Camp Adventure is gearing up for another year with an information session at 7 p.m. on Thursday in Todd 120. Camp Adventure is a summer program allowing students to work on American military bases overseas as a camp counselor, said Lauren Smith, the WSU training coordinator for Camp Adventure. Smith said the program works with 11 universities from across the country to send students abroad every year.

Last year, about 900 students went abroad, and 25 of them were WSU students, Smith said. This year, Camp Adventure would like to send 50 WSU students.

Students are able to work in a variety of European countries, some Asian countries and a few places in the United States, Smith said. Programs vary in length – anywhere from two to 11 weeks, she said.

On a typical day, students work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. as a camp counselor, a lifeguard, a teen mentor or an infant intern, Smith said. During the day, students lead various activities with the children like field trips to theme parks or aquariums as well as songs and games, she said. At night, students have free time to hang out and go to surrounding cities to experience the various cultures and nightlife, Smith said. On the weekends, students are able to travel to neighboring countries or regions to really maximize their time abroad.

Camp days are hard work, and working with military kids is challenging, but there are a lot of benefits like travel, said Rita Bennett, a returning Camp Adventure counselor and senior education major. “I got the chance to stay in a hostel in the Swiss Alps,” Bennett said. “I had to take a gondola just to get there. I went hiking around the mountain side for a while and then went back and took a nap. The best part, the window seen from my bunk opened up to the mountains. It was breathtaking.” A big benefit for students who choose to do Camp Adventure is the 12 upper-division university credits that one may earn, Smith said. All of the credits are transferable to WSU, she said. There are a few papers to write, but most of the credits are earned working as a counselor through the summer, Smith said.

Networking and meeting new people is another benefit of Camp Adventure, said Lauren Beebe, a sophomore international business major who traveled to Spain last summer with the program. “I gained some great networking contacts,” she said. “There are at least three to four people who would be more than willing to give me an excellent recommendation for future jobs, especially if I wanted to do something involving kids or government.” The average cost upfront for students is $900, Smith said. Student airfare and room and board are paid for by Camp Adventure, she said. Students are also given $22 a day living stipend while working, she added. An additional information session will be held at 6 p.m. on Nov. 4 in Todd 120. Interviews will start at 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 7 in Butch’s Den and will continue at 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 5 in the CUB Junior Ballroom.