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10 summer jobs in cottage country for your teen to consider

Published: July 12, 2018 Updated: June 14, 2022
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For the teenager who wants to take on a little extra responsibility, many municipalities and private companies in lake country offer a wide range of trail or boat tours helping new explorers find their way. From Kawartha to Northbay and far beyond there are plenty of opportunities for adventurous teens to be involved in guided tours. Recommended for the teen who knows their way around lake country. Photo by ProStockStudio/Shutterstock
Guiding Tours

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Going to camp up north can be one of the most exciting parts of childhood summers. As they get older, beyond the age of enrolment, another important way a teen can get involved and make some extra dough on the side is applying to be a camp counsellor. Whether at the same camp they spent their youth or another of a similar genre, your teenager can likely find an important place helping youth at a summer camp. Photo by Olesia Bilkei/Shuttershock.
Camp Counselling

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Gas can be considered the lifeblood of summer cottaging, next to beer of course. Stopping for worms and pepperettes or filling up a jerry can for the jet ski is usually an essential stop for most cottagers. Some of the busiest and most successful local businesses sling gas and working the pumps is a job that many teens have called their first. Photo by NiP photography/Shuttershock.
Pumping Gas

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Not for the faint of heart, this summer job is for those who don't mind rolling up their sleeves and applying a little elbow grease. Any large lake, especially those with island cottages, are bound to have marinas which host a hand full of jobs from cleaning and servicing boats to selling worms and ice. Photo by PHILIPIMAGE/Shutterstock.
Cleaning Boats

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A staple for any trip up to the cottage is stopping in at the local general store. Its also a great place for a teenager to get some job experience for a summer. Usually stocking shelves of old loon-covered sweaters and jars of preserves or tending to the cash register, the old general store is a great place to develop early workplace skills. Photo by Joseph Sohm/Shutterstock.
Stocking Shelves At The General Store

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If your teen is sociable and has an affinity for balancing beverages, serving coffee might be the right summer job for them. Becoming a full fledged barista takes time and a certain amount of practice but there's no better place to start than at the friendly cottage coffee shop on the edge of town. Photo by Fancy Studio/Shuttershock.
Serving Coffee

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Coming back to the cottage smelling like fresh baked goods is always a wonderful thing ... until it becomes a daily curse. Making it to work for the summer hours of a bakery might be difficult for the teen who has trouble waking up early in the morning but the discount on breads and tarts are usually worth it. Photo by Inspired By Maps/Shuttershock.
Baking

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Nothing says summer at the cottage like stopping off for a quick scoop or two of ice cream at the local parlour. Country ice cream shops are usually some of the busiest places to stop in the summer and all that ice cream won't scoop itself! It can be fairly hectic summer job, but at least its air conditioned. Photo by sirtravelalot/Shutterstock.
Scooping Ice Cream

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The young aspiring handywoker in your family may want to look out for local contractors. Many are looking for young workers to help with painting and small cottage repairs over the summer. Any busy lake, especially those with a lot of rental cabins are bound to have plenty of busy contractors looking for an extra set of hands. Photo by ronstik/Shutterstock.
Painting and Maintaining Cottages

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Last but not least, and certainly not the most glamorous job for a teenager, comes dishwashing or bussing tables. Roadside greasy-spoon diners on the way to the cottage have a special place in the hearts of everyone who has to take a long trip to lake country. With increased summer business most are looking for reliable young workers to help out in the back end. That is of course, if they don't mind coming home smelling like a literal greasy spoon. Photo by wavebreakmedia/Shuttershock.
Dishwashing Or Bussing Tables

Idle time can be a good thing for you and your family up at the cottage, but the old adage “idle hands are the devil’s plaything” may bear some weight if you and your young ones plan on spending the entire summer up north.

Whether you simply want to keep your teen busy or they want to earn a little extra spending money, a part time job for your teenage son or daughter in cottage country can be a great way for them to meet friends, be active in the local community, or even find a future career path.

Cottage country living is supported by a backbone of small local businesses and there can often be a handful of different options for your kid.

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