Information For Camps
We know that hiring the right counselors is the most important element to a successful camp season. This is why we recruit the most enthusiastic and talented counselors from all over the world and match them to your camp’s needs. Hiring international camp counselors brings cultural diversity and a unique quality to your camp which directors, parents and campers love!
Interested in hiring international camp counselors? Complete the application form here.
Who Are Our Camp Counselors?
We recruit an extremely diverse group of applicants from around the world. All program applicants speak English at an advanced level and possess skills often needed by camps.
General Bunk Counselors: General camp counselors with a variety of skills and experience. These participants are excited to live and work with the children day in and day out!
Aquatics Instructors: Applicants who have a variety of water-based skills including lifeguarding, boating, swimming, jet ski, water skiing, and sailing.
Athletic Counselors: Odyssey sponsors many enthusiastic athletic counselors with years of experience playing competitive sports that are excited to share their love and knowledge of athletics with young campers.
Artistic Specialist: Odyssey sponsors many artistically inclined counselors that are excited to share their creativity and knowledge of arts and crafts with young campers.
Religious or Cultural: Camp counselors who are active in their faith and are interested a faith-based program in the United States.
Where Are They From?
We recruit applicants from all over the world with a focus on Europe, South East Asia and the Caribbean. Applicants from each region bring a special skillset and cultural perspective to camp, but all share the same enthusiasm for working with young campers!
Host Camp Responsibilities
In order to host an international camp counselor, your camp must:
Be a member of the American Camp Association, affiliated with a non-profit or accredited by a third party
Provide a stipend commensurate with that of domestic staff in a similar position
Provide housing and meals free of cost
Help Odyssey coordinate arrivals from the airport to your camp location
Camp Director Recruitment Fairs
Odyssey offers in-person recruitment fair options in the Philippines, Mexico, and Jamaica. We also offer virtual recruitment fair options each month leading up to the summer.
What is an in-person recruitment fair?
At an in-person recruitment fair, you will be able to meet with applicants face to face and experience their culture for a day. Odyssey will reimburse the flight expenses for one camp representative to a certain percentage based on the number of placements you take away from the event. Accommodation and meals will be provided for one camp representative, as well as a cultural day.
These events are great for camps hiring a minimum of 4-6 staff depending on the location. Odyssey will pre-select candidates for you to interview based on your hiring criteria. Contact us for more information and fair minimums.
What is a virtual recruitment fair?
Our virtual recruitment fairs lets you meet with several qualified candidates in one day. Odyssey will set up a day of interviews based on your hiring criteria, on a day of your choosing. Virtual recruitment fairs are at no cost to you, and there are no minimum placements required. We ask that you commit to interviewing at least 4 participants.
How to register?
How Do I Hire a J-1 Camp Counselor?
You tell us what you need.
You gain access to our host camp portal that includes qualified applicants with skills your camp is looking for. We will also submit qualified applicants for you to interview.
You select which applicants you would like to host as a J-1 camp counselor and we provide all the necessary documentation, sponsorship and insurance for them to arrive on time!
Interested In Hiring International Camp Counselors?
Kindly complete the Camp Host Application Form here: