Make Your Own Summer Job - Kirsten | Learn English at EnglishCafe

I got my first summer job was when I was 11 years old.  I swept away the clippings at a hair salon that specialized in trimming and dying elderly women's hair a fresh shade of gray.  I was able to work at that age because my grandfather knew the proprietor and the gentleman could pay me under the table.  I was so proud to have a job.  I counted and recounted every dollar I made that summer.

At 11 and 13 my older daughters are old enough to think about summer jobs.  Babysititng is okay, but because they are young, they are not paid much.  So, last summer they came up with an idea to make their own summer job; they started a "Summer Fun" camp.  The camp was very successful last year so they had a 100% return rate this year.  They also had so many kids on the wait list they added four more spots.  They hosted the camp with their best friends, another set of sisters from down the street.  The mornings were spent at our house (games, crafts, snack, sprinkler fun) and the afternoons were spent at their friends' house (lunch and swimming).   

It was interesting to watch how well-behaved the small children were for the older girls.  As counselors, the pre-teens were more playful with the children than adult counselors would be, but they were also very strict, holding high behavior standards.  Parents told the girls over and over again that this was their child's favorite camp.  I was very proud to watch my girls plan and work so hard for weeks, and to see their success.

Here are a few photos:

The "Summer Fun Camp" Sign

Orientation -  expectations were set on the first morning

Sprinkler games were a favorite

Each day was a new creative craft project, and the children were extremely focused on their work

One day the children rode bikes between the two houses

They performed small skits

The last day they celebrated with a homemade Summer Fun Sun Cake

The whole gang!