Want a summer that pays, stretches you, and gives you something real to put on your CV? This is it.
You’ll live and work at an established residential summer camp in the US, alongside campers and international staff from around the world. Your role is matched to what you’re good at: water sports and lifeguarding, ball sports, athletics and fitness, gymnastics, horse riding, outdoor adventure, extreme sports, circus, performing arts, music, arts and crafts, or media arts. This is not an English teaching job.
How it works: you apply once through English Wizards, we screen your application, and strong candidates are invited to interview with our camp partner. Applying is free. Fees start only when you’re invited to interview.
Camps start between 1 May and 21 June 2027.
You’re getting three wins at once:
1) Income: a paid role with a set minimum salary.
2) Experience: real responsibility for campers, in a team, in a high-energy environment.
3) Life: a full summer at a traditional American camp, then time to travel.
Built for teachers, students, coaches, creatives and outdoor people who want a summer that feels like progress, not just a break.
From $2,400 salary for the season.
Traditional US summer camps, mostly in rural and lakeside settings.
Covered during the program.
Finish camp, then explore before you leave.
Applying is free. Fees start when you’re invited to interview.
If summer leaves a gap in your income or your plans, this gives you a fixed season, a set salary and a clear timeline.
You live on camp, surrounded by lakes, forests and sports fields, with campers and staff from around the world. Structure, support and a real community.
This role is about managing energy, leading activities, and taking responsibility for campers every day. It’s a serious CV upgrade.
You finish the program with earnings, confidence, and a travel window. You come back with something you can actually talk about in interviews.
Applying through English Wizards is free. If we shortlist you, you’ll be invited to interview and can pay your program fee in full, or in three stages as you move through the process. All prices are in USD.
Submit once. We screen for fit before interviews.
Pay in full, or in three stages as you progress.
What most people spend to physically arrive.
No guessing. Here’s what’s included during camp, what the counselor role involves, and what you leave with.
The basics are covered so you can focus on the role.
You lead activities and look after campers day to day.
Money, proof, and a story that upgrades your CV.
Whether you’re a teacher, a student, a coach or someone with a skill campers will love, summer can be a gap. This program gives you a defined start, a defined end, and a salary that makes the trip worth it.
Camps start between 1 May and 21 June, and you need to be available for the full program, so make sure your dates work before you apply. During screening we’ll flag the practical points that matter most (timing, travel, and documentation), so you’re not guessing.
If you’re a strong fit, you’ll be invited to interview directly by our camp partner. If you’re not a fit, we’ll tell you quickly so you don’t waste time.
We review your application and shortlist candidates who match the role and eligibility. Shortlisted applicants receive an interview invite by email.
Applying is free. If we shortlist you, you pay stage 1 (or the full fee) to book your interview. Stage 2 is due after a successful interview, and stage 3 once a camp hires you.
Tell us your strongest skills and preferences. Camps are matched to your skills, experience and interests, so preferences are considered, not promised.
Availability is limited and not guaranteed.
No. You’re a camp counselor working in an activity area that fits your skills. You’re leading campers, not teaching lessons.
If you’re shortlisted, you’ll have a relaxed 45-minute interview with our camp partner. If it goes well, you’re matched with camps that suit your skills, and camps interview and hire you directly, often on the spot or within a few days.
The placements run in summer. Recruiting and interviews can happen year-round, with the main hiring window typically running from autumn into early spring.
Anyone 18 or over by 1 May 2027 with a skill campers will love and the energy to lead: teachers, students, coaches, creatives and outdoor enthusiasts. You’ll need a UK, EU, Australian, New Zealand, South African or Chinese passport.
You need to be 18 by 1 May 2027. There’s no fixed upper age limit, as long as you meet the camp’s requirements.
You live on camp and lead activities in your area, from water sports, ball sports and horse riding to circus, performing arts, music or arts and crafts, and you look after campers day to day. You’re responsible for energy, safety and the camper experience. You are not teaching lessons.
At established residential summer camps across the US, mostly in rural and lakeside settings. The program runs for at least 9 weeks, including a week of staff training. Start dates run from 1 May to 21 June 2027, most camps start in the first two weeks of June and run until mid-August, and you need to be available for the full program.
The minimum salary for the program is $2,400. Your final offer may be higher depending on the camp, your role and your experience. Taxes may apply depending on program rules.
Accommodation, meals, and medical insurance are included during camp. Your program fee covers placement support throughout the application process, plus J-1 sponsorship and the SEVIS fee.
Applying is free. The program fee depends on your passport. UK and EU passport holders pay $995 in full, or $1,150 in three stages ($95 / $295 / $760). Australian, New Zealand, South African and Chinese passport holders pay $1,250 in full, or $1,450 in three stages ($195 / $395 / $860). If you’re not placed with a camp, everything except stage 1 is refunded. Visa refusals are non-refundable. You’ll also cover flights, the embassy visa fee (about $185), and a police background check.
English Wizards prices all programs in USD for consistency, whichever country you apply from.
No. Most roles don’t need a specific qualification or university study. Camps look for coaching certificates, qualifications or strong experience in the activities they run, and experience with children or young people helps.
We share full partner and placement details with shortlisted applicants as part of the interview process.
Your salary is paid by your camp under the program rules. Full payment details are confirmed in your placement paperwork.
No. For 2027, placements are in the USA only.
Eligibility depends on your passport, not where you live. If you hold a UK, EU, Australian, New Zealand, South African or Chinese passport, you can apply from Poland. Check that your permit conditions allow you to travel for the summer, and we’ll flag anything practical during screening.
Apply as soon as you can. Applications are open, camps have already started hiring, and placements are made on a first-come basis.
Most people budget $1,650–$2,500 total before departure, including the program fee, embassy visa fee, flights, and a police background check. J-1 sponsorship and SEVIS are included in the program fee. Flights are the biggest variable, so your total depends heavily on when and where you fly from.
After the program ends, you typically have time available to travel before you depart. The exact window depends on visa rules and your travel dates.
You can ask to be placed together, but it can’t be guaranteed. Placements depend on camp availability, skills and recruitment needs.
Once you’re accepted, you’ll complete the visa sponsor’s application and provide two references, your passport, photographs, and any relevant experience or certifications. Police and medical documents are completed at the right stages after acceptance.
Yes. For every friend you refer who’s hired by a camp, we take $60 off your program fee. There’s no limit, so referrals stack.
A normal working week is 5.5 days. Days are usually split into hourly activity sessions with breaks in between, and evenings bring everything from themed nights to bonfires.
Accommodation varies by camp. In most cases you’ll share a room or cabin with other counselors, or with a bunk of campers if that’s part of your role.
“I needed a summer plan that actually made sense financially. The interview was straightforward, the role was intense in a good way, and I came back with real leadership experience I could put on my CV.”
“I wanted something more than teaching summer school again. The counsellor role pushed me, but it gave me proof of leadership under pressure. That’s what employers actually care about.”
“This wasn’t a ‘random summer job’. It felt structured, supported, and busy. I made money, built confidence leading groups, and life at camp was unreal.”
If you have questions about visas, permits, or choosing the right pathway, reach out and our team will guide you. We support foreigners navigating Poland’s systems and can help you understand your next steps. Whether you’re planning your move or already in Poland, we’re here to provide clear answers and point you in the right direction.
