10 Top Summer Camps In America

Thinking about working at a summer camp in the USA? Whether you’re a first-time traveller or a seasoned adventurer, heading to one of the best summer camps in America is an unforgettable way to spend your summer. There are so many reasons why you should work at a summer camp.

From lakeside adventures to high-energy performing arts programmes, the top summer camps in the US offer fun, growth, and the chance to be part of something truly special.

In this guide, we’ll explore the top-rated summer camps and the best summer camp coordination programmes to help you make the most of your American adventure.

Remember – before you hop on that plane, make sure you are fully prepared and protected with proper working holiday insurance.

Read More: Get insured for your Camp America summer adventure

USA Summer Camp Coordination Programmes

Before we jump into our list of the top 10 summer camps in the USA, it’s important to understand how most international staff get there. You can fumble your way through sorting out your own experience. You could also use one of the many US summer camp coordinators, like BUNAC.

These camp coordination programmes help with placement, paperwork, and travel logistics, making the process smooth and stress-free.

Here are four of the best organised programmes you can use to get yourself to an American summer camp.

BUNAC

BUNAC is ideal for students and first-timers. Their long-standing connections with popular summer camps across the country make it a reliable choice. Founded by two students who knew the challenges of crossing borders, BUNAC has operated since 1962.

The team at BUNAC still holds on to the original mission and value – that travel is one of the most impactful things you can do in your 20s. These guys have pushed for higher salaries for those on a working holiday, and they pioneered the first camp hiring pool to give our travellers more choice over their camp placement.

BUNAC is the real deal.

Do you need more information about it all? Check out:

• 5 Different Types of US Summer Camps
• The Ultimate Guide to Working at Summer Camps in America

Camp America

Camp America is one of the most popular options for UK travellers. They work with hundreds of top-rated sleep away camps and give applicants a solid support system from start to finish.

These guys have been sending Brits to work in US summer camps since 1969 and offer an experience that will match what you expect working at a US summer camp. They have a huge network of placements and do a great job of matching participants correctly.

Camp America is all about providing a hassle-free experience. They are an official J-1 visa sponsor and can even organise flights for you to help spread out the costs. You may even get lucky and meet a fellow camper on the journey!

Camp Leaders

Camp Leaders is known for placing applicants at some of the best summer camps in the US, especially if you have skills in sports, lifeguarding, or the arts. Their highly rated customer service makes them a stand-out camp coordinator.

You will get full support throughout the process from people who have all been to camp themselves. They genuinely believe that working at a US summer camp will change your life, so they will go above and beyond to make the process fun, easy, and smooth.

USA Summer Camp

Looking for the best summer camp in America that matches your personality and passions? USA Summer Camp offers tailored placements and flexible application options. This is another company that has fallen in love with the camp experience!

They’ve been in business for over 10 years now and there’s no slowing down.

USA Summer Camp has sent over 100,000 people to camp and estimates that over 350,000 s’mores have been eaten around campfires!

Top Summer Camps in the USA

Ready to discover the best summer camps in the USA?

Here’s a list of top-rated summer camps for kids and teens where you might end up working. These camps are among the top 10 summer camps in the US and offer amazing experiences for both campers and counsellors.

1. Camp Echo – Michigan

 

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Camp Echo is a classic YMCA camp offering a mix of outdoor activities, leadership development, and waterfront fun. A great choice if you want to experience a traditional American summer camp.

Set in 500 acres of scenic land with lodging for more than 250 campers, Camp Echo welcomes more than 1,500 campers of all ages and identities each summer.

Fun is at the heart of Camp Echo, along with inclusion, connection, and leaving behind the digital noise.

2. Camp Laurel – Maine

 

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Known for its outstanding facilities and strong community, Camp Laurel is a top summer camp in Maine that attracts experienced counsellors with coaching or performing arts backgrounds. It’s considered one of the best summer camps in the world.

Located on 160 acres in Maine’s Belgrade Lakes region, Camp Laurel sits on the shores of Echo Lake, near the village of Kents Hill and 20 minutes from Augusta. The area is known for its warm, sunny days and comfortable nights.

You can expect athletics, watersports, adventure, horseback riding, and so much more when spending a summer at Camp Laurel.

3. Camp Wicosuta – New Hampshire

 

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Camp Wicosuta, affectionately known as Wico, is an all-girls camp that promotes confidence, competence, and community. If you’re interested in youth work and mentorship, this could be the best kids camp for your placement.

