COVID-19 Vaccination

Do Camp Leaders require vaccination?

As cultural exchange facilitators, we do not set any health or medical requirements for our programs. However, in order to facilitate travel abroad, our participants must follow the requirements set out by the government of their destination country.

We strongly encourage our participants to follow their official local country guidelines when it comes to health and medical decisions. 

Will vaccination be required to travel to the U.S.?

Yes, all international travellers must be fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO). In general, people are considered fully vaccinated:

• 2 weeks (14 days) after an accepted single-dose COVID-19 vaccine
• 2 weeks (14 days) after the second dose of an accepted 2-dose series
• 2 weeks (14 days) after the full series of an active (not placebo) COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. based AstraZeneca or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine trials
• 2 weeks (14 days) after 2 doses of any “mix-and-match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines administered at least 17 days apart

For more information please see:

• WHO-approved vaccines: https://covid19.trackvaccines.org/agency/who/
• CDC vaccine information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines.html
• More detailed information: CDC / Air Travel to the United States

Can I apply to the Camp Leaders program if I am vaccinated with a vaccine not currently approved by the WHO?

Yes, you can apply to the program. However, before you apply we encourage you to research the current or upcoming availability of WHO-approved vaccines/boosters in your home country. It may be advisable to speak to your doctor or a medical professional. 

We believe more vaccines will be approved by the WHO in the upcoming months however for certain steps of your application process (visa, flight booking, etc) we will need to wait until your vaccine type is accepted to travel to the U.S. In case your vaccine type won't be accepted by 1st April you can defer your application or speak to us about your refund options. 

Can I apply to the program if I am not fully vaccinated?

Yes, you may apply to the program, however, you will need to be fully vaccinated with WHO-approved vaccines by 1st April. If you are unsuccessful in obtaining your vaccines you may defer your application or speak to us about your refund options. 

Can I apply to the program if I do not plan to be vaccinated?

Yes, you may apply to the program, however, we will not be able to progress your application for 2022 unless the U.S. Government updates the entry requirements for international travellers. At this stage, we believe this is unlikely. 

I have already been accepted on to the program but I have not yet received a vaccine. Can I stay on the program or do I need to withdraw?

You may remain on the program but if you do not already have a placement at camp we will be unable to provide you with a placement until either you can confirm you have been fully vaccinated or that you plan to become fully vaccinated prior to processing your visa paperwork. If you already have a placement, you will need to adhere to the requirements set out by the U.S. if you want to travel to camp. If you are unwilling or unable to get vaccinated, you may lose your placement and be unable to travel.

If you are unsuccessful in obtaining your vaccines by 1st April you may defer your application or speak to us about your refund options. 

I have already been accepted on to the program but the vaccination I have received is not approved by WHO. Can I stay on the program?

We are hopeful that some additional vaccines will be approved by WHO soon. Please ensure you have fully completed the medical history section of your online profile then we will be in touch with you.  

If I already have a place at camp but I am not currently vaccinated will I lose my placement?

We can only facilitate travel based on the entry requirements set out by the United States government. If vaccination remains a requirement and you are not vaccinated you will not be able to travel to camp. In addition, many United States employers, including summer camps, will require all employees to be vaccinated. 

Do I need to prove my vaccination status to apply to the program, to get accepted or just before my travel?

We will not ask for a copy of your vaccination card, but we will collect information about your vaccination status. If you have questions about how we handle your medical data please see our privacy policy for more details. Your airline will likely check your vaccination card and your negative test result.