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Each
year the parents of seven million children offload their
offspring at American summer camps, earning themselves
a respite and you a few hundred dollars for looking after
them. The work, in beautiful countryside, usually beside
a lake, involves coaching the children in activities such
as archery, football, painting, scuba diving or pottery,
for nine weeks over the summer. A second option, if you
don't want to deal with the children first hand, open
to students only, is in background organisation of the
camp: cooking, cleaning, maintenance, security and clerical.
For more info contact Camp
Counselors USA, Camp
America or BUNAC
Full time students, over 18, are eligible for another
BUNAC scheme: BUNAC Work America (address as above). This
is more flexible, allowing you to take any job, anywhere
in America, that you can arrange. Arrange one yourself
in advance with your own contacts, make use of the BUNAC
job directory or wait until you arrive in the States.
A useful book is Summer Jobs USA by Vacation Work (9 Park
End Street, Oxford OX1 1HJ, Tel: 01865 241978).
The fun thing about meeting American children is that
you can supplement their already large vocabulary of swear
words with English ones that they would not have heard
before. DON'T DO THIS if you want Childcare
International Ltd (Trafalgar House, Grenville Place,
London NW7 3SA, Tel: 0181 959 3611) to organise an Au
Pair in America placement for you. You are, however, expected
to work for 12 months, earning $115 a week, in return
for 45 hours of childcare and light housekeeping duties.
Request more details from the above address if you are
an 18 to 26 year old, non-smoking driver with childcare
experience.
Worthy work can be had by joining Winant Clayton Volunteers
(Davenant Centre, 179 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1DU,
Tel: 0171 375 0457) in efforts with drug rehabilitation
projects, with the elderly, homeless, and HIV/AIDS sufferers.
The tasks last around three months. Volunteers pay their
own airfare and insurance. Food, accommodation and about
$600 pocket money is provided in return. Apply with a
stamped addressed envelope.
Lastly, a scheme that will cost you a bit - around £2000
to cover flights, insurance, living costs and accommodation
- but, in the long run, having this on you CV will probably
more than recoup the expense. The English
Speaking Union (Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street,
London W1X 8AB, Tel: 0171 493 3328) operate Capitol Hill
Scholarships. Applicants in their second or final year
at university may apply for an internship in the offices
of members of the US Congress. Past interns have worked
on the President's re-election campaign and for Edward
Kennedy.
More
Links
Directory
> Live, Work & Travel in America
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