While winter is typically the time when parents get caught up in camp registration, don’t forget the tweens and teens. This is the ideal time for older kids in the house to think about (and apply for) summer jobs and volunteer opportunities.

Many of Denver’s biggest summer employers post their applications around the same time that camp registration begins. Both Elitch Gardens and Water World, two of the city’s biggest summer employers, have opened their applications for the 2020 season. Elitch Gardens will fill 1,500 job openings in everything from front gate ticket sales to rides, retail, and security, and Water World will be hiring to fill 1,000 jobs in food and guest services, as well as spots on their lifeguard team. And, while it seems that 16 is traditionally the minimum age for getting a summer job, industrious kids as young as 14 years old could snag a coveted summer job at Water World.

Camps also begin to fill their counselor positions early in the year. Easterseals Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Village Camp, which hosts more than 1,200 children and adults with disabilities each year for summer camp, hires 65 staff members for various summer positions. Volunteer counselor positions are also available for individuals 16 years old and older.

In addition to checking employment pages of their favorite camp or attraction’s website, teens can watch for seasonal job fairs at city and parks and recreation departments. Gently remind your job-hunting teen to submit their applications as early as possible and to check any deadlines for the best chance at the summer job they want.