Look for a volunteer staff position with a summer camp. My DS will be doing that for the first time this summer when he's 13. I've encouraged both my kids to think about what camps they'd want to work at when they get older. DS has been eager to work at this one for a few years and is very excited about it. We are planning to pay him $50/week as compensation for us not having to put him in any camps this summer. 10 yr old DD is already thinking about what camp she wants to apply to when she's a rising 8th grader.

Why not volunteer work for the summer? Red Wiggler Farm runs a nice volunteer program for high school students. They need to commit to 10 hours a week, or something like that. They work the farm and also with the adults with developmental disabilities who work there. Would be a very enriching experience and look great on a resume for the next year.

I lifeguarded as a teen. Couldn't work full time until 16 in Maryland but they let me be a swing guard and act as a sub the first few months of the summer I was still 15.

That, with volunteer experience similar to Red Wiggler Farm, helped me get any job I applied for after that. They showed maturity and responsibility. And stood out a bit from fast food jobs, etc.

Op, this topic has been covered often. Look at past threads, in addition, for idea.