Camp America

Most of you know me as Chairman of the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS). However, in recent years I have concentrated on the group’s philanthropic activities through my work as a trustee and grants committee member of the Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation (CTCF) dedicated to our founder and my predecessor. AIFS is the sole funder of CTCF At the CTCF meeting in London yesterday we approved $2 million in grants for 2024 in the areas of scholarships for disadvantaged high school and college students, capacity building for community colleges, emergency international student funding, scholarships to students fleeing conflicts, boarding school places for vulnerable children, teacher training, cultural enrichment, study abroad programs in Rwanda and Zambia, support for refugees and many other projects. Our partners receiving grants include Institute of International Education, Fund for Education Abroad, AFS, American International Recruitment Council, Cultural Vistas, Fulbright Assocation, Buttle Trust, Open University, One to World, Lee Abbey Foundation, Associatoon of Community College Trustees, Green Kordofan and many other non profit organizations in the U.S. and UK. This $2 million reaches the widest variety of organizations helping students live their dreams. I simply love doing this work after 50 years in this field. My goal is to grow this fund and double the grants within a few years. As our late Chairman Sir Cyril Taylor would say, onward and upward! Watch for additional grants to be announced late this year. Please share with your networks. #intled #iie #afs #studyabroad #nafsa #forum #wystc #pie

🎉 Just wrapped up an incredible two-day event - YMS LDN24 by Pion 🎉 The event was packed with insightful talks and brilliant speakers, covering a range of engaging topics centered around Gen Z. Here are some of the talks I attended and my key takeaways: • Decoding youth culture in 2024: The importance of nostalgia in staying culturally relevant. Gen Z finds comfort in the past, so a brand's ability to tap into this can help them stay ahead. • The experiential boom: 63% of Gen Z agrees that being present in the moment is more valuable than the cost, highlighting the importance of experience to them. • Crafting authentic influencer campaigns: The importance of nurturing long-term influencer relationships built through trust. • The power of organic search strategies for Gen Z: For me, this was the most interesting topic of the two days! Google is not being replaced; the search journey is growing. • How to stay ahead of the TikTok game: Don't sell. Build a community. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment and walked away with a wealth of knowledge and new perspectives. Big thanks to Pion for organising such a fantastic event! 🌟 #YMSLDN24 #YouthMarketing #GenZ #MarketingTrends #DigitalMarketing #InfluencerMarketing #TikTok #OrganicSearch

I am delighted to announce that this Summer I will travelling to the USA to participate in Camp America 🇺🇸 Since graduating university I have had a desire to travel and gain work experience. I attended the online hiring fair for Camp America and was fortunate to get a placement working as a Camp Counsellor at 4H Camp Tanglewood, Maine, New England. Part of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. https://lnkd.in/e4wUfWrQ Tanglewood is located within the Camden Hill State Park land close to historic agricultural and coastal fishing villages. 🌲 ⛵ The Camp offers programs for children aged 5-17 with both day and over night camps. Throughout my summer working at Tanglewood I will be supervising groups of children campers doing their activities such as archery, hiking, arts and crafts and expeditionary camping trips. 🏕 🚣♂️ I aim to be an inspiring role model and supportive leader. Creating a nurturing environment for the campers, and for my own self growth. 'Can’t keep still all day, and, not being a pussy cat, I don’t like to doze by the fire. I like adventures, and I’m going to find some.’ - Jo March, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (Fictional story of the March sisters living in New England during the American Civil War Era).

🚀 Exciting News! 🎥 We are delighted to announce the launch of our documentary, "The Real Camp America: Phoebe's Story," now available on YouTube! This documentary captures the true essence of Camp America, showcasing the real highs and lows of camp life. Follow Phoebe's journey as she navigates challenges, builds lasting friendships, and experiences the personal growth that makes Camp America so special. Whether you're considering joining us next summer or simply curious about the camp experience, this is a must-watch. Get a genuine glimpse into what makes Camp America unforgettable. Watch the documentary here: https://lnkd.in/epH4Ydw3 Applications for Summer 2025 are now open! Start your own Camp America adventure and create memories that will last a lifetime. #CampAmerica #PhoebesStory #Documentary #SummerCamp #Adventure #Travel #CulturalExchange

