joellebohringerCan you speak English well? Did you know that you can get free room and board (and sometimes even payment) for speaking English with non-English speakers at summer camps around the world? Read more to find out how you can travel for free by working at summer camps abroad.
Working at summer camps abroad is one of the first ways that I found to travel for free or for a very low cost. During my gap year, I spent 2 months working in France as a summer camp counselor. It was absolutely incredible! I was working with children every day in the picturesque French countryside, and I got to spend my weekends exploring the south of France. I also made amazing friends with all of my co-counsellors!
There are hundreds of summer camps around the world that will hire foreigners to work for them in the summer. They provide housing meals, and sometimes a salary in exchange for your help running programs and classes at the camp. It is an amazing way to travel to a new country and experience life there for free. Plus, you get to meet other like-minded staff and gain professional experience working with children and young people.
In this complete guide to working abroad at summer camps, I’ve gathered a list of 36 summer camps that hire foreigners in 23 countries.
What Are Summer Camps?
Summer camps are usually overnight programs for young people. They are often modelled after the American summer camp program. A lot of the programs are focused on teaching English or introducing students to international cultures, so they often look for international and English speaking staff to teach the programs.
Frequently Asked Questions about Working Abroad at Summer Camps:
What are the benefits?
You get to work with really cool coworkers, gain professional experience working with children and/or in education, and you get to experience life in a new country, often in places that few tourists get to see!
Also, most camps are also a ton of fun! You get to participate and lead in outdoor activities, games, and trips on a daily basis!
Who can volunteer/work in these camps?
It really depends; there are so many different opportunities for people of different ages and different backgrounds. Some programs allow people as young as 13 to volunteer, and some take participants in the 80s. Most programs tend to recruit people between the ages of 18 and 35. These programs are typically best suited for college students.
Is it really free?
It really depends; some programs cover everything, including flights. Some programs give a competitive salary, which means you can actually earn money while travelling.
Some programs do not include flights or visas, but all programs do include housing and meals. This means that while they are not technically free, they come at a minimal cost of flights for multiple week experiences in another country.
Some programs also do have a deposit or payment policy, but all of the camps I’ve included either refund the deposit at program completion or offer payment that is more than the deposit.
Is it hard work?
Honestly, most summer camps are hard work. You are often working and living at the camp, which means you need to be active at all hours. However, it is very rewarding and fun work, and every time I’ve worked at a summer camp, it feels more like fun than work!
However, you have a to have a passion for working with kids and find joy in making great experiences for others to enjoy working abroad at summer camps.
Do I need experience?
Some camps require experience, others take people with no experience! Read below to find out all of the experience requirements for each camp.
Do I need a strong passport?
Some programs require camp staff to be from Native English speaking countries. Others simply require staff to speak English at a fluent level. Some programs, including the programs for the US and Canada, offer visa sponsorship for any nationality and include a salary!
Some programs have specific nationality requirements, which are listed below.
Do I need to be a native English speaker?
For most programs, no! A lot of programs are only looking for staff with very strong English levels.
Programs in Europe
Programs Across Europe (with travel)
Angloville Eurotrip – Anglovilles Eurotrip program takes you to Poland, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Berlin. You serve as an English camp counselor for children aged 12-18 and get an awesome travel and learning experience in exchange!
- Duration: 8 days
- Deposit: 100€ refundable deposit after program completion
- Working with: Students aged 12-18
- Requirements: Native or fluent English Speaker
- Age: Age 18-35 or 25+, with background check
- Included: transport in across Europe, room and board, activities around the country (seeing major sites throughout Europe), and optional TEFL certification program
Programs in Spain
Pueblos Ingles Spain – Pueblos Ingles runs summer English immersion camps for teenagers to adults. Volunteers simply participate in conversation and activities in English.
- Duration: 8-16 Days
- Deposit: None
- Working with: People of the same age
- Requirements: Native or fluent English speaker
- Age: 13-80+ (age groups are separated into different teen, 20+, and adult camps)
- Included: transport in Spain, insurance, room and board, and some tourist activities
Leaders for Youth – Leaders for Youth offers English Immersion programs for Spanish students. Counselors serve as camp counselors at a summer camp.
- Duration: 4-12 weeks
- Deposit: None
- Working with: Spanish students
- Requirements: Native or fluent English speaker
- Age: 18+
- Included: 600-3000€ flight allowance, transport in Spain, health insurance, and room and board
The Village Spain – The Village Spain is a traditional summer camp for Spanish Students. They hire English speaking counselors for a variety of roles.
- Duration: 4 weeks
- Deposit: None
- Working with: Spanish students aged 8-17
- Requirements: Native English speaker
- Age: 18+
- Included: room and board, undisclosed monetary allowance
YMCA Spain – YMCA Spain offers summer camp roles for native English speakers.
- Duration: 4 weeks
- Deposit: None
- Working with: Spanish students
- Requirements: Native English speaker, with university experience and experience with children
- Age: 18+
- Included: room and board, undisclosed monetary allowance
Programs in Germany
Kids Camp America– Kids Camp America runs summer camps throughout Germany. They recruit English speaking camp counselors.
- Duration: 4-5 weeks
- Deposit: None
- Working with: German Students
- Requirements: Native English speaker, with experience working with children
- Age: 18+
- Included: a competitive salary! (paid position), visa support to work legally short term in Germany, accomodation and meals, training, pre-made lessons and activities
LEO Lingo – Leo Lingo offers summer camps for German children in the South of Germany. They hire English speakers to work as counselors at their camp. Each camp is one week long, and staff get breaks between camps.
- Duration: End of July-first week of September
- Deposit: None
- Working with: German students aged 7-15
- Requirements: Native or fluent English speaker, with experience working with children
- Age: 18+
- Included: training week, a weekly stipend(paid position), free accomodation and meals throughout the duration of the program
Fokus Camps – Fokus camps offers summer camps throughout Germany. They hire native English speakers to help run the camps.
- Duration: 2-6 weeks
- Deposit: None
- Working with: German students
- Requirements: Native-level English speaker, with experience working with children
- Age: 18+
- Included: training week, a weekly stipend(paid position), free accomodation and meals throughout the duration of the program, travel costs getting to and from the camp
Pueblos Ingles Germany– Pueblos Ingles runs summer English immersion camps in Germany for teenagers to adults. Volunteers simply participate in conversation and activities in English.
- Duration: 6 Days
- Deposit: None
- Working with: People of the same age
- Requirements: Native or fluent English speaker
- Age: 13-80+ (age groups are separated into different teen, 20+, and adult camps)
- Included: transport in Germany, insurance, and room and board.
Programs in Croatia
Camp California – Camp California is an American-style summer camp in beautiful Croatia. They hire English speakers to serve as camp counselors in the camp. They even offer sailing programs!
- Duration: Around 2 months
- Deposit: None
- Working with: Age 7-17
- Requirements: Native-level English speaker
- Age: 18+
- Included: transport in Croatia, activities around the country and sea, (possible) stipend, accommodation and meals
Programs in Poland
Angloville Poland – Angloville offers summer camps throughout Poland for both adults and children. Participants serve as camp counselors for children aged 12-18. This program is great because it also includes tourist visits for their English-speaking volunteers.
- Duration: One week (can sign up for multiple weeks)
- Deposit: 100€ refundable deposit after program completion
- Working with: Students aged 12-18 (youth program) or Adults (Adult program)
- Requirements: Native or fluent English Speaker
- Age: Age 18-35 or 25+ for adult program
- Included: transport in country, room and board, activities around the country, and optional TEFL certification program (with minimum 3 week commitment)
Programs in the UK
Angloville UK – Angloville offers summer camps in England for children. Participants serve as camp counselors for children aged 12-18. This program is great because it also includes tourist visits for their English-speaking volunteers.
- Duration: 9 days
- Deposit: 100€ refundable deposit after program completion
- Working with: Students aged 12-18 (Youth Program)
- Requirements: Native or fluent English Speaker
- Age: Age 18-35, with background check
- Included: transport in country, room and board, activities around the country, and optional TEFL certification program
Programs in Malta
Angloville Malta – Angloville offers summer camps in Malta for children. Participants serve as camp counselors for children aged 12-18. This program is great because it also includes tourist visits for their English-speaking volunteers.
- Duration: One week
- Deposit: 100€ refundable deposit after program completion
- Working with: Students aged 12-18
- Requirements: Native or fluent English Speaker
- Age: Age 18-35, with background check
- Included: transport in country, room and board, activities around the country, and optional TEFL certification program
Programs in Austria
The English Camp Company – The English Camp Company offers summer English camps for Italian and Austrian Students students.
- Duration: 5 weeks
- Deposit: none
- Working with: Austrian students
- Requirements: Native English speaker from UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, or South Africa with clean background check
- Age: Aged 18+
- Included: transport in country, accomodation, meals, orientation training
Programs in Italy
ACLE– ACLE offers English summer camps throughout Italy and they hire and train English speakers to teach English at the camps. The great thing about this program is that it comes with TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language certification) and it includes a paid stipend!
- Duration: distance learning course + minimum 4 week orientation and camp
- Deposit: 200€ orientation fee (includes 6 nights in hotels,meals, and training)
- Working with:
- Requirements: Native-level English speaker
- Age: 19+
- Included: A TEFL certification, 520€ stipend for the first 3 weeks, with 220-270€ per week stipend afterwards (paid position!), accomodation with host families or in apartments, meals, travel between camps, insurance while at camp
Angloville Italy – Angloville offers summer camps in Italy for children. Participants serve as camp counselors for children aged 12-18. This program is great because it also includes tourist visits for their English-speaking volunteers.
- Duration: One week
- Deposit: 100€ refundable deposit after program completion
- Working with: Students aged 12-18
- Requirements: Native or fluent English Speaker
- Age: Age 18-35, with background check
- Included: transport in country, room and board, activities around the country, and optional TEFL certification program
International Experiences – International Experiences offers English sumemr camps for kids in Italy. Unlike other programs, you won’t have to live at camp. Instead, you’ll be put in an apartment with 20 hour work weeks teaching English.
- Duration: 4 weeks
- Deposit: none
- Working with: Italian students
- Requirements: Native English speaker with college degree or currently in college
- Age: Aged 20-35
- Included: transport in country, accomodation, lunch during working days
The English Camp Company – The English Camp Company offers summer English camps for Italian students.
- Duration: 5 weeks
- Deposit: none
- Working with: Italian students
- Requirements: Native English speaker from UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, or South Africa with clean background check
- Age: Aged 18+
- Included: transport in country, accomodation, meals, orientation training
Programs in Romania
English Cool Camp – English cool camp is a non-profit Romanian organization that offers English summer camp programs to Romanian students. They recruit native English speakers to serve as counselors in their camps.
- Duration: 8 days to one month
- Deposit: none
- Working with: Romanian Students
- Requirements: Native English speaker
- Age: Age 18-30
- Included: room and board, free trips all around Romania
Camp Happy Faces – Camp Happy Faces is an English summer camp in Romania. They hire English speaking staff to serve as counselors in a variety of roles, including traditional summer camp activities.
- Duration: 4 weeks-3 months
- Deposit: none
- Working with: Romanian students
- Requirements: Native or fluent English Speaker
- Age: Age 18-40
- Included: transport in country, room and board
Programs in France
American Village – American village offers English summer camp programs for students in the French countryside. They used to accept all English speakers, but due to visa restrictions, they’ve had to change their policy to only allow EU citizens and those with the right to work in France to apply.
- Duration: 4 -8 weeks for summer camps
- Deposit: none
- Working with: French students
- Requirements: Native or fluent English Speaker WITH EU citizenship or the right to work in France
- Age: Age 18+
- Included: transport in country, room and board, weekly stipend (paid position!)
Programs in Russia
Camp Iskra – is a summer camp in the Russian countryside. It is a great opportunity to experience a traditional outdoor summer camp while also experiencing life in Russia.
- Duration: 20-43 days
- Deposit: none
- Working with: Russian children
- Requirements: Native or fluent English, German, Spanish, French or Chinese speaker
- Age: Age 18+
- Included: transport in country, room and board
Programs in North America
Programs in the United States
There are multiple programs that allow you to work at a summer camp in Canada. All nationalities can apply for a US J1 (cultural exchange visa). Here is an overview of some of the best programs to apply with:
USA Summer Camp– USA Summer camp offers placements at American Camps around the United States
- Duration: 9 weeks
- Deposit: 449£ without flights, 699£ with flights; you are guaranteed to be placed at a summer camp and make at least $2000
- Requirements: 18+, fluent English speaker, clean criminal record
- Included: Guaranteed placement at an American summer camp with wages of at least $2000, accomodation and food, J1 Visa, and insurance , 30 days visa for personal travel (if desired) after or before camp
Camp Leaders – Camp Leaders offers placements at American Camps around the United States
- Duration: 9 weeks
- Deposit: 399£ without flights
- Requirements: 18+, fluent English speaker, clean criminal record
- Included: Guaranteed placement at an American summer camp with wages of at least $2000, accomodation and food, J1 Visa, and insurance , 30 days visa for personal travel (if desired) after or before camp
Programs in Canada
Camp Canada – Camp Canada offers placements at Canadian camps across Canada
- Duration: 8-10 weeks
- Deposit: none
- Requirements: 18+, fluent English speaker, clean criminal record
- Included: Guaranteed placement at a Canadian summer camp with wages of at least $1000 CAD, accomodation and food, visa, insurance, 6 month visa for personal travel (if desired) after camp
Programs in Asia
Programs in China
Adventure China – Adventure China offers summer camps for Chinese kids. They bring English speaking staff from around the world to serve in a variety of roles, including traditional camp counselor roles such as arts and crafts and sports.
- Duration: 8-12 weeks
- Deposit: 299£ + visa fees (However, the program comes with a 60£ a week stipend, meaning that you will also make 480£ if you do the 8 week program )
- Working with: Chinese children of various ages
- Requirements: Fluent English speaker
- Age: Age 18-35, with clean background check
- Included: transport in country, room and board, support for Chinese cultural exchange visa (visa fees not covered)
GoToCo China– GotoGo is a British organization that offers placements and TESOL/TEFL training for British citizens and residents. They have a short term China programs over the summer that allow you to work in summer camps.
- Duration: 2-3 months
- Deposit: Refundable £200 deposit after completion of the program
- Requirements: Fluent English speaker with the right to work and live in the UK (UK citizen, asylum seeker, student visa) with clean criminal background
- Included: Funding to cover your TEFL, meals and accommodation, TEFL training and certification, Chinese Language and Culture Lessons, teaching placement in a supportive school or summer camp in China, 5-day tour of our base in the beautiful mountains of Yangshuo. Note: There may be additional/prefered funding for those from minority or underprivileged backgrounds to cover flight and visa costs.
Programs in Japan
English Adventure – English adventure offers summer camps for Japanese kids. They bring English speaking staff from around the world to serve in a variety of roles, including traditional camp counselor roles such as arts and crafts and sports.
- Duration: 39 days
- Deposit: None
- Working with: Japanese children of various ages
- Requirements: Fluent English speaker
- Age: Age 18+ , with clean background check
- Included: transport in Japan, room and board
Sports Camp of America – Sports Camps of America is a sports-camp for Japanese students. They recruit US-based college athletes to lead their programs.
- Duration: 5 weeks
- Deposit: None
- Working with: Japanese children of various ages
- Requirements: Must be a college athlete or recent college athlete at a US-based university with native-level English skills
- Included: airfare, food & lodging covered along with lodging while sightseeing in Tokyo
Programs in South Korea
Seoul ESL– Seoul ESL runs summer camps throughout Korea. They hire native English speakers to teach at their camps.
- Duration: 5 weeks
- Deposit: None
- Working with: South Korean Children of various ages
- Requirements: Native English Speaker and a citizen of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, UK and USA, must have a bachelors degree or higher
- Included: housing, short term Korean visa, training, $725 a month (paid position)
Programs in Taiwan
Camp Taiwan – Camp Taiwan is an outdoor summer camp for children. They hire non-Taiwanese native English speakers to work as camp counselors.
- Duration:8 weeks
- Deposit: None
- Working with: Children aged 15-16
- Requirements: Must be in university or have graduated with a bachelor’s degree, have experience working with children, have experience at a summer camp as a counselor or camper, be CPR and first aid certified, be a native or fluent English speaker
- Included: accomodation and meals, undisclosed stipend
Programs in Hong Kong
SPICE Program– The Summer Program for Immersive Communication in English is a NGO-run English program for students in Hong Kong. It is completely free of charge for local students, and they recruit English speaking volunteers to teach and lead the program.
- Duration: 6-7 weeks
- Deposit: None
- Working with: Children aged 10-12
- Requirements: Fluent English speaker who is in university or has recently completed university
- Included: accomodation, transportation and meal stipend, lunches during program
Programs in India
GotToCo India– GotoGo is a British organization that offers placements and TESOL/TEFL training for British citizens and residents. They have a short term India program over the summer
- Duration: 2-3 months
- Deposit: Refundable £200 deposit after completion of the program
- Requirements: Fluent English speaker with the right to work in the UK (UK citizen, asylum seeker, student visa) with clean criminal background
- Included: funding to cover TEFL, meals and accommodation, flights, visas, and insurance, TEFL training and certification, teaching placement in a supportive school with accommodation and meals covered, and some cultural and adventure activities, some tourism activities and local language classes. Note: There may be additional/prefered funding for those from minority or underprivileged backgrounds.
Programs in Thailand
GotToCo Thailand– GotoGo is a British organization that offers placements and TESOL/TEFL training for British citizens and residents. They have a short term Thailand program over the summer
- Duration: 6-8 weeks
- Deposit: Refundable £200 deposit after completion of the program
- Requirements: Fluent English speaker with the right to work in the UK (UK citizen, asylum seeker, student visa) with clean criminal background
- Included: Full funding to cover your flights, meals and accommodation during your initial training and orientation tourism, TESOL/TEFL training and certification, including Thai lessons, Placement in a supportive school in rural Thailand with accommodation and meals covered, and extensive cultural activities. Note: There may be additional/prefered funding for those from minority or underprivileged backgrounds.
Programs in Vietnam
GotToCo Vietnam – GotoGo is a British organization that offers placements and TESOL/TEFL training for British citizens and residents. They have a short term Vietnam program over the summer
- Duration: 6-8 weeks
- Deposit: Refundable £200 deposit after completion of the program
- Requirements: Fluent English speaker with the right to work in the UK (UK citizen, asylum seeker, student visa) with clean criminal background
- Included: Funding to cover your flights, meals, accommodation, teaching placement and training, TESOL/TEFL training and certification, Placement in a supportive school in rural, suburban or small town Vietnam for 6-8 weeks, Vietnamese language and culture lessons and activities
- Note: There may be additional/prefered funding for those from minority or underprivileged backgrounds.
Programs in Indonesia
GotToCo Bali– GotoGo is a British organization that offers placements and TESOL/TEFL training for British citizens and residents. They have a short term Bali program over the summer
- Duration: 6-8 weeks
- Deposit: Refundable £200 deposit after completion of the program
- Requirements: Fluent English speaker with the right to work in the UK (UK citizen, asylum seeker, student visa) with clean criminal background
- Included: Funding to cover your flights, meals and accommodation, TESOL training and certification, Indonesian Language and Culture Lessons, Teaching placement in a supportive school in Bali or Lombok, , with accommodation and meals covered, and some cultural and adventure activities.
- Note: There may be additional/prefered funding for those from minority or underprivileged backgrounds.
Pin It! – Working at Summer Camps Abroad
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