The global Camp America community wishes you a super season and thanks all who have chosen our applicants to be a part of your summer. We enjoyed a wonderful recruitment season, and this year our participants are especially highly skilled and experienced. We are confident that they will be a major reason for your program’s success this year!

As we enter the height of the season, here are a few reminders:

• We’re Open Weekends -- Our offices are staffed from 10am to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays during June to help you with everything from staff placement to confirmations, logistics, and general support. Call us at (800) 727-8233.
   
• Resources & Information -- All of our key program information is available with a click of the mouse from your Camp America Online account. Just go to “Manage Staff” and choose “Resources & info” for details on items such as insurance and medical claims, fees and pocket money, and frequently asked questions. The directors’ and participants’ handbooks answer questions on social security, Form DS2019, visa regulations, and program policies.
   
• Last-Minute Staff -- If you experience any staffing needs as a result of no-shows, terminations, or late enrollment, please call us first! We will be able to help with counselors or support staff during June, and with bona-fide rematches over the course of the summer.
   
• Validation - Please Confirm Staff Arrivals -- U.S. J-1 government regulations obligate us to confirm staff arrivals at their site of activity. Just visit Camp America Online and click on “Who Has Arrived?” Simply check the box next to the name of the person you wish to validate and then save the record. If you prefer, call our office and we will do it for you.
   
• Program Support -- We routinely consult with participants who may have difficulty adjusting or who need to talk through issues or concerns, and we work with both administration and staff toward successful resolutions.
   
• After Hours Support -- Experienced staff is available 24/7 to help with situations of a serious nature involving our participants. These typically include emergencies at home, injury or illness, or any issue that involves leaving employment. Just call our main number; you will reach our answering service, and a duty officer will promptly return your call.
   
• Crisis Management -- We know that this will be a smooth summer for you, but it’s good to know that our duty officers have access to AIFS crisis management personnel to assist with serious matters involving the health, safety, or welfare of our participants. Crisis managers work with you to help monitor serious health or legal issues, deal with parents and family abroad, attend to visiting family members, and leverage additional resources to successfully resolve problems.
   
• Applicant Return Flight Information -- Everything our participants need to know about return flights, including details, changes, and ticketing, are accessible through their Camp America Direct online account.
   
• Camp Visits -- We’ll be making the rounds and checking in at hundreds of camps this summer. We hope to see you in the coming weeks!

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•  Monitor the degree of positive interaction between your international and American staff and do everything you can to nurture healthy working relationships and friendships. Train your American staff, especially the ones who have been around for years, to be proactive in socially assimilating your internationals.

• Make equitable provision for access to the internet for your international staff. Connections with home help them adjust better, and they will need access to program logistics and flight information.
   
• Provide reasonable access to off-site transportation for your internationals. It will go a long way in improving overall morale and productivity.
   
• Work intercultural activities into your program and allow your international staff to make meaningful contributions to your program.
   
• Make every effort to socially integrate your international support staff and allow them to participate in fun activities and group events.

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 Never be afraid of rematches! Cultural exchange is a human enterprise with lots of variables, and occassionally, things don't work out perfectly the first time around. Here are some counselors who are available immediately; they simply didn’t successfully complete lifeguard training. They are great young applicants eager for a second chance. Think about the second chances people have given you in the past! Thank you for considering them.

• Keelie from the UK
• Alyson from the UK
• Christopher from the UK

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