Ashburton teen Dallas Watson has landed a job as a US Summer Camp counsellor.Ashburton teen Dallas Watson has landed a job as a US summer camp counsellor, following a nationwide job fair in Auckland.

In June, he will join 300 people aged between 18 and 30 years, from all over New Zealand, as they make their way to the American summer to work in children’s campsThe 18-year-old will be teaching boys to water-ski at Camp Owego, located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.

The camp is one of the oldest overnight summer camps for boys in the United States.

Dallas found out about the Camp Counsellor USA programme through the careers department at Ashburton College in Year 13 and decided the adventure would be a perfect gap year experience.

As part of the application process, participants are invited to attend a job fair in Auckland, which is held annually in January.

Dallas flew to Auckland last week where he had the opportunity to learn about the 15 camps represented.

“In preparation for the job fair, I researched the camps that were coming and had my list of ones I wanted to interview with,” he said.

“Camp Owego really appealed to me because of the water sports they offer to the campers and I was pretty stoked to be hired straight away as a water-ski instructor.”

CCUSA NZ director Alan Perry said Kiwis from around New Zealand walked away with a job on the day, but Dallas was the first to be hired by the US camp directors.

“We were so excited for Dallas to be the first placed – but I want New Zealanders to know that this wasn’t their only chance to work at a US Summer camp in 2017,” he said.

“CCUSA works with around 1000 camps all over the USA and those camps that couldn’t make it to New Zealand are excited to get their chance to interview and hire Kiwis for the 2017 summer.

“So, if you are interested and will be 18 by June 1, then apply today to head off to summer camp like Dallas.”

The CCUSA cultural work exchange programme places people over 18 years of age in a nine to 11-week job at a summer camp and includes up to $1845 US pocket money, a J1 Work Visa (which CCUSA is an approved US Department of State J1 visa sponsor), up to four months’ international travel insurance and help with discounted airfares.

Applications stay open until March 2017 each year.

CCUSA will be holding a free information event and meeting on Wednesday, February 15 from 5.30pm to 7pm at the Upper Riccarton Community and School Library Community meeting room.

Dallas is now working on saving for his flights and is looking forward to the experience of teaching children a sport he loves.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 7 February 2017