Gen-Y is BUSY! To make the most of every minute of summer vacation, teens aren’t just looking for summer jobs. We are looking for meaningful summer work. Whether to gain life experience, make a difference in the world, earn money or add to our college resumes, teens across the US are finding great opportunities. This summer, I will be attending the NYLC on International Diplomacy. I’ll let you know how it turns out, but the 11 day program promises to immerse teens in international diplomacy and world affairs.  The program lets students step into the shoes of a delegate on the United Nations Security Council. The teen will advocate for their country’s interests and negotiate resolutions to some of today’s most pressing global problems, including nuclear proliferation, conflict in the Middle East and children in armed conflict. Teens will then create their own international system, developing a country from the ground up, and building the economic and social institutions that will give the country power in the international arena. But if that’s not your cup of tea, here are some ideas  and programs that teens are joining across the United States;

• The Student Conservation Association (SCA) “hires” students for 4-6 weeks and gives them meaningful work in the national parks on small, hard–working crews.  Ana Engellan says, “My kids have done it and it was one of the best, least expensive and most rewarding summer experiences.”

• The Eleanor Roosevelt Girls Leadership program has a summer program.  Jane Tabachnick stated, “My daughter Mel [just finishing her freshman year in high school] applied to and was accepted to the Eleanor Roosevelt Girls Leadership program last summer. It was a phenomenal experience for her. She already had a passion for volunteerism, but this provided more exposure, a more global perspective and the sense that one person can really make a difference. She also got to meet a number of industry professionals and visit some successful socially responsible businesses.”

• Xanterra is a fun summer work option at Yellow Stone National Park.  Darlene Fiske stated, “One of the BEST things I’ve ever done in my life was work in Yellowstone National Park during the summer between my junior and senior year in high school.  One of my teachers had done this with her husband and recommended it to her students.  My dad drove me and my friend up to Wyoming, dropped us off and I got a ride home with friends at summer’s end.  I worked for Xanterra and I served people food in the cafeteria line, doling out meatloaf, mashed potatoes and rolls.  But after work and on my “weekends” we would explore the park, go backcountry camping and made road trips to Bozeman (for the Sweet Pea Festival) and to Jackson Hole for white water rafting, Grand Teton gazing and bike riding through the town and on the outlying roads.  It was the most amazing opportunity.  I went back a total of 3 years and I oftentimes think that when I retire, I’d like to go and work in the ice cream shop somewhere in Yellowstone National Park.”

• Think Intern is a college internship recruitment and marketing website. Jeffrey Adler says, “I am a founder of Think Intern. Recently, we have seen a lot of interest from high school students looking to secure an internship for this summer. The combination of less paid summer jobs (retail, community pools, etc) has created an increased demand for internships, despite the majority being unpaid. More high school students today feel the pressure to have an internship while in high school to be competitive among their peers and for their college admissions resume. Lastly, internships are an excellent way for students to test their career interests and to shadow professionals (architects, doctors, business leaders) to test drive careers before studying it full-time in college.”

• Child Activity Brief (CAB) Kris Manley, author of Resumes for Children - 17 Years Old and Under stated, “Teens should capture their activities, accomplishments, and awards that were done and given at an early age so they will not forget their early years experiences and acquired skills. Yes, I am talking about developing a resume over the Summer, if they do not already have one. It would be a good idea for teens to take up FREE online courses, choosing the “right” activities that provide them with life skills. Here’s what a resume will do for teens. A resume encourages the celebration of children’s activities and accomplishments through what I call ‘Child Power on Paper’.”
  • Child Activity Brief (CAB)
  • Boosts self-esteem
  • Provides a “backpack” of skills that he or she can carry through life
  • Shows that a child is more than his or her report card says he or she is
  • Presents a child in such a way that others will want to invest in him or her
  • Shows a balance outside of the academic arena

• Express Your Opinion About Issues:  Maggie Jessup says, “Dallas Jessup (17) has the ultimate suggestion for teens this summer: Change the World. Her new book Young Revolutionaries Who Rock (Sutton Hart Press March, 2009www.suttonhart.com) is a Groundbreaking Call to Youth Activism. Dallas knows teens can make a difference from her own community service project which she started when she was just 14. It’s now the non profit Just Yell Fire which is a Million Girl Revolution against sexual assault of girls 11 to 19 and operating in 43 countries. The book profiles Dallas’ journey and also profiles 10 other very high impact teens who have changed the world. A 13 year old cancer survivor started a project to increase bone marrow registrations for transplants; he has had a nationwide impact. Another teen took on Big Tobacco and won, while yet another started an organization to promote tolerance in the schools so that no teen would have to suffer through the bullying he endured from other kids And also teachers. If you’re looking for something to start this summer Dallas recommends you first find out what makes you angry. Are you angry that so many kids in the United States go to bed hungry? Does global warming make you mad? Are you troubled by the lack of a cure for major diseases? She says if you start with something you’re passionate about, rather than your mom’s charity, there is almost nothing you can’t accomplish. Young Revolutionaries Who Rock is a how-to guide from kids who have done it.”   Dallas‘ non-profit: www.justyellfire.com and her book: www.youngrevolutionarieswhorock.com

