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Screening and Selecting Prospective Applicants
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Screening and Selecting Prospective Applicants

Screening and Selecting Prospective Applicants

Once potential applicants are identified, you should screen them by asking them a few questions before inviting them to complete the online application. Carefully selecting qualified and eligible applicants will save you time and money. As you screen potential applicants, they will also evaluate your agency’s professionalism and decide whether to trust your organization. You should explain the program’s goals and requirements to an interested candidate before sending them an application invitation. You should also explain to them that InterExchange is their J-1 Visa sponsor, and they will need to communicate with us frequently throughout the summer.

You are encouraged to develop your own screening processes, but the following criteria should be assessed for each candidate:

  • Program eligibility
  • Age
  • English level
  • Experience with children
  • Maturity and responsibility
  • Motivation for participating in the program and future career goals
  • Skill level
  • Dates of availability
  • Understanding of the program objective and mission
  • Previous J-1 Visa or other U.S. experience
  • Intent to return to the home country after program completion

You should be able to get general answers to the above questions and determine if the person is a suitable candidate for the program. It is also a good idea to find out whether or not the applicant has ever participated in a cultural exchange program or lived away from home before.

Listen carefully for sure warning signs. Ask questions such as: Is the applicant only looking for a cheap way to see America? Are they trying to get away from a particular situation at home? Has this applicant ever been rejected for a visa? Candidates who answer “yes” to these questions are often not a good fit for our program.

Consider adding a form to your website where participants can (briefly) respond to some prescreening questions you would ask during a phone conversation. Alternatively, you can simply ask for the applicant’s telephone number and contact them before sending them the application invitation.

To qualify for the J1 Camp Counselor program, applicants must meet the following criteria:
  1. Age: 18-28 (must be 18 by the March 1st application deadline)
  2. Status: Must be one of the following:
  • Full-time university student (most common category)
  • Teacher
  • Youth worker with significant experience
  • Possess specialized skills relevant to the program
  1. Availability: must be able to arrive no later than June 15th and stay until at least August 15th
  2. High English proficiency
  3. Minimum commitment: Highly dedicated individuals who are committed to participating in the program for at least 9 weeks
  4. Genuinely interested in working with children in an outdoor setting.
  5. Intention to leave the U.S. after program completion
During your initial conversation with a participant, confirm that they meet all the eligibility requirements. Required Documentation:
  • For Students: Proof of student status is mandatory. This can be provided in the form of a current student ID with valid dates, a signed/stamped Proof of Student Status form, or other official university documentation verifying enrollment.
  • For Teachers: Applicants must submit a teacher ID, teaching certification, or proof of employment (e.g., a letter from the school confirming position and employment dates).
  • For Youth Workers or Those With Specialized Skills: If an applicant is not a student or teacher, they must demonstrate extensive experience working with children (as a bona fide youth worker) or possess specialized skills. Verification should include professional references and/or proof of skill certifications, which must be submitted as supporting documents.
  • A childcare reference can be added in the Reference section, or a “Youth Worker Reference Letter” (on official business letterhead) can be uploaded to the documents section.
Important Note: Applicants who do not fit any of the above categories—specifically, those who are no longer students, are not teachers, lack substantial experience working with children, and cannot provide references or certifications for specialized skills—will not be eligible for the program. Required Documents for All Applicants:
  • Two professional references (references from friends, roommates, or family members will not be accepted). At least one reference must come from a former or current employer or teacher.
  • Completed background checks
  • A copy of a valid passport
Additional Documentation (if applicable):
  • Proof of student status
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Proof of employment
  • Certificates for specialized skills
  • Childcare Reference
  • Youth Worker Reference Letter

​​InterExchange Camp USA accepts applicants with a wide variety of skills, but the more specialized, experienced, or unique, the more their application will stand out and be desirable to hiring managers. Camps contact us looking for individuals who can lead or assist in specific skill areas at their camps, so the Skill Section of the application is crucial and used in searches by employers.

When completing the skills section of the application, applicants should consider the following questions and incorporate the answers in their application:

  • Explain how you became involved in the activity. Include at what age you began, your progression through the skill levels, and if you have competed. Are you still actively involved?
  • Applicants are encouraged to highlight any current certifications they hold in the activity. These could be personal accreditations or certifications to teach the activity. Safety certifications, such as CPR or First Aid, are particularly valuable and should be included in the application.
  • Do you have experience teaching this activity? Whom did you teach? How often? When was the last time you taught the activity?
  • It’s crucial to discuss the safety aspects of each activity, if applicable. As a camp counselor or activity leader, you play a vital role in ensuring the safety of all participants.

Remember, the more details they provide about their skills, the better! This is their opportunity to shine and show what they’re capable of. Applicants should be prepared to discuss these questions in an interview and incorporate their answers in their application.

The following are examples, but not an exhaustive list.

Arts and Crafts

What experience do you have in the following areas? (Including the type of projects they can complete and teaching experience) Please show examples of work.

  • Basketry
  • Batik
  • Candle Making
  • Ceramics
  • Drawing
  • Jewelry making
  • Leatherwork
  • Metal work
  • Painting
  • Paper mache
  • Photography
  • Pottery (wheel sculpture, kiln)
  • Puppetry
  • Silk Screen
  • Stain Glass
  • Tye dying

Woodworking

  • How would you inspire children to start and complete a project?

Jewelry Making

  • Can you solder?
  • What materials have you worked with, i.e., metal, beads, clay, Fimo, plastics, papier-mache, enamel, silver, and string?

Stained Glass

  • Have you ever cut glass?
  • Have you ever foiled or came?
  • Can you solder?

Photography

  • Do you know how to develop (black and white, color, shading, reducing/enlarging)?
  • Can you operate a 35-mm camera? Show use of Aperture, lens, and film speed, lighting focus?
  • Please name your dark room experience.

Pottery/Ceramics

  • Do you have experience in: kiln (wood, gas, or electric), wheel (electric or kick, including throwing a pot), Glazing (liquid or powder), and handwork (pinch pots, sculpture, and coiling)?

Painting

  • What types of paints can you use? Acrylics, oils, charcoals, pastels, and/or watercolors?
  • Can you paint large murals, sets for plays, portraits, still life, and nature scenes?

Wood/Metal Work

  • What type of tools are you familiar with (hand, power, machinery)?
  • Do you know the proper safety procedures?
  • What type of work do you do, i.e., cabinet making, construction, fine finishing, detail work?
  • What kind of project ideas do you have for a camp situation – with age groups ranging from 6-11, 11-14, and 15 and above?

Adventure

Abseiling/Rock-climbing/Ropes Course

  • Certifications are essential here!
  • Do you know how to use the appropriate knots and climbing equipment? (figure 8’s, carabiners, stick plates, harnesses, ropes)
  • Can you fit a harness? (basic harness, full adjustable, seat harness)
  • Describe a minimal anchor arrangement that you would feel comfortable climbing with?
  • Please explain the proper safety procedures?
  • Can you belay (top belay or bottom belay)?
  • Can you rock climb? What levels have you climbed?
  • Have you done any lead climbing? What levels?
  • Are you trained in rescue?
  • Have you used a climbing tower or an indoor climbing wall?
  • What are the differences you see between indoor (gym) climbing and actual rock climbing?
  • Do you have any experience with ropes courses (high or low)?
  • Do you know any icebreakers, trust games, or group activities?
  • What individual low ropes stations are you familiar with?
  • Have you facilitated a group for either high- or low-ropes courses?
  • Can you set up a low- or high-rope course?
  • Can you provide equipment explanations, checks, and usage instructions?

Camping

  • Can you pitch a tent, teach fire building, cook over an open fire for a group of people, read a compass and a map, build shelters, tie knots, maintain campsite hygiene, pack a backpack, teach outdoor survival skills, promote outdoor safety, and educate others on environmental awareness?
  • Have you ever led a trip for a group of people? How long and how far? For how many people?
  • What kind of campfire program have you done?

Hiking

  • Over what distance and terrain, i.e., flat, hilly, road, mountains, etc.?
  • Can you read a map and compass?
  • Have you done orienteering?
  • Have you led a group of people on a hike? Please give details.
  • Can you plan a route for a hike?

Mountain Biking

  • Is your experience on or off-road?
  • What type of bike?
  • Are you familiar with maintenance? (Flat tire, brake cable, derailer adjustment, etc.)
  • Can you strip and rebuild a bike?
  • Are you familiar with brake safety?
  • Have you ever scoped out a trial to be used by a group?
  • Have you ever taken a group out on a trip?

Land Sports

For all sports:

  • What is your view on competition?
  • How do you teach good sportsmanship?
  • How do you make drills fun? Give examples.

Archery

  • Do you have experience with a compound or recurve bow?
  • Please explain the appropriate range safety procedures?
  • Is your experience target shooting or hunting?
  • Can you restring a bow?
  • Can you set up an Archery Range or targets?
  • Can you refeather arrows?
  • Can you run a tournament?

Basketball

  • Have you competed?
  • Have you coached at what age, what level, and for how long?
  • Can you teach the following:
  • Ball control
  • Passing
  • Tactics
  • Rules and Regulations
  • Co-ordination
  • dribbling
  • Offense/Defense
  • Drills
  • Shooting
  • Refereeing

Golf

  • What is your handicap?
  • Can you teach the purpose of each club?
  • Can you teach the basics of grip and swing?
  • Have you played competitively? Do you have a coach?
  • Can you correct a hook or a slice?

Gymnastics

  • What level have you reached?
  • What coaching level have you reached?
  • Which apparatus do you have experience with? What can you do in each activity?
  • Do you feel confident teaching and choreographing routines for the following:
  • Vault
  • Floor
  • Mini tramp
  • Beam
  • Uneven bars
  • Rings
  • Parallel bars
  • Horse
  • Trampoline
  • Acro

Martial Arts

  • What type are you involved in: karate, judo, tae kwan do, tai chi?
  • What color belt have you earned?
  • Is your particular specialty more aggression- or fitness-based?
  • Can you adapt your art and teach a self-defense course

Riflery

  • What types of guns do you have experience with?
  • Are you familiar with the proper care and handling of firearms? (cleaning and safety)
  • Were you in the armed forces?
  • Do you own a gun?
  • Are you a member of a shooting club?
  • Do you have any experience at a rifle range?
  • Please explain appropriate range safety procedures.

Soccer

  • Can you teach beginners, intermediates, or advanced?
  • Can you teach the following skills:
  • Ball skills
  • Passing
  • Heading
  • Tactics
  • Co-ordination
  • Shooting
  • Positions
  • Techniques
  • Drills
  • Dribbling
  • Offense/defense
  • Rules and regulations
  • Refereeing

Street Hockey

  • Are you experienced on foot or skates?
  • Can you teach the following:
  • Offensive/Defense
  • Slap shot
  • Push shot
  • Goal
  • Rules and regulations
  • Refereeing

Tennis

  • Have you taken private lessons?
  • Have you coached beginners, intermediates, and advanced players?
  • Do you play regularly in a club or team competition?
  • Can you teach the following skills:
  • Grip
  • Drills
  • Stance
  • Smash
  • Singles and doubles rules & regulations
  • Umpiring
  • Racket control
  • Swing
  • Co-ordination
  • Top/back spin
  • Ball skills
  • Strokes
  • Foot work
  • Forehand/backhand

Nature

Outdoor Education/Nature

  • Can you set up a nature trail or study program?
  • Can you teach conservation, ecosystems, marine biology, animal study, plant study, environmental cycles, survival, habitat, camouflage, and geology?
  • Can you identify trees, flora, edible plants, and other natural features?

Farm Animals

  • What type of animals have you cared for? And what have you done (i.e., feed, groom, stable management)?

Astronomy

  • Are you knowledgeable about the US summer constellations?

Other Activities

Computers

  • What types of operating systems do you have experience with, Mac or PC?
  • Do you hold a degree in computer science?
  • Do you know how to write programs?
  • Can you perform computer maintenance?
  • Do you have experience with computer networks?
  • Have you used publishing programs, written newsletters, or web pages?

Fishing

  • Can you make your lores?
  • Can you repair broken reels?
  • Do you know the range of freshwater fish?
  • Do you have experience fly-fishing?

Go-Karts

  • Can you drive a go-kart?
  • Have you ever supervised a go-kart track?
  • Do you have any experience with go-karts or minor engine repair?
  • Are you aware of track safety?

Religious studies

  • Have you taught religious education? What denomination?
  • Can you organize, teach, lead, and run a religious discussion?
  • Have you put on skits depicting religious stories?
  • Can you discuss your faith without trying to convert people?
  • Are you comfortable working in a religious environment that is not your religion?

Performance Arts

Drama

  • Are you an amateur or a professional?
  • Have you performed live, in front of a camera or on stage?
  • What do you have experience in: drama, comedy, musicals, theatre sport, mime, improvisation?
  • Have you directed, written, cast, or produced? Details?
  • How would you cast and direct a 45-minute play for 15-20 campers, given that you have them for 1 hour a day for 1 week?
  • Do you have experience in the technical aspects of lighting, sound, props, makeup, or costuming?
  • Do you play piano? Have you ever choreographed?

Dance

  • What type of dance have you been involved in?
  • Have you taken lessons?
  • Do you have experience in choreographing?
  • Have you assisted or taught dance classes to children? What age, sex, and level?

Music – Instrument

  • What instruments can you play?
  • Can you read music, play by ear, and/or accompany a singer?
  • What songs/styles do you know? (musical shows, popular, classical, etc.)
  • Can you transpose music?
  • Have you ever taught others to play? Please explain.

Puppetry

  • Have you made puppets? What types?
  • Have you written scripts and performed?

Singing

  • Are you an amateur or a professional?
  • Do you sing alone, in a choir, or a group?
  • Are you confident to sing alone in front of a large group?
  • Are you confident in directing a group of individuals singing?
  • What style of music do you sing? (musical shows, popular, church, classical, etc.)
  • Can you write and/or arrange songs?
  • Can you sing and teach harmonies?
  • Do you play guitar – can you lead a large group singing (i.e., dining room)

Horses

  • What do you have experience in:
  • English
  • Vaulting
  • Games
  • Rodeo
  • Western
  • Dressage
  • Trail
  • Roping
  • Cross-country
  • Barreling
  • Jumping
  • Gym Kanna
  • Pleasure
  • Can you bridle and saddle a horse?
  • What is your experience with caring for horses, i.e., grooming and feeding?
  • Are you familiar with safety? What safety procedures would you require?
  • Would you muck out stalls?

Waterfront

  • Certifications are essential here!
  • Lifeguard/General Waterfront
  • What type of facility have you worked at before, e.g., a pool, ocean, river, water park, or lake?
  • Do you have experience as a lifeguard for specific waterfront activities? Which ones?
  • What are your certifications? Kayaking/Canoeing
  • Do you have experience in an open or closed canoe?
  • Do you have experience in white or calm water?
  • Can you teach Eskimo rolls, capsizing, and stork techniques?
  • Have you led canoe/camping trips?
  • What safety procedures would you follow when running an activity?

Sailing

  • What type (including size or class) of crafts have you sailed?
  • What bodies of water do you have experience sailing on?
  • Can you rig boats? If so, what kinds?
  • Can you teach wind direction, navigation, and capsizing?
  • Can you perform biadic maintenance and repairs?
  • What safety procedures would you follow when running an activity?

Scuba Diving

  • Can you do maintenance on dive equipment?
  • Do you have experience with night dives, open-water diving, cave diving, etc.?
  • What safety procedures would you follow when running an activity?

Swim Instructor

  • Please note you must be certified in your country as a swim instructor!
  • Are you also certified as a lifeguard?
  • Are you a strong swimmer yourself?
  • What strokes/skills do you have experience teaching:
  • Beginners
  • Intermediates
  • Advanced
  • Swim team
  • Free style (crawl)
  • Breast stroke
  • Back stroke
  • Side stroke
  • Butterfly
  • Diving
  • Floating
  • Kicking
  • Breathing/breath control
  • Turns

Waterskiing

  • Can you personally do or teach? Please explain.
  • Double ski
  • Single ski
  • Trick ski
  • Knee board
  • Wake Board
  • Barefoot
  • Jump
  • Tube
  • Beach Start
  • Deep Water Start
  • Get up on one
  • Drop a ski
  • Do you have a boat driver’s license? What class and for how long?
  • If you have experience driving a boat, have you ever pulled a skier, a tuber, a kneeboarder, a barefooter, or a wakeboarder?
  • What safety procedures would you follow when running an activity?

Jet Skiing

  • What brands/models have you used?
  • Detail any teaching experience.
  • What safety procedures would you follow when running an activity?

Windsurfing

  • What size board do you have experience with?
  • What bodies of water have you experienced windsurfing: lakes, rivers, or oceans?
  • Do you know how to rig a windsurfer?
  • Do you know basic maintenance?
  • Can you teach wind direction?
  • What advanced skills do you possess, i.e., jumping and wave riding?
  • Have you ever taught windsurfing? Explain
  • What safety procedures would you follow when running an activity?