Camp America

[Stephy]

Hey I was just wondering whether anyone has done Camp America or anything like it. I'm planning on doing it next year before going to uni but wanted to know if it's worth doing. Also does anyone know if there are any other camps in other countries you can do?

[Elliot]

I saw a few adverts about that around my college. I think you can go to Argentina or Morocco and loads of other places but it will probably be easy to find out through a Google search.

[Clarabel]

BUNAC does a similar type of camp for Australia and New Zealand and PGL does sport camps in Europe. They are 'worth doing' if you are doing it for the experience but sure as heck not worth doing for the money. They make a lot of publicity about the benefits but when you add it all up you are simply paying a deposit - you pay them some money and in return they give it back to you week by week as wages. If you don't complete the camp then you lose money. You also need to be game for a laugh - if being thrown into a swimming pool in the middle of the night doesn't appeal to you then don't go! If you don't get along being constantly surrounded by chirpy people then it is probably not for you either unless you can find a great hide-out up a tree with your walkman - ahhhh, bliss!

If you intend to go as a sports coach you need to double and triple check your insurance cover as you would not want to have an accident state-side and get sued for millions of dollars. Camp normally covers a limited liability insurance but medical bills in the states are massive, never mind 'pain and suffering' awards, so limited cover at $1mill is probably not enough.

Oh yeah, I didn't do Camp America (though I looked into it) I worked for a holiday company that did some sports holidays. I didn't coach, I looked after children while mum and dad went wind-surfing, but the kids were pretty sporty too so I did a similar deal in the end.

[Sarah]

I'm doing a similar thing to camp america this summer but it's with BUNAC. I'm going as a specialist counsellor for gymnastics and just wondered if anyone else had done something similar. They're still looking for gymnastics coaches so if you're free this summer...!

[Mike]

I am Also doing something simmilar as well this summer but I organised it my self through a camp I new about who have now hired me as a gymnastics speciallist

p.s. which camp are you going to

Mike

[Jen]

Im doing the same! Going to Kamp Kohut in Maine as a gymnastics instructor, through BUNAC!

[Sarah]

I'm going to camp Southwoods in north new york state. Really excited now and can't wait. Just a small problem of uni finals to revise for before then! Hope you both have a great time!

[Mike]

I forgot to say where I am going camp Chateugay in the northen part of New york.

When do you lot have to arrive in the us by I have to be there by the 16th June

[Sarah]

I have heard of that camp, think it's near mine. Think lots of camps are up in that area. It looks really nice with lakes and mountains everywhere! I'm leaving england on june 16th so get to camp on 17th

[Jen]

I'm at camp 15th june till 19th august, but then don't fly back till about 10th sept. So I have 3 weeks to travel. Are any of you travelling a bit after your camp ends? No idea what i'm going to do for those three weeks yet!

[Clarabel]

I would love to do camp but I just can't be away for 9 weeks. It is a shame as I know lots of gym camps which will quite happily take me for 2 weeks but for visas you have to go through BUNAC, Camp America or CCUSA and all of these have a 9 week minimum limit. I wouldn't mind paying the money to be there. Are there any gymnastic camps in the UK, other than club camps that use their own coaches and facilities?

[Sarah]

I also finish on august 19th and am going travelling after. Since I'm in North new york, might go to niagra falls and around the east coast a bit. I'd love to do a trek america thing but they are so expensive. Flying home on september 11th (eek)

[Jen]

Im also going home about the 11th september. Hopefully uni doesnt start until the week after!

Really am going to have to do some research into where to go - I didn't even know where niagra falls was! Got my visa application forms today from BUNAC it all looks a bit daunting.

Does anyone know what kind of coaching they are doing? All my contract says is 'gymnastics instructor,' don't know it that means im the coach in charge, or even what discipline and gymnastics apparatus the camp has. The website wasn't much use either.

[Clarabel]

Does anyone know what kind of coaching they are doing? All my contract says is 'gymnastics instructor,' don't know it that means im the coach in charge, or even what discipline and gymnastics apparatus the camp has. The website wasn't much use either.

In general terms any general summer camps the equipment is stuff you would have in the average school gymnasium, maybe a bit more, and coaching is a bit of fun for people who have never done gym before, however some campers may be in gym clubs and they need you to be able to cater for these children also. In sports camps they would normally have a full gymnasium with one set of each equipment, some mats and skills equipment the sort of thing that a reasonably equipped small gym club has. Gymnastic camps have facilities that you would drool over, mulitple gymnasia, ballet studios, almost enough equipment for one set of apparatus between 3 campers. Different camps have different levels of concentration on gymnastics, but generally those which have great facilities tend to trumpet this on their websites. You may get some clues from the children's kit lists for camp as some say "comfortable sports clothes" and others are really specific "leotard, handguards". You could also try the 'contact us' link from their website or call them up to ask - it makes sense that you want to know so you can plan a programme. They wouldn't want you to arrive on day 1 with no idea what you would do with the gym class, would they?

[Sarah]

I would recommend ringing up the staff co-ordinator or head coach of the camp. They should be able to tell you more about what you are doing. I was quite lucky cos my camp phoned me up and told me all about the facilities and level of the gymnasts. It seems to be very mixed ages and abilities, with lots of beginners! I think there's a matted floor area, single bar, trampette vault and a few different sized beams. Should be about right for the level of the kids. Hope you get some more info from yours soon.