Camp Europe: Summer Camp Counselor Placement

Such a great atmosphere where people are encouraged to be active, creative and sociable. A chance to practice my German skills, make a difference to others and make friends all over the world. You will be challenged in the best way possible and come out with some incredible memories. Favourite memories would have to include helping a shy boy become the life of the disco-party with everyone cheering while he danced the night away. Softly playing my group to sleep and having them request that I play them to sleep with the guitar every night. And the girls asking to play Australian Footy every chance they got! Tips: Be prepared for little sleep at times and be prepared to put the needs of the children first! There are people to help give you a break if needed but it can get exhausting sometimes.

I had so much fun working for Camp Europe! I am from the United States and wanted to have a unique summer traveling across Europe; Camp Europe gave me exactly that. The week of training was just as much fun as it was intense. We then began our regular work assignments. The awesome thing about Camp Europe is that you can be placed in several different camps all across Europe; the more diverse you want your experience the more diverse they'll make it for you. They are very good about listening to what type of camp you are comfortable working at and making sure that everyone gets the experience they want. Not only was I able to spend some time gaining valuable work experience, but I was also able to do a lot of traveling across Europe. I worked with and became friends with so many different people from all over the world that I am still in contact with and planning on traveling with again soon. There really is nothing else like this.

My summer as a camp counselor with Camp Europe/Adventure was the hardest and best thing I've ever done. It was such a challenging experience to take on new campers each week and prepare educational yet entertaining lessons for them. The schedule is grueling, sun up to late after sun down but it is such a rewarding experience. You get great experience with kids, learn time management and get to use all aspects of the creative side of your brain. I also picked up tons of teaching, first aid and lifeguarding experience as well as a little bit of German. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a great summer experience.

I signed up for Camp Europe 2 years ago on a whim. It turned out to be one of the best things I ever did. Camp has given me so much more confidence, and a totally different way of seeing things. I find in the UK, people get way too caught up in thinking in the future. At camp you’re 100% present in the moment, and it’s so refreshing. In addition, you couldn’t ask to work with a more supportive team of people to have around you when you’re having a tough day. I’ve been back to camp every year since and plan to for as long as possible; it really is something very special to me.

It was a wonderful experience, it was amazing to be part of the staff of camp adventure. Very challenging, fun and a place that you can call home. I hope I can go back for another summer :)
You definitely make friends for life! And you learn so many new things because there's a complete combination of different cultures. You'll be out of your comfort zone but definitely it is worth the try! You won't regret it :)

You'll get to travel the world, they said... Little did I know when I packed my bags to travel nearly 8,000 kilometers across the world from the USA to volunteer at a summer outdoor sports and adventure camp in Germany, that my life would be forever changed. Since 2013 I've had the tremendous opportunity of learning from and working with young people from all over the globe who participate in Camp Adventure/Camp Europe camps; over 24 countries in fact. Each one of these youth imprint upon my heart deeply, and I learn from them just as much as they learn from me! However, I'll never forget one little boy (only 6 years old) who, this past season, came to Joshofen Junior Camp in Neuburg. His mother was German and his father Chilean. He could speak perfect Spanish and German, but not a word of English. On the second day of camp I noticed him playing a game of strategy with his fingers. He called me over and started eagerly speaking German to me, teaching me how to play. When I didn't understand a German word, I would ask him to explain in Spanish to fill in all the gaps for me. It wasn't long before we were laughing and having tremendous fun trying to outwit each other with this game of counting. And that's what camp Europe does best... It takes young people from all over the world and bonds them together through language and a fulfilled sense of belongingness. I've seen youth from opposite sides of the world immersed in meaningful conversation without ever speaking the same language. That is the power of love, of peace, and of camp! The sports, the swimming, the activities, the camping, the hikes, the meal-times - it all contributes to deep, long-lasting friendships and a sense of global awareness and understanding that is flourished within each of our campers. Teaching the little boy how to sing and do the motions of a popular camp song "Happy Llama" were given back to me ten-fold when he would run up to me with his hand in the shape of llama, a huge grin on his face and an expectation to sing together. He even translated the song into Spanish and German, and we would often sing them together on bus rides to activities and excursions. ...And that's what camp is all about. An overwhelming sense of belonging, adventure and fun! Welcome to Camp Europe!

During the summer, I was an English Language Coach with Camp Adventure. It was finally my first opportunity to get some real hands on overseas experience while working with kids and having an amazing time. In the first week, I found myself teaching in a beginner English workshop with some of the most enthusiastic kids I've ever met. However there was one that kid that stood out, he was quite reserved and quiet. At times, it was like trying to pull teeth to get this particular child to speak at all let alone in English. Somehow by the end of the week, he was enjoying myself so much that I almost had to find ways to control his excitement. He was loving life in this English workshop I was teaching. At the end of the week, the camp handed out camp awards - for example: camp clown, Mr. Brightside, and of course most improved in English. This kid in my workshop, received this award for most improved and he could not have been happier. He was on cloud 9, to the point where I was almost brought to tears. I couldn't contain the pride I was feeling towards this kid.

Lots of teachers talking about having that one teacher moment where things just go so right you can't even believe it. Seeing his radiant smile on his face, was my teacher moment.