Name:
Katherine Schofield
Company: CCUSA
Camp: Camp Wah-Nee
Job: Summer Camp Counselor
What
is the difference between David Beckham and Durham
University student Katherine Schofield? We are both
going over to America this summer to play a sport
that we both love - Beckham with LA Galaxy and I'm
heading to Camp Wah-Nee, but I bet I'll have more
fun!
That's
right, Beck's may earn slightly more money than I
will…..in fact £127, 999,000 more, but in my opinion,
I'm more of a celebrity than Becks in Camp Wah-nee.
This will be my second summer and I know compared
to 'Golden Balls' I'm the man at camp ….. does Beck's
get dressed up as Harry Potter (not if Posh has anything
to do with it) … no I don't think so!
Last
year I made the big step of deciding to experience
what a children's American Summer Camp has to offer.
Summer camp in America is a huge tradition, but it
is something that people in the UK rarely have opportunity
to experience - although, after watching films like
'American Pie', I hardly thought that I was missing
out on much - I mean 'Band Camp' is not my idea of
fun, but as I found out there are other types of camp's
which are definitely fun.
On
June 14th 2006, whilst I sat playing Super Mario on
a plane bound for New York, the waiting was almost
over. Only three months earlier I had expected that
my holidays would be spent working in the local supermarket,
watching the days drag by. I had applied with a company
called CCUSA to work at a summer camp, and with exams
and the usual end of year routine, the time flew and
I was suddenly on my way to Camp Wah-nee camp in Connecticut
to be a Sports counselor.
What
had I let myself in for? I was going to spend all
summer in a good job looking after bratty American
Kids. Surely I had gone insane. I was nervous at the
thought of having to play teacher and surrogate parent
to hundreds of children, and especially American ones.
In reality, unlike the notorious American stereotypes,
the children turned out to be well behaved and inquisitive
- obviously with the occasional mischievous little
kid.
For
three months, being an English person in camp full
of Americans, I became a celebrity, just because they
loved my accent! I remember one kid saying "You're
so cool", and I asked why and he replied "oh, just
coz your British and British people are always cool",
but that wasn't it, I thought I could expand on my
celebrity status when another kid asked me if I knew
David Beckham?
"Of
course I do!" ………. It went down a treat, although
that may come back to haunt me if they ask me if I
can get tickets to the first LA Galaxy game which
Beck's will play in….well they assume you know everyone
from the UK!
My
days comprised of teaching/assisting sports whilst
getting a tan, cookouts, campfires, playing all those
wacky American sports, doing overnight trips, and
I learned how to mountain board because it looked
like a laugh. I had never been in a place where you
could do everything -even stuff that you have never
done before, like water skiing, rock climbing, horse
riding, baseball….I found I had plenty of spare time
to do all these.
Then
there were the night activities where you needed a
spray-on layer of mosquito repellent to be able to
effectively play 'Capture the Flag' out in the wilderness!
I always looked forward to meals of corn dogs, tater
tots, PB & J sandwiches (that's peanut butter and
jelly, jelly really being jam) and of course, the
ultimate in camp treats, S'mores (a biscuit, marshmallow
and chocolate campfire creation). I had to be there
for triumphs, disappointments, laughter and tears.
If
someone had told me before I left just what I would
have to deal with, I would probably have cancelled
my ticket and stayed at home, but being there, and
learning new things, it became second nature. You're
the one that tucks the kids in at nights, wakes them
up in the mornings, and the ones they look up to and
idealize. Although camp life probably isn't for everyone
- I had to dress up for theme nights (I was Harry
Potter more than once) and be more patriotic than
ever with the Union Jack painted across my face in
international team games (the UK team always beat
the other international counselors heading up the
Australian and New Zealand teams!), there are different
camp types to choose from - private camps, special
needs camp, underprivileged camps, day camps, agency
camps, religious camps - so what ever your interest
there is a camp suit you.
But
the good thing with CCUSA is that you choose what
style of camp you go to, as well as the type of job
you do (General Counselor, Specialty Counselor or
Support staff). Camp was followed by one month, 6000
mile trip around the USA by train with my 8 new best
friends from camp - paid for by the wages I received
from working at the camp. I visited Portland, San
Francisco, Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago and New
York. I was knackered by the time I reached New York,
but I saw so much and met so many people that it was
definitely worth it.
Highlights
include lying on the beach in California, Quad Biking
in Utah, White Water Rafting in Denver, visiting the
Sears Tower and a Cubs baseball game in Chicago and
the silence of thousands standing at the World Trade
Centre site on September 11.
I left the USA with memories I won't ever forget and
friendships I couldn't have made back home. Working
with people 24/7 and not being able to leave when
the going gets tough, you get to know your co-workers
(your friends) better than anyone else. How else can
you get an experience, where you play sport all day,
whilst earning money and getting a tan? Certainly
not in Yorkshire anyway!
I
would recommend CCUSA as a way to get you there (www.ccusa.com)
or 0207 637 0779) - they are a great help getting
everything sorted and so cheap at only £249 - you
get your job, return international flights, insurance,
visa help, food and accommodation all for £249!
I know it sounds cheesy, and I would have never said
this before I experienced it, but it was definitely
the best summer of my life, and I would recommend
it to anyone - including you Mr Beckham!
