Y.O.U. Summer Youth Employment Program
Ready to drop your first big summer hit? Youth Opportunities Unlimited’s Summer Youth Employment Program is a long-time favorite for Cleveland teens! Connecting nearly 1,800 youth each year to paid jobs, career training, and a serious confidence boost.
If you're 14–18 and live in Cuyahoga County, this is your chance to work, learn, and earn this summer. Here's what you need to know:
- Who’s Eligible: Teens ages 14–18 in Cuyahoga County
- What You’ll Do: Get matched with a paid summer job (20–25 hours/week for 6 weeks)
- What You’ll Earn: Up to $2,000 for the summer
- Perks: Job readiness training, career exploration, and mentorship
- Timeline: Apply Feb. 1 – May 1, 2026. Jobs start mid-June.
Whether you want to explore a career, build real-world skills, or just get paid for your time, this is your summer to shine!
Ready to apply?
Visit the Y.O.U. Summer Jobs page
Part-time Lifeguard Positions at City Rec Centers "The Splashy Remix"
An opportunity to stay active, earn money, and help your community all at once. You’ll gain valuable leadership and safety skills!
Students must be 15 years of age by the last day of the class and must attend all class sessions, pass written and practical exams in to obtain this certification.
Prerequisite 1: Swim-Tread-Swim Sequence
Jump into water and totally submerge, recover to surface, then swim 150 yards non-stop front-crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both, with face in the water and demonstrating good breath control. Swimming on side or back is not permitted. Then tread water for 2-minutes using only your legs, your head must remain above the water. Then swim 50 more yards breaststroke or front crawl. Goggles are allowed.
Prerequisite 2: Timed Event
Participants have 1 minute and 40 seconds to swim 20 yards, do a surface dive to a depth of 7-10 feet and retrieve a 10 lb. object. Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back to return to the starting point while holding the object with both hands at the surface. Then exit the water without using a ladder or steps. Swimming the distance underwater is not permitted. No goggles may be used.
Department: Parks and Recreation – Recreation Division
Closing Date: 05/01/2026
Work Opportunities & More
Explore paid summer job opportunities across Cleveland’s recreation centers, parks, camps, and aquatics programs. Whether you’re interested in working outdoors, leading youth activities, supporting community events, or building hands-on experience in food service or maintenance, there’s a role designed to help you grow, earn, and make a difference this summer.