🏕️🏈🇺🇸🌎🔥☀️ This time last year for the past 2 summers I was preparing to work and travel in the United States. I ventured to Camp Westmont for the first time in 2022, a reputable summer camp in Pennsylvania through a popular programme called Camp America and was lucky enough to travel to some of the most amazing States afterwards. I had never solo travelled before but having spent a couple of years in lockdown I was ready to dive head first into a new experience. Camp was utterly life changing. The experiences I had, life-long friends that I made and skills that I gained can’t be found anywhere else. Working and living with groups of kids between 6 and 16 years old every day teaches you lessons that you don’t learn at school or university. Hard work, patience, resilience, decision making, problem solving and communication are just a handful of skills that are tried and developed at summer camp. Having spent my second summer qualifying in the American Red Cross programme as a lifeguard, I developed a whole new range of skills and felt a huge responsibility of keeping hundreds of kids safe at the lake, this was a difficult yet rewarding experience. Putting your heart and soul into camp activities, embracing the traditions and cultures and giving your all for the kids makes it feel like your own home away from home. Camp truly shaped the person I am today and I will be forever grateful for the experience. I would encourage any student or young adult to spend a summer at camp as the benefits are endless. 🏕️🏈🇺🇸🌎🔥☀️

2 years ago today, I packed up my suitcase and joined the Summer Staff Team at Trout Lake Camps in Minnesota, USA through the Camp America programme 🎣🏕️🇺🇸 As a Cabin Leader, I was able to develop skills such as adaptability, resilience, creativity, and communication that have stayed with me to this day 🎨💬 Living and working in America, for almost 4 months, was a HUGE opportunity for me. It enabled me to step outside my comfort zone, meet new people from all over the world, and make lifelong friends. Even 2 summers later, I still find myself talking about my time at Trout in almost every conversation as I’m incredibly grateful for this experience 🙌

🎬 We are proud to present an exclusive sneak peek into our FIRST EVER Camp America original documentary! Join us as we follow Phoebe on her journey to camp last summer, providing you with an authentic glimpse into camp life. This teaser offers just a taste of the full documentary, which chronicles Phoebe's entire camp experience. From the Camp America Head Office in London to her summer home across the pond, our documentary unveils the the true Camp America like you’ve never seen it before! Are you excited to see more? We certainly are! Stay tuned for the full documentary release! #campamerica #workabroad #documentary #j1visa #summercamp See the trailer below: https://lnkd.in/dPZFy7Nm

Our final in person recruitment fair of the season will be taking place in London on Saturday 9th March! Come and meet camps, get placed and fast track your summer 2024. Why attend? 🤝 **Meet Camps in Person**: We’re bringing 50+ camps to the UK, so you can meet them in person. 🌟**Pick Your Favourites**: You know best where you’ll be happiest. This way you get to choose the camps that best suit you. ⏱️ **Fast-Track Your Hiring**: Why wait when you can get hired ON THE SPOT! 👫 **Get hired with others**: Want to go with a friend, or would feel better meeting people going to a camp before committing!?This is your best route! #workvisa #summercamp #culturalexchange #jobfair #workinusa

You do not want to miss this! Sign up now to attend our Glasgow Job Fair on February 1st, and meet with camps in person to fast track your way to the USA! Why attend? 🤝 **Meet Camps in Person**: We’re bringing 50+ camps to the UK, so you can meet them in person. 🌟**Pick Your Favourites**: You know best where you’ll be happiest. This way you get to choose the camps that best suit you. ⏱️ **Fast-Track Your Hiring**: Why wait when you can get hired ON THE SPOT! 👫 **Get hired with others**: Want to go with a friend, or would feel better meeting people going to a camp before committing!?This is your best route! #workvisa #summercamp #culturalexchange #jobfair #workinusa

You do not want to miss this! Sign up now to attend our Manchester Job Fair on February 1st, and meet with camps in person to fast track your way to the USA! Why attend? 🤝 **Meet Camps in Person**: We’re bringing 50+ camps to the UK, so you can meet them in person. 🌟**Pick Your Favourites**: You know best where you’ll be happiest. This way you get to choose the camps that best suit you. ⏱️ **Fast-Track Your Hiring**: Why wait when you can get hired ON THE SPOT! 👫 **Get hired with others**: Want to go with a friend, or would feel better meeting people going to a camp before committing!?This is your best route! #workvisa #summercamp #culturalexchange #jobfair #workinusa