by Ray Fauteux

Created on: May 13, 2007   Last Updated: May 20, 2007

Personally, I believe the best Summer job for a teenager would be something that gets them outdoors. After a long school year, it is an ideal time for a teen to bask in the warm Summer weather. It's just that much better when a little extra money can be earned as well.

I think a great job for a teen would be working for a landscaping company. It has several advantages that make it an interesting and fulfilling job. First of all, there is more than one task involved in the job. This is great, because it creates more interest and prevents the boredom of repetition. There are lawns to mow, flower beds to weed and hedges to trim. There is also the satisfaction of seeing the results of your work when you are done. Another plus is that you are never in one location all day. As soon as one job is finished, it will be off to the next. Possibly 4 or 5 properties will be landscaped in a single day. It's a great way for a teenager to see other parts of the city. There is also the advantage of learning to work with others as landscapers normally work in groups of 3 or 4.

Another good opportunity is to work in the construction industry. Working in one of the trades as a laborer can be rewarding and educational. Especially if it involves house construction. It provides an opportunity to see how a home is built from the ground up and how each trade involved has a contribution to make that results in the end product. You have the excavators, framers, plumbers, electricians, and numerous other trades people who have a hand in building the home. It's a great experience for a teenager and may one day lead to a full time career as a tradesman.

I had the chance to work as a hired hand on a farm one Summer and it left me with unforgettable memories. The long sunny work days, the amazing meals the farmer's wife would make for us and all the things that happen around a farm. Like cattle getting bloated from chewing on the alfalfa. Or the dog whining at the front door because a run in with a porcupine left him with quills in his nose. I was just a kid, but learned how to drive a truck and a tractor and how to ride a horse. I learned how much hay to feed 100 head of cattle in a day. I also found out that a coyote seldom runs when he sees you. He just sort of trots away.

Best of all, working on a farm will keep a teen away from the trappings of the city. Instead of hanging out at the mall in his spare time, he will be taking a horse for a trot or will be at a cattle auction with the farmer.

I would recommend to any teen to jump at an opportunity to be a hired hand on a farm. It's a different world from the city and left me with some of my best teen memories.

That would be my number one pick for a Summer job for a teen.

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