If you’ve ever dreamed of spending a summer in New York, Los Angeles, Vancouver or Toronto and gaining real teaching experience, a TEFL summer camp program in the USA and Canada might be your sweet spot.
Through TravelBud’s partnership with Tamwood Summer Camps, you can teach English, live on a university campus, get paid, and still have time to travel around North America afterwards.
Let’s break down the top 5 reasons teaching English at a summer camp in the USA & Canada is such a game-changing experience.
1. You Get Paid to Live in Iconic Cities
Imagine finishing class and hopping on the subway to Times Square, or catching a sunset over the Pacific after a day on campus in Los Angeles. These camps are based in some of the most exciting cities in North America:
- USA: New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orlando
- Canada: Vancouver, Toronto
You’re not stuck in the middle of nowhere – you’re in vibrant, well-connected urban hubs where weekend adventures are almost guaranteed.
On top of that, it’s a paid summer camp job. You’ll earn around $2250 USD for your 6-week camp placement, which makes it far more accessible than a typical “pay to volunteer” type of experience.
For many people, this is the first time they can afford to combine international travel and work in one summer.
2. Food, Accommodation & Insurance Are All Included
One of the biggest stressors with going abroad is budgeting for all the basics. With this summer camp program, a lot of that is taken care of for you:
- Accommodation included – You’ll stay in university campus housing, so you’re on-site with other counselors and students.
- Food included during camp – Camp meals are covered for the duration of the program.
- Medical insurance included during camp – You don’t have to figure that out on your own.
This means your stipend can go towards:
- Extra travel before or after camp
- Coffee runs, souvenirs and city exploring
- Putting something aside for your next adventure
Plus, the program lays out clear expected extra costs (like visa fees, flights, and police clearance) upfront – so you can plan realistically before you commit.
3. It’s a Perfect First Step into TEFL & Teaching Abroad
If you’re curious about teaching English abroad but not ready to commit to a full year in one country, a 6-week summer camp is the perfect “test drive”.
You’ll:
- Teach or assist with English language classes and activities for kids and teens from around the world.
- Build confidence in classroom and group management (with lots of support from camp staff).
- Learn how to adapt your lessons to different cultures and English levels.
- See if teaching is something you want to pursue more seriously afterwards.
TravelBud’s partner camps specifically look for people who:
- Have experience working with children,
- Show strong group management skills, and
- Can think on their feet in a dynamic, camp-style environment.
If you already tick a couple of those boxes from tutoring, coaching, babysitting or youth work, this is a natural next step.
Bonus: Optional TEFL Certification
You can also choose to add an online, internationally accredited TEFL/TESOL course through TravelBud for an additional fee (currently around $499 USD for camp participants).
That way you don’t just walk away with a cool story – you walk away with:
- Hands-on teaching experience, and
- A recognized TEFL qualification you can use later to teach in places like Thailand, South Korea, Spain, Costa Rica and beyond.
4. Built-In Travel Time After Camp
This isn’t just about the 6 weeks you spend at camp.
The program is designed so you can work first, then travel:
- Camps run for 6 weeks from 1 June 2026.
- After camp, you get up to 30 extra days on your J1 visa in the USA to explore the country.
That means you could:
- Road trip the West Coast
- Take a train up the East Coast
- Visit national parks
- Catch a couple more cities you’ve always wanted to see
In Canada, you’ll be working on a work permit, which also gives you the flexibility to explore Vancouver, Toronto and beyond around your placement dates.
Instead of flying in, working, and flying home immediately, you get a built-in “victory lap” to actually enjoy the destination you’ve been living in.
5. You Don’t Have to Figure Everything Out Alone
Trying to arrange camp work in another country on your own can be stressful:
- What visa do you need?
- Is the camp reputable?
- Will you actually get paid?
- Who helps if something goes wrong?
TravelBud has helped over 2,400 teachers and travelers get placed abroad, and these summer camps come with the same level of award-winning 24/7 support and guidance that their longer teach abroad programs are known for.
With this summer camp program, you get:
- Pre-departure support – Help with documents, timelines, and what to pack.
- Visa guidance – J1 visa support for the USA and work permit guidance for Canada.
- On-the-ground support – If you run into issues at camp or while traveling afterwards, you’re not on your own.
And because this experience is structured and time-bound (6 weeks of camp, clear job role, clear stipend), it’s a safe, supported way to take a big leap – especially if it’s your first time living abroad.
Who Is This Summer Camp Program Perfect For?
This kind of TEFL summer camp experience in the USA and Canada is ideal if you:
- Are 18–26 years old and hungry for an adventure.
- Love working with kids or teens and want to make a real impact on their English and confidence.
- Want international experience that looks great on your CV/resume.
- Are curious about teaching English abroad but not ready to sign a full-year contract yet.
- Want a program where a lot of the logistics (job, housing, food, insurance) are already sorted.
Key Takeaways
- You’ll teach English at a summer camp in world-class cities like New York, LA, Vancouver and Toronto.
- You’ll earn around $2250 USD, with food, accommodation and medical insurance included during camp.
- You can add an online TEFL course to boost your future teaching prospects.
- You get up to 30 extra days to travel in the USA after camp.
- You’re backed by TravelBud’s experienced, award-winning support team every step of the way.
Ready to make your summer count?
If you’ve been searching for a summer camp teaching abroad opportunity that actually ticks all the boxes – solid support, fair pay, and real professional development – this is your moment. You’ll spend your summer in incredible cities, be part of a fun, international community, and walk away with experience that opens doors, whether you keep traveling, move into teaching, or take your new soft skills into a completely different field.
Spots are limited (and there is a deadline), so your best next step is:
👉 Find out more at travelbud.com/summer-camps
Bring your energy, your curiosity, and your love for working with kids – we’ll take care of the rest.
