Seattle's Child

Your guide to a kid-friendly city

Summer Jobs and Training That Also Help Your Teen Give Back

Seattle Parks and Rec offers a number of opportunities for teens to get involved in their communities, while earning money or receiving valuable training.

 

Seattle Parks and Recreation offers community oriented summer employment and training programs for Seattle teens. We've put together the information you'll need to get started with the Student Teen Employment Preparation, Youth Engaged in Service, and Lifeguard Training Team programs are below.

 

Student Teen Employment Preparation (STEP)

Seattle Parks and Recreation's Student Teen Employment Preparation (STEP) Program is a job readiness program designed to provide youth with education, job skills, and career development training. The work focuses on addressing community needs; team projects may include forest enhancement, trail construction, habitat restoration, organizing community building events, and mixed-media projects. The program combines on-the-job work experience, environmental education, safety education and career development training. Participants will develop good work habits and strong team building and communication skills, and learn a sound cultural awareness of the environment and their communities.

When: The program runs from mid July to mid August

Location: Work locations are in various parks and facilities throughout Seattle.

Compensation: Participants who complete the program receive a stipend of $599.

Ages: STEP is open to ages 14 to 19.

Applications are available online, or applicants can call 206-684-4575 or email teen.programs@seattle.gov

 

Youth Engages in Service (YES!)

This program helps youth develop leadership skills and job readiness. Students will work to address community needs through a broad range of service and training opportunities. Up to 60 hours of the work can even be counted toward the Seattle public high school service learning graduation requirement.

When: The program runs from mid July to mid August

Location: Work locations are in various parks and facilities throughout Seattle.

Compensation: Participants who complete 120 hours of work in the program receive a stipend of $150.

Ages: YES! is open to ages 13 to 18.

To apply, call 206-684-4575, or email teenprograms@seattle.gov

 

Lifeguard Training Team

The Lifeguard Training Team is a free program designed to train and certify Seattle's youth in lifesaving skills. Seattle Parks and Recreation provides training, books, uniforms and basic materials at no charge. Participants get the opportunity to test for certification at the end of the program. The Lifeguard Training Team is an opportunity for youth to learn and grow, to build lasting friendships, to acquire skills they will use for the rest of their lives, and possibly to launch a career in aquatics.

When: The program is 8 weeks long, and runs throughout the summer.

Cost: Free!

Ages: Lifeguard training is available to youth ages 15 to 17.

To apply, please got to the online application, call 206-684-4079, or email parksaquatics@seattle.gov

 

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