What are we looking for during an application review? We'll tell you!
Preferable Skills & Interests :
- Summer camp, child care, event planning , or entertainment experience
- Leadership Skills
- Acting, sports, and music skills, as well as other interesting hobbies or talents !
- The ability (and desire!) to create new activities, create and lead small games, and improvise are essential.
- TESL / TEFOL experience
- Experience abroad
- Minimum age for foreign counselors: 20
Language Requirements
American Village and Commonwealth Camp
You must be either :
(1) a native speaker of English (Language Counselor) or
(2) completely bilingual English and French (Language or Daily Life Counselor) or
(3) a native speaker of French who communicates well in English (Daily Life only)
Pueblo Español
You must be either :
(1) a native speaker of Spanish (Language Counselor) or
(2) completely bilingual Spanish and French (Language or Daily Life Counselor) or
(3) a native speaker of French who communicates well in Spanish (Daily Life only)
Paperwork Requirements :
- A high school diploma and in most cases, further studies.
- Able to prove absence of criminal history (criminal background check). - Able to enter France legally as a tourist.
- Able to prove their nationality (passport & birth certificate, OR French National ID Card).
Applicants must have availabilities that correspond with our camp schedule.
In an effort to balance our teams, male applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.
Read more on our Being A Counselor page by clicking here
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When to apply
We do not have applications deadlines. We review applications regularly as postitions remain, and generally start reviewing the next year's spring applications at the end of November.
Applying for Spring ? We suggest sending in your application between November and early February.
Applying for Summer ? We suggest sending in your application between December and March.
Applying for Autumn ? We suggest sending in your application between July and September.
* We keep applications on file for 1 year in the case a position becomes available during the season.
* Feel free to apply while we are in season. Although we recruit the majority of our counselors during the off-season (December-March), we sometimes need last-minute replacements or extra counselors.
Application Process: Foreign Counselor (All nationalities except French)
We encourage applicants to submit applications as early as they can establish firm dates of availability. Our postal address can be found at the bottom of page three of the application itself.
Step 1: Mail in your Nacel Language Camps Application.
The application is comprised of two parts :
* Note: If an offer of employment is made, you will be required to submit certain documents for employment in France. We advise applicants to begin locating these documents (listed in Step 5) early on. *
Step 2: The Confirmation Email
When an application is received, an email confirming its receipt is sent generally within 1 week.
Keep in mind that it often takes 2 weeks for mail to reach France from the US. The recruitment office is closed annually during the December holidays until just after the New Year.
Step 3: Application Reviews, Potential Telephone Interview Request
We review applications in the order of upcoming camps, and then, in the order that they are received. We do our best to conduct reviews in a timely manner.
- Telephone interview requests are sent to qualified candidates by email after the application has been reviewed.
- All applications received after positions are filled are kept on file for one year. If positions become available, we prefer to use the applications on file to fill positions.
During the season (March - August), recruitment takes a back-seat to more pressing camp needs
Step 4: The Phone Interview
The phone interview is roughly 15 minutes and is largely based on your application. We do not conduct interviews via Skype, so be sure to indicate a telephone number at which you can be reached on your application!
At the end of the phone interview, the interviewee will be able to ask questions about employment at American Village. The interviewer will give a time frame regarding a response to the application.
Step 5: Offer of Employment / Employment Paperwork
If an applicant is offered a position at camp, we send the Employment Confirmation Packet via post. Counselors are to complete and return all the necessary documents within two weeks to ensure their employment.
The following documents are required at this point in time:
1. photocopy birth certificate
2. photocopy passport
3. photocopy high school diploma, college diploma or other diplomas (TEFL / TESOL)
4. recent criminal background check (up to one year before desired period of employment)
5. return of signed contract and completed administrative sheets.
Step 6: Confirmation of Employment
Once the Employment Confirmation Packet is received back in our offices, the employment is confirmed! The counselor is to read his/her staff handbook, await site assignments (given out approximately 3 weeks before employment), and start preparing his/her travel plans!
If the required documents are not received back in our offices by the appropriate date, employment is not confirmed and therefore the position becomes available to other applicants.
Application Process: French Counselor
The application process is a bit different for French counselors seeing as they already have the right to work in France. However, it can be just as competative for certain sessions, so we encourage you to apply as soon as you have definite dates of availability.
The application process for a French Counselor can be found here.
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2012 Application : Counselors
Professional Reference Form : One complete professional reference form is required of all first-time, non-French applicants for all camps. It must be sent in a sealed envelope, accompanying your application.
- The reference cannot be completed by family members, members/officers of your religious institution (church, temple, mosque), or friends / classmates.
- It may be completed by current or former employers, heads of organisations with whom you volunteer, or university professors / project supervisors.
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2012 Application : Village Director / "Responsable du Centre"
We request that all applicants seeking the position of village director include their professional CV with their application.
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