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Finding a Summer Job

With about a month left of classes, students are eager to head outside and enjoy summer. And if you`re looking for a job other than mowing the occasional lawn, there are options besides the gas station or fast food.

"For our coaching positions, we hire a lot of high school age kids. They`re fun hours. Some of them are just six hours a week. Our activity centers are just during the day," said RaNae Jochim, manager for Bismarck Parks and Recreation.

The Bismarck Parks and Rec office is hiring nearly 500 people for activities. That includes soccer and baseball coaches, lifeguards and a laundry list of other openings.

"This is a lot of kids` first interview. First time they fill out an application. We have a lot of 15, 16-year-olds who apply. If you`re 15, you do need a work permit, but we will hire 15-year-olds," Jochim said.

If you`re going to college and you plan to study teaching, public relations or even law enforcement, there may be a job waiting for you at one of North Dakota`s 13 state parks.

"If you like being in the outdoors. If you like being a people person or customer service. Because that`s what we`re all about," said North Dakota Parks and Rec Director Mark Zimmerman.

No matter what park job you qualify for, Zimmerman says no day will be quite the same. He says you may even return home with a story or two. "At Lake Metigoshe last year, with all of the water problems, we had a lot of problems with too many beaver dams so we had our rangers out there busting out beaver dams. Well, put that on a resume."

Just like applying for any other job, the early birds get the first pick. While you may not be rich come Labor Day, you will have a bit of walking around money, a.k.a. a nice chunk of change in your pocket.

Most of North Dakota`s state parks will be full staffed when they open the weekend of May 18. Fort Lincoln State Park is expected to open in early June.