“You love the outdoors. You love hiking and biking and sailing. And your friends say you’re great with kids.
“If you relate to any part of this, then there’s the perfect place waiting for you: summer camp.”
That’s the way the American Camp Association (ACA) answers the question why work at camp on their website.
And working at a camp is an idea to consider given the continuing challenge that the United States economy faces when it comes to employment. In the urban and African American communities the situation is even more difficult.
So, it just might be time to think outside the box, or outside the city, as the case may be.
According to the American Camp Association, camps within their membership (which is about 25 percent of the market) employ about 252,000 employees across the country to work jobs ranging from craft teachers to counselor. Some of the jobs are at day camps while others are jobs that require workers to live onsite.
While many of the jobs are filled by those 18 and older, about 11 percent of slots are held by students under 18. Salaries vary depending on the camp and the job, but the median pay for a counselor is $306 a week; counselors in training make a little less.
A good way to start your search process is to log on to the ACA website, www.acacamps.org and click on employment.
*If you like being out and about, there are a number of federal government agencies that will give you that opportunity and earn money as well.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Services employs high school through graduate-level students for the summer through five different programs.
The Youth Conservation Corps is for 15 to 18-year-olds who work on a local wildlife refuge. (The nearest one in Southern California is in Seal Beach). According to the USFWS website, typical jobs include trail work and facility maintenance. Students work 40 hours a week and earn minimum wage.
The Student Educational Employment program provides full- and part-time work and consists of two components. The Student Temporary Employment program (STEP) enables refuges to hire young people 16 and older to perform jobs and projects onsite. The Student Career Experience Program (SCEP), also for those 16 and older, targets those who plan to pursue a career in conservation and natural resources. These interns must complete work that is related to their field of study and must also log 640 hours of career-related work prior to earning a degree or certificate.
To apply, click on http://www.fws.gov/refuges/about/studentEmploymentOpp.html and read the section entitled instructions for applying.
*The Department of the Interior (DOI) also hires thousands of young people in the summer to work in various locations handling a variety of functions that are intended to teach about conservation and preservation of the nation’s natural resources. For more information, go to the website www.youthgo.gov. After reading about the program, click on jobs and in the search field put ‘summer youth employment’ and whatever state you want to work in.
*The National Park Services (NPS), which is part of DOI also offers summer employment opportunities to high school and college students through various programs.
The Student Conservation Association recruits and places young people in parks around the nation. Call (202) 513-7146.
The Public Land Corps is a summer program for those ages 16-26 that is funded by the NPS and works through local nonprofits like the scouts, high schools and youth job training organizations.
If these jobs don’t interest you, consider another thinking-outside-the-box idea–create your own job. There are a number of short-term training programs that will teach the basics of entrepreneurship as well as help young people develop a business plan.
The Los Angeles Urban League this year will offer a one-month entrepreneurship summer camp from June 25-July 20, and has only 22 slots available. The cost is $300, which includes books, materials, a briefcase and food each day. The deadline to apply is June 1. The program is currently seeking funding to provide scholarships. For additional information, call (323) 292-8111.
There are a number of other employment opportunities to consider as well. If you meet certain criteria, you may be eligible to apply for summer youth employment jobs offered through the county of Los Angeles and via the local city where you live.
Currently, the county is in the process of trying to identify funding for a summer job program. They should have the final word by the end of April or the beginning of May. If the funding is secured, the jobs will go to the offspring of CalWorks recipients.
The city of Los Angeles also expects to employ 14- 21-year-olds through its Hire L.A. Youth Summer Employment program. Interested young people should contact the nearest OneSource Youth Opportunity Center. They include the Archdiocesan Youth Employment (South), 3965 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 731-8596 or Youth Opportunity Movement, Watts (South), 1501 E. 103rd St., Los Angeles, (323) 971-7640.
Additionally, Holman United Methodist Community Development Corporation (CDC) each summer provides jobs to youth, ages 14 (and going into the 10th grade) to 18 through its Jobs for Kids program.
The program will operate from July 9 to Aug. 17, and youth can submit an application from April 2 to May 18.
An interview will then be conducted, and candidates will be selected to fill the expected 30 slots based on their interview and application.
What makes Holman’s program unique is that there are no income restrictions. Additionally, money to underwrite the jobs is raised by the CDC itself. Those interested in donating or any employers needing student workers can call (323) 731-0140.
