The American Institute for Foreign Study (Australia) Pty Ltd opened its Australian office in 1999 and began offering its Camp America and Au Pair in America programs to young Australians. In 2005, AIFS commenced offering inbound programs and currently facilitates cultural exchange programs for more than 2,000 young people.
Camp America is the original summer camp company.
We kicked off in 1969 with Australians being amongst the first participants. Since that time we've placed close to 300,000 people from around the world at summer camps.
As the oldest running summer camp provider, we’re not only experts in the field but highly trusted by the summer camp industry in the USA and Australia.
We have long running partnerships with the American Camp Association and in Australia we are active in inbound youth travel and cultural exchange.
Our online application site makes applying easy.
All Camp America staff have been to camp so we can talk from experience.
As a designated J1 visa sponsor, we pride ourselves on not using any third party agencies.
The American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) was founded in 1964 by Sir Cyril Taylor, GBE (1948-2018) who helped a French Language teacher organise an educational trip for her pupils to France. From that first group AIFS was born and has grown to become a leading provider of cultural exchange with more than 50,000 participants each year.
Senator William Fulbright of Arkansas created the J-1 visa and the camp counselor exchange visitor category which was passed in the Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961.
AIFS was in business just five years when they acquired a small program called “Rural Britannia” in 1969. Changing the name to Camp America, it is now the most widely recognised youth travel brand in the world.
We love connecting with you online, but Camp America is more than just a website. Feel free to drop by our office, located near Sydney’s Hyde Park, or meet one of our interviewers and brand ambassadors located across the country.
Since 1969 our team are proud to be sending 1,000s of young Australians to American summer camps - as the original summer camp provider.
