fees – transfer from the airport of arrival to the camp; accommodation in a shared cabin (separate cabins for boys and girls); three good meals a day; services of counsellors; expert staff to supervise all activities; comprehensive medical and fee refund policy; and weekly laundry services and changes of bed linen.

Airline fees – all flight costs including the basic fare, airport tax and fuel surcharges.  Camp America Summer Camps will provide a chaperone for group departures of at least 10 campers, and the airline will provide supervision for smaller groups and individuals or if a group departure is not available. An additional fee will be charged by the airline for individuals utilising an 'unaccompanied minor' scheme.

Health, safety & security including insurance

Since 1969 Camp America has been the respected provider of summer camp counsellor jobs for tens of thousands of young people – you know you can depend upon us!  From the chaperoned group flights through to your stay on camp, the safety & wellbeing of campers is the most essential part of the programme. 

Camp America Summer Camps offers parents and campers peace of mind and financial reassurance with ACE Insurance coverage included in your camp programme.   This plan provides a comprehensive medical protection plan with unlimited Basic Medical Insurance per accident or illness with no excess payable.  This plan provides as an assortment of benefits, including personal effects coverage such as cameras and electronic equipment; medical evacuation and repatriation in the event of an emergency; a full tuition refund.  In the event that the camper is unable to participate in the programme due to serious injury or illness, there is session interruption coverage prorated up to the days missed, including a special flight home for as applicable.  If you would like to review the Camp America Summer Camps Insurance Policy CLICK HERE.  A coverage certificate will be included in your acceptance materials.

Travel to Camp and the US

Camp America Summer Camp flights, unless specified otherwise, will normally depart from and return to London Heathrow Airport and campers are responsible for any other transport costs prior to your child’s departure and upon their return.

Camp America Summer Camp will arrange travel for campers from London to the nearest international airport to the camp and confirm these details with the parent/guardian. 

Flights to the US will be organized in groups and will be chaperoned by Camp America Summer Camps staff who will then hand over to the camp upon arrival.  All campers are asked to wear their Camp America Summer Camp t-shirts provided by Camp America Summer Camps when travelling to facilitate supervision.

From time to time, it may be necessary for Camp America Summer Camp to arrange individual flights for campers in which case an airlines ‘unaccompanied minor’ programme may be utilized.  If this is required, any associated costs will be added to the programme fee.

Camp America Summer Camp will receive confirmation of camper arrivals and will confirm arrivals with parent/guardian.

Camps will take full responsibility for campers upon arrival and will be responsible for ensuring they meet the chaperone for their return flight home following the end of their camp session.

Campers travelling on a UK/EU passport will travel on the Visa Waiver Programme and are allowed a continued stay in the US of 90 days.  Those travelling on passports other than UK/EU may require a visa – it is up to the parent or guardian to ensure any visas required are obtained prior to April 31^st 2010.  The parent or guardian is responsible for any cost incurred in obtaining a US visa.

Camp Rules and Regulations

Campers will be required to sign the Camp America Summer Camp Behaviour Agreement along with their parents prior to participation in the programme.

During the camp season, the camper and his/her parents/guardian agree to abide by the camp rules and regulations for the health, safety and welfare of the campers and camp community.

The camp is appointed to serve in loco parentis. Camper may use hazardous equipment, may participate in any activity or trip including horse riding organized by the camp staff on or off camp grounds and may travel, when deemed necessary by the camp, via the public carrier.  Camp is all about activities – some are more hazardous than others and Parents and Guardians will have the ability to exclude campers from specified activities prior to arrival on camp.

Mobile phones are forbidden on camp and will be collected at the start of camp and stored in the camp office for safekeeping.

Smoking/possession of or use of tobacco/narcotics/liquor/ or other intoxicant or non-prescription drug on/off the camp grounds is expressly forbidden.

If iPods or MP3 players are found to have unsuitable content or images they will be confiscated for the duration of camp.

Campers may not leave camp grounds without the direct permission of the camp administration.

Violations of these rules or other reasonable regulations will result in dismissal from camp without tuition rebate.

The camp reserves the right to dismiss any camper whose conduct is unsatisfactory or inimical to the camps best interest without a refund of the payments made.  If a camper is released for bad behaviour Camp America Summer Camps reserves the right to utilise airline ‘unaccompanied minor’ programmes.  It is essential that prior to departure parents provide an emergency contact who will be able to meet the camper in the event of early return.  It should be noted that dismissal due to  behaviour problems are not covered by our insurance and the cost of the flight home will be the responsibility of the Parent or Guardian.

Camp is not responsible for damage, loss or safety of musical instruments, clothing, personal effects or personal equipment used during the camper’s stay.  

Camp specifically advises campers not to bring jewellery, cash or valuables to camp – alternatively campers can lock small valuables in the camp office.

Staying in touch during camp

In order to assist campers in settling into camp, camps supervise and ensure proper contact between parents, guardians and campers.  You should therefore expect not to hear regularly from you child.  Communication procedures differ from camp to camp.  Some will allow weekly phone calls, some permit email access, while others will ask campers to write letters home each week.  Likewise, other than in an emergency situation, parents or guardians will be requested not to contact the camp when in session.

Please remember that summer camps are used to dealing with issues such as homesickness and make every effort to ensure that campers settle quickly into camp life and enjoy the time spent there.

The camp programme may include public performances and permission is hereby given for the camper to take part in such performances on or off camp grounds without compensation. The camp and Camp America Summer Camps may use photographs, statements, articles, names, music, art, films, video tape of or made by campers, in promoting camp or camp related activities, publication, advertising or exhibitions.

In operating the Camp America Summer Camps programme, the American Institute for Foreign Study (UK) Limited is an ATOL registered company – ATOL 10181.

Your Financial Protection

When you buy an ATOL protected air holiday package [and/or flights] from Camp America Summer Camps you will receive a Booking Confirmation Invoice from us confirming your arrangements and you protection under our Air Travel Organiser’s Licence number 1081.

In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the CAA will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid to us for an advance booking.  For further information visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk