International staff at CIC

One of the highlights of the summer for many campers is getting to know the staff at camp. One of the things many parents comment on about our staff is how neat it is to have staff from all around the world. Typically we will have between 12 and 18 international staff from countries such as Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, Croatia, Sweden, Germany and South Africa.

These staff come for the summer, teach activities, live with campers and share their culture with us. When they return home hopefully they have a positive view about America they can share that with their friends at home.

We also host international staff on 18 month visa. These individuals are here on a training program to develop their skills working with children in the outdoors so when they return home they have new experiences to draw from. In December last year two staff completed their 18 month visas, Goran Vrus (Gogo) from Croatia and Courtney Howard from Tasmania, Australia.

Gogo's father operates a summer camp in Croatia, so working here will benefit him for many years. Gogo worked on the camp waterfront and in the camp office.

Courtney is also a familiar face to summer campers. He also spent several seasons leading students in the Catalina Environmental Leadership Program. Courtney hopes to return to Australia and continue teaching children about the environment. Courtney is currently on an extended backpacking trip through Central America.

Currently, Ken Meese is here on an 18 month visa. Ken was born in New Zealand and moved to Australia as a child. Ken also works in summer camp and CELP. Ken recently became a Red Cross Lifeguard Training Instructor and will help train and supervise our many lifeguards for the CELP and summer camp programs.

Finally, we welcome Belle Perrin to Catalina Island Camps. Belle was a counselor and challenge instructor at camp the past two summers. Belle arrived March 1 and will be in the camp office this spring and then on the island for the summer and fall before returning to the mainland. Belle is from England and is our first female 18 month visa holder.

This summer will bring new international staff to summer camp. It's always exciting to watch their eyes and expressions the first time they actually see camp.

We all know how much smaller the world has become with modern jet travel, the Internet, email, chat, skype and other new technologies I don't even know of yet. Our experiences with our international staff are fantastic. They bring so much energy and enthusiasm to us, the program and the campers. We hope that your campers also value meeting these people who travel half way around the world to be part of Catalina Island Camps.