What is an exciting addition to your camp? Is it your returning alumni, an amazing week of planning, or volunteers coming back? One of my favorite additions to my camp is international staff, but I am biased, being originally an international staff member myself. 

How it all started

A little back story about me… I am originally from Northern Ireland. Back in 2009 a friend suggested going to an American summer camp since I needed experience with kids for my college program. At first I thought I could never do that, as I had never been away from home for more than a week (let alone 10 weeks)! But I jumped on the opportunity and signed up. I got placed at Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center in Rhode Island in December 2009. I did my pre-camp training, started talking to other staff members, and was really excited about going to camp in the United States. 

When my extremely long day of traveling started, I said "bye" to my parents at the airport, boarded a plane, and went to London where I got on another plane to go to Boston, MA. When I got off in Boston, I had to get to South Station (keep in mind, I had never been to America before). Wandering around with a map, trying to work this all out (not my strong suit), eventually I got on two trains and then boarded a bus to head to Providence. When I got off the bus it was around 10 pm. I was exhausted after traveling over 18 hours. I was greeted by a person (not in a staff shirt) who said, “You Megan?” I said “Yes?” to which they said “Great, let’s go to camp.” Did I know this person? NOPE! Did I go anyways? YUP! Stupid, I know. We got to chatting in the car and we went to Dunkin. I remember they asked, “You want anything?” I was so overwhelmed that I said, “Mmmm okay, I will have a hot chocolate.” I didn’t have a clue what to order.

We drove for what felt like forever! We got to camp around 11:30 pm and I arrived at a cabin. I was introduced to everyone in the cabin and shown my bed. Then they turned the lights off. I hadn’t opened my suitcase or been shown where the bathroom was. I laid down in the clothes I had traveled in because I didn’t have a flashlight in my backpack. It was in my suitcase. 

It was 4 am when I finally texted another UK staff member and asked if they were awake, which thankfully they were. They were able to show me around the camp… at 4 am. What an awful start, right? BUT I had the best experience that summer. The staff were great, the campers were great, and I was so excited to come back the next year; which I did for many summers.

Why do I start with that? This is some of what NOT to do! The international staff go through a lot to get to camp, between so many interviews with their agencies, visa interviews, your interviews. In addition, they have to think of what they are going to do if they don’t like it, what they should bring, etc. 

I am getting ahead of myself.

Why should camps consider hiring international staff members?

There are a million great reasons, but here are a few from my perspective: They bring different cultures to your camp, they bring different skills, and give our campers different insights. Not all our campers are originally from the States, so you might have a staff member who can connect with a camper where otherwise that might not have happened. 

Where do we find international staff?

Aldersgate uses Camp America, IENA, Wildpacks, Camp Leaders/Smaller Earth, and CCUSA. They are great to work with. During the hiring process, be honest with your international staff. They typically get paid less, as camps do have to pay a fee to the agencies. I didn’t know this until my third summer. We include this on their contract so we establish honesty right from the start. 

How to do better

Pick-up can be a scary experience. Thinking back on my first pick-up, it could have been a really unsafe situation. Now at Aldersgate, I make sure our staff knows who is getting them. How? Easy! I send the staff member a picture of who is picking them up. The pick-up person will have a sign with the staff member’s name on it and I even send what kind of car they should be getting into. In 2020, I sent a staff member my pictures and said I will be in either the camp car or my personal one, depending on if it is hot or not (as the camp car does not have a/c). It sounds silly, but it can calm some nervousness they may have. Back in 2009 I would have loved to know who was picking me up. If you’re not sure which of two people will be picking them up, send them both! Please ask your staff that you are picking up if they want food. Give examples of the food that is around, as they might not have eaten in a very long time and probably aren't familiar with your local food options. 

Our staff in 2018 created a video tour which has been an amazing addition to our pre-staff arrival. It doesn’t just help our international staff, but all new staff to have some idea of where things are when they arrive and what to expect. 

Your sponsoring agency will have resource people at every stage of the process who are there to support you and the international staff member pre-summer, during, and after the summer. You just need to ask.

If your camp is new to hosting international staff, Megan is more than willing to provide advice and support to fellow UMCRM leaders. This is a special area of expertise for her and she is happy to help others to do it well. Thanks, Megan! You can reach her at megan@campaldersgate.com.