Wico is a 3.5 week experience for the kids, which means you’ll get to know the campers well before the next group arrives. The activities are elective to encourage independence and decision making.

You could be leading horse treks through the New Hampshire landscape or helping girls find balance in yoga classes. Whatever your role, a summer at Wico is bound to be wholesome!

4. Camp Towanda – Pennsylvania

 

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Camp Towanda is a family-run favourite with a nostalgic feel and strong traditions. Think colour wars, campfires, and lifelong friendships. Sounds like a movie right?

Nestled in the Northeast Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, Camp Towanda is a co-ed sleep-away camp that has been running for over 100 years!

Being a counsellor is more than a job; it is a round-the-clock adventure demanding energy, flexibility, and leadership. Working at Camp Towanda requires positivity, responsibility and being prepared to inspire campers to flourish. In return, you’ll gain valuable career and life skills, countless memories, and an unparalleled summer experience.

5. Camp Twin Creeks – West Virginia

 

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Camp Twin Creeks is unique for its two-week model, making it ideal for anyone that wants to meet lots of campers throughout the summer. The setting is scenic, the atmosphere is energetic, and it’s one of the top rated summer camps on the East Coast.

Of course, there is a shared love of the outdoors. As a staff member, you’ll have the chance to lead, inspire and grow alongside campers in the beautiful Allegheny Mountains.

This sleep-away camp has four pillars of philosophy:

1. Exploration leads to growth
2. Community is the antidote to loneliness
3. ‘Soft’ skills are the most important skills
4. Our environment is our best educator

6. Camp Lee Mar – Pennsylvania

 

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Camp Lee Mar is a special needs camp that offers a rewarding experience for those with SEN, care or teaching backgrounds. It’s a standout among the top performance camps for personal growth.

The campers’ age ranges between 6 and 21, focusing on developing skills in independent living, social and communication skills, self-advocacy, and academics. This philosophy has remained consistent in the 70+ years of service.

7. Ramapo for Children – New York

 

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Camp Ramapo is a transformative camp serving children with emotional and learning needs. They serve over 500 youths each summer. Taking your working holiday experience here will be challenging but incredibly rewarding, perfect for those who want to make a real difference.

Something that sets this camp apart is the unique, week-long sessions in late August specifically designed for neurodiverse campers ages 16 to 29. This smaller, more unique session provides an ideal experience where older campers can enjoy a variety of activities within a highly structured and supportive environment.

8. French Woods Festival – New York

 

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French Woods is a performing arts camp with world-class facilities, attracting talented campers and counsellors in drama, music and dance. It ranks highly in the top 10 coed performance camps.

The key philosophy of this summer camp is to create a non-competitive performing arts space to develop real life skills that aren’t taught in schools.

If you are a drama kid at heart, then this is the US summer camp for you! Get creative and share your passion for the arts.

9. Camp Vega – Maine

 

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Camp Vega was founded in 1936. It’s an all-girls luxury camp combining performance, sports, and empowerment. If you’re looking for the best girls’ performance camp, this one’s a contender.

This camp hires experienced, loving and committed staff to help deliver the “Vega Values”:

• Build Unity – Inclusivity, Friendship, Cooperation, Teamwork, Sportsmanship
• Live with Integrity – Respect, Honesty, Accountability, Responsibility, Growth Mindset
• Believe in Yourself – Resilience, Grit, Perseverance, Independence, Confidence
• Choose Gratitude – Appreciation, Mindfulness
• Have Empathy – Kindness, Perspective, Validation, Understanding, Compassion

Sound like a match for you?

10. Camp Timber Lake – New York

 

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Camp Timber Lake is a traditional sleepaway camp offering the full American camp experience. Beautiful setting, great sports and arts programmes, and one of the most popular summer camps for kids.

Just a 2.5 hour drive from NYC, this summer camp sits on a mountaintop surrounded by 500 acres in New York’s Catskill Mountains. It features two private, spring-fed lakes and outstanding facilities on magnificently manicured grounds.

This is what camp was always meant to be.

Which is the Best Summer Camp for You?

With so many incredible options, it’s hard to choose just one best summer camp in the USA. Whether you’re applying through a trusted organisation like Camp America, or heading directly to one of the top summer camps in the United States, you’re guaranteed a life-changing experience.

Not only will you gain new skills and friendships, but you’ll also grow in confidence—and maybe even find yourself returning year after year.

Just don’t forget one key step: Get insured for your Camp America summer adventure.