• Children International is currently helping  350,000 poor children and teens around the world. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says unemployment among U.S. teens is the highest since 1993.  Poor teens in Latin America are experiencing the same job conditions with the worst year since 1992. But Children International’s graduates say they are better prepared to find jobs and break the cycle of poverty. Third annual survey shows teens graduate better educated and with more confidence! Visit http://www.children.org/YouthReportCard.asp for more information or visit http://www.children.org to sponsor a child. Thanks to Dolores Quinn Kitchin for this information

• Cherry Creek Dance in Colorado hires a lot of our regular teens to assist with summer camps for the younger kids.  Turns out to be a win-win-win for CCD, the teens, and the parents. The studio likes it because they have lots of helpers.  The teens love it because they get to hang out at the studio all day.  And parents love it because it gets the teens out of the house in the morning.
  • “I love all of the little kids!  I want to dance professionally and hope to someday be a part of the staff at Cherry Creek Dance.  So this is great training at a fun place to hang out all day long.”  Lauren McDonald, age 13.  Lauren rode her bike to the studio every morning last summer to assist with our summer camp program for ages 3-16.  She would help the main instructors by demonstrating dances for the younger kids, assisting with craft time, and even helping run little ones to the restroom.  Lauren was in each day at 8:30am and stayed with campers until about 3:30.  Then three days per week, Lauren would stick around and take her regular dance classes from 4:00pm-8:00 plus full Performing Company rehearsals on Saturdays.  That’s dedication!
  • Stephanie Prosenjak, Artistic Director of Cherry Creek Dance, said “It is so valuable to have some teens around all day.  They certainly help with our camps.  In addition to their assistance, the teens are developing some incredible leadership skills, teaching skills, and public speaking skills.  Most of the time, the teens don’t even notice that they have already put these into place naturally.  This can certainly help them in all aspects of life no matter what career path they choose.”

Thanks to Lee Prosenjak for the information.  Call 303-399-8087 for more information about the studio.

• Start Counter Culture Clubs are encouraging teens to start “Countercultural Clubs” to learn about money and finances this summer. The concept is based on Enjoy Your Money! How to Make It, Save It, Invest It and Give It, by J. Steve Miller. Enjoy Your Money! is a personal finance book with a twist. It is written as a novel to appeal to Generation Y readers, yet it has all of the financial tips young people need to succeed. The book follows the adventures of four diverse high school students who form “The Counterculture Club,” led by an eccentric, financially savvy teacher who agrees to mentor them on how to earn money, control their expenses, and find more happiness in the process by learning the meaning of giving.   For more information visit:  http://www.wisdomcreekpress.com./press_kits.html.  Thanks to Stephanie A. Richards for the information.

• Brooklyn to Alaska project is a private not-for-profit whose mission is to bring brave and adventurous urban youth to Alaska so that they may be inspired and challenged by the wilderness to overcome obstacles, develop self-confidence, and experience the power of open communication and teamwork, which will serve them for a lifetime.   Thanks to Holly Leitner for this information

• My First Paycheck is an educational employment site created by teens to help their peers find summer and after school jobs.   Thanks to Austin Lavin Co-Founder and CEO of myfirstpaycheck.com for the information.

Finding meaningful work to do over the summer is rewarding and gives teens life experiences that they can build on, giving them a good jump start on their lives, providing them with opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t have.

Danny Kofke gives advise to teens,

I would say work - even if it is not a full-time job.  I know that it might not be as easy for a teen to find work this summer as it has been in the past, but I feel that working gives one a good foundation to build on later in life.

When I was 15, I worked as an appliance delivery person.  While my friends were at the beach and having fun I was working in the hot Florida sun 9 hours each day.  My motivation was to save up money to buy a car.  My parents agreed to match the amount I earned and, after this summer of work, I was able to buy a truck.

Some of my friends had their cars bought for them and they did not treat them as well as I did my truck since I knew how much work and sweat went into earning it.  That was a very valuable summer for me.

The experiences you gain from what you do during your summers will follow you for the rest of your life.

Summer isn’t just about getting a job and getting paid to do something that you care nothing about. It’s about doing something meaningful that you’ll remember years later, something that you’ll be able to build upon for your future. Finding meaningful summer work is just another thing that Gen-Y is doing to keep busy and is changing the world doing it, even if it means not getting paid.