If you haven’t yet completed your Camp Canada application and been accepted onto the NYQUEST Camp Canada Program, click here to read about Stage 1! If you have received your Program Acceptance email, then read on for more information on the next stage of your NYQUEST Camp Canada Journey – your placement at a summer camp job in Canada!
When you were filling out your Camp Canada application, you marked down your preferences for the type of summer camp you would like to work with and this was double-checked during your interview. We will do our best to accommodate your preferences for the type of camp or location but we cannot guarantee that we’ll be able to match each one.
Once you have been accepted into the program, your application goes live onto our Portal where camp directors can request to speak with you directly. As well, our Placement Team works to match you with suitable placements. You should make sure to pay your program fee within 5 business days after you have been accepted into the program. It’s also a great time to book an appointment to get your medical check completed. Remember – it needs to be signed by a doctor or registered nurse, so you don’t need to do a full physical! If you let them know that it’s a minimal health check, the costs might be less! Also, start working on applying for your criminal background check, as it might take a few weeks to process.
Once we find a potential placement, a member of the Placement Team will send you an email with information about the camp and the position. You should read the information and visit the camp’s website to help make an informed decision. If you have any questions, feel free to respond to the email and we will give you as much information as possible.
The more quickly you respond to this email, the more quickly we can get your application in front of the camp director. If you do not think that this placement is suitable for you, please let us know and explain why. That way, we can update your preferences and ensure that we are all on the same page.
If you are nervous about the skills required for the position, please discuss it with a member of our Placement Team. When we recommend a placement, we are doing so based on our extensive knowledge of the Canadian camping industry in combination with your application materials. If you think we are overestimating your skills, please let us know as soon as possible. We want to be sure you’ll be comfortable in your placement – however, know that we might push you a little bit out of your comfort zone! It’s a good way to grow.
Once your application has been sent to the camp director, it can take up to two weeks before you hear from them. Some camps may wish to interview you while others will just want to chat and get to know you! For some tips on how to approach this interview, check out our blog post here. If the interview goes well, then the director will let us know that you’ve been hired and we’ll move forward with your confirmed placement. If not, don’t worry! Sometimes, placements aren’t the right fit. In that case, we put you back onto the Portal and keep looking for another suitable placement!
Once your placement has been confirmed, you will receive an email with a lot of important information in it. The subject of the email will begin with “Confirmed Placement” and includes your placement start date, flight instructions, and many other relevant and useful points of information. It also includes instructions on which NYQUEST staff member you need to contact with regards to next steps.
Along with your Confirmed Placement email, you will also receive an email from Camilla with information regarding your work permit. Depending on your placement, the instructions for your work permit may differ, so please be sure to read this email carefully. You will not have to go to an embassy to receive your permit – we collect all of the information over email and you secure your work permit at the Canadian border. If you have any questions, Camilla will be happy to answer them.
You may also receive an email from Lauren regarding necessary certifications for your placement. These certifications can include Canadian First Aid, Lifeguarding qualifications, or other important certifications. Please be sure to respond to this email as soon as possible, as some courses may fill up quickly. Lauren will suggest course providers and dates to you but you are welcome to locate your own courses. Just be sure to check-in before registering to be sure that the course is correct!
Once you have finalized any potential certification dates, it is time to book your flights! Your Confirmed Placement email will contain details on which airport to fly into so be sure to double-check before booking! If you are flying from the UK, we’ve found that the cheapest flights tend to come from Dublin. It might save you some money if you take a RyanAir or EasyJet flight over to Dublin and fly out from there! Also, Icelandair offers a free stopover in Iceland, so that’s a fun way to see another country on your travels!
At a minimum, you will need to arrive two days before your placement start date – this is to allow for time to do your orientation, get your Social Insurance Number, and setup your Canadian bank account. If you want to fly into Canada earlier to do some traveling, you are welcome to do so – just be sure that you arrive in the correct city in time for your orientation!
Before you fly to Canada, be sure to double-check that your passport is valid for at least six months after the date you will be leaving Canada. You will also receive more details from Camilla with regards to your work permit. Be sure to follow all of the instructions in that email to ensure that the process goes smoothly. If you think you are missing anything, don’t worry! Simone will be sure to contact you for any missing pieces of information!
At this point, it’s just a matter of waiting! The summer will be here soon, so get excited! Be sure to check out our participant handbook for suggestions on what to pack – if you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to email us or use the website’s LiveChat feature. We’re here to help you be prepared and ready!
Once you’ve boarded your flight to Canada, it’s time for Stage 3 of your NYQUEST Journey: Camp!