BEND