# Camp America 2027: Your Summer Camp Jobs Guide > Planning Camp America for 2027? See BridgeUSA J-1 visa rules, camp counselor pay, costs, deadlines, and how AmeriCamp, CIEE, and CCUSA compare. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/camp-america-work-at-summer-camp-usa - Published: 2025-12-27 - Updated: 2026-07-13 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Camp America, Summer, USA, Backpacking, Travel, Solo, solo travel, Volunteering, Featured, Summer Camp - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Camp America places international travellers at US summer camps for 9 to 12 weeks under the BridgeUSA J-1 Visa Cultural Exchange Program, with pay, meals, and accommodation included. This guide covers who qualifies, what the J-1 visa actually requires, how much you earn and pay in fees, and how Camp America compares to AmeriCamp, CIEE, and Camp Counselors USA (CCUSA) for the 2027 season. ## What Is Camp America and How Does the BridgeUSA J-1 Visa Program Work? Camp America is a cultural exchange placement service that sends international staff to US summer camps for roughly 9 to 12 weeks, typically June through August. Legal work is authorised through the US Department of State's BridgeUSA Exchange Visitor Program, under the J-1 Camp Counselor category. Camp America itself is a placement agency, not the visa sponsor; a separate BridgeUSA-designated sponsor organisation issues the DS-2019 form that makes the visa possible. Camp types range from traditional overnight camps to sports-specialisation programmes, arts and performance camps, special-needs facilities, and urban day camps. Staff live on-site, work full-time, and share housing with a multicultural team. ## Who Can Apply for Camp America in 2027? You can apply for Camp America if you are aged 18 to 30, hold a passport from an eligible country (including the UK, most of the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand), speak conversational English, are available for the full summer season, and can pass a background and medical check. Student status is not required. ## What Jobs Are Available Through Camp America? Camp America places two main groups: camp counsellors and support staff. Counsellors supervise cabin groups, run activities, and support camper wellbeing; camps favour candidates with sports coaching, lifeguarding, arts or drama experience, outdoor leadership, or childcare backgrounds. Support staff cover kitchen, maintenance, housekeeping, and admin roles, usually on an hourly wage with more defined hours and personal time than counsellor positions. ## Do You Need a J-1 Visa to Work at Camp America? Yes. Every Camp America placement requires a J-1 Visa issued under the BridgeUSA Cultural Exchange Visitor Program. Your placement agency's BridgeUSA sponsor issues a DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility, which you take to a US Embassy or Consulate for the visa interview. The J-1 also grants up to 30 days of US travel after your camp contract ends. It is a single-employer visa: unauthorised work outside your assigned camp can void your status. ## What Is the SEVIS I-901 Fee and Visa Integrity Fee for Camp America Applicants? J-1 applicants pay the SEVIS I-901 fee to register in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System before their visa interview, separate from the J-1 visa application fee (around $185 at time of writing). A separate Visa Integrity Fee, originally slated for October 2025, remains delayed; the latest projected start is October 2026, at $250, refundable if you comply with your visa terms. As of writing it does not apply to ESTA/Visa Waiver travel. Confirm current fee amounts with your BridgeUSA sponsor before applying, as both figures are set by the US Department of State and can change. ## Does Camp America Require Access to Your Social Media? No. Providing social media handles is optional for ESTA and standard visa applications at the time of writing. Proposals to make social media disclosure mandatory for some visa categories have been discussed but not enacted. Check your BridgeUSA sponsor's current DS-2019 paperwork and the US Department of State's visa application guidance for the latest position before you apply. ## How Much Does Camp America Pay Counselors and Support Staff? Camp America counsellors typically earn $1,200 to $2,250 for the summer, on top of free food and accommodation. Support staff are usually paid hourly, in the region of $10 to $15 an hour. Exact pay depends on your role, experience, and which placement agency and camp you are matched with; camps that include return flights in the package tend to offer lower cash salaries than those where you book your own flights. ## How Much Does It Cost to Apply for Camp America? Camp America placement fees typically run from roughly £300 to £700, depending on the agency, whether flights are included, and how early you apply. This usually covers placement, BridgeUSA visa sponsorship, training, and insurance while in the US. On top of the placement fee, budget separately for the SEVIS I-901 fee, the J-1 visa application fee at your nearest US Embassy or Consulate, and a background check (commonly £20 to £100 depending on provider and country). Fees below are as of June 2026 and are reset annually, so confirm the current 2027 tiers with each provider before applying. ## Which Companies Offer Camp America Placements: AmeriCamp, CIEE, CCUSA, or Camp America? Several BridgeUSA-affiliated agencies place staff at US summer camps, and "Camp America" is both a specific agency and the generic term travellers use for the whole category. The main options are Camp America (the largest network, widest camp choice), AmeriCamp, CIEE's Camp Exchange USA (a BridgeUSA-designated sponsor in its own right), and Camp Counselors USA (CCUSA). Fee structures, included flights, and minimum salaries vary by provider and change each season; the figures in this guide are as of June 2026, so compare current terms directly on each agency's site before applying. ## Can You Travel After Your Camp America Placement Ends? Yes. The J-1 visa's post-completion travel window, typically up to 30 days, is one of the main reasons people choose Camp America over a standard seasonal job. Most participants use this time to road-trip through the US before flying home to the UK or Europe, or continuing onward to Central or South America. ## What Are the Best Tips for a Successful Camp America Application? Apply as early in the cycle as possible, since the best camps and roles fill first. Record a genuine video application rather than a generic one. Be accurate about your skills and qualifications, since camps match staff to specific activity needs. Budget separately for flights and post-camp travel on top of the placement fee. Treat the summer as a cultural exchange first and a job second, and plan your post-camp US itinerary before you fly out. ## Frequently Asked Questions About Camp America: ### What's the difference between Camp America and BUNAC's Summer Camp USA programme? Camp America and BUNAC's Summer Camp USA are separate placement agencies that both send staff to US camps on the same J-1 BridgeUSA visa category. They are not affiliated. Fees, camp networks, and minimum salaries differ between the two, so compare current terms on each agency's site rather than assuming they are interchangeable. ### Is Camp America the same as Camp Leaders? No. Camp Leaders is a separate summer camp placement company operating alongside Camp America, AmeriCamp, and CCUSA. All of them place staff under the same J-1 Camp Counselor visa category through their own BridgeUSA-designated sponsors, but each has its own application process, fee schedule, and camp partners. ### What is a DS-2019 form and do Camp America applicants need one? The DS-2019 is the Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status, issued by your placement's BridgeUSA sponsor once you are matched with a camp. Every Camp America applicant needs a DS-2019 to book a J-1 visa interview at a US Embassy or Consulate. Without it, you cannot legally work at a US summer camp. ### Does the Duke of Edinburgh's Award partner with Camp America? Yes, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award has listed Camp America placements as a way for young people to complete DofE Gold Residential or volunteering requirements. Check the current DofE shop listing and Camp America directly, as partnership terms and eligible placements can change between seasons. ### What is the SEVIS I-901 fee and is it separate from the Camp America placement fee? The SEVIS I-901 fee funds the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System that tracks J-1 participants, and it is paid directly to the US government, separately from any Camp America or agency placement fee. You pay it online before your visa interview, using the SEVIS ID number from your DS-2019 form. ### Can Camp Counselors USA (CCUSA) applicants also apply to Camp America in the same year? You can technically submit applications to more than one agency, including CCUSA and Camp America, but each requires its own fees, paperwork, and BridgeUSA sponsor process, and accepting a placement from one typically means withdrawing from the other. Most applicants pick a single agency once they understand the fee structure and camp options, rather than running two applications in parallel. Fees, visa costs, and job-fair schedules above are as of June 2026; always confirm current figures with Camp America, AmeriCamp, CIEE, CCUSA, or BUNAC directly, and check the US Department of State's BridgeUSA Camp Counselor Program page for the latest visa rules before applying. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai