Looking for a way to keep your teenager busy this summer? Are they ready to hold a job or just looking for some volunteer work? There are pros to jobs and some cons too.
The pros to teen jobs: great life experience, resume builder, try different jobs, meet new people. Having a job can look as impressive on a college application as a high school sport. Why? A similar amount of time and dedication is required for both.
The cons to teen jobs: Every 5 hours you work outside the home, can cause your GPA to drop .5. Consider your job during the school year wisely.
No car? How about public transportation or a bike. Teens can choose to apply for jobs that are in a walking or riding radius of their home. Public transportation is also a viable option. **I’d also like to recommend planning a Backyard Summer Camp for neighborhood children. Partner with some other friends and use this valuable resource.
35 + Teen Jobs, Volunteer Work, Summer Projects, and Learning Opportunities:
Summer Activities and Jobs for Teens
- Animal Shelter Volunteer
- Babysit
- Clean (homes, cars, decks)
- Dog Walker
- Food Bank Volunteer (collect, sort, distribute)
- Historical Landmark (tutor guide, gift shop)
- Hostess at a Restaurant
- House Sit
- Landscape
- Library (Reading Buddies, Summer Reading Programs, Shelve Books)
- Mail Pick-up
- Mission Work (short term or long term trips, local or abroad)
- Mother’s Helper
- Nature Center (Welcome desk, exhibits, demonstrations)
- Painting
- Party Helper (neighborhood, rec centers, local establishments)
- Pet Sit
- Plant Care (house plants, lawn watering)
- Preschool Camp Helper
- Social Media Assistant (assist a local business)
- Scouts (work ahead on Merit Badges)
- Sports Mentor (running, swimming)
- Swim Team Coach
- Therapeutic Horseback Riding Centers
- Tutor
- Vacation Bible School Helper
- Virtual Assistant (for a company, blogger)
- Yard Work (mow, weed, aerate lawn, mulch)
Educate with a Summer Course
- Baby Sitting Course
- Community College
- Life Guard
- Photography
- Scouts
- Self Defense
- Typing
- Water Safety Instructor (swim instructor)
Summer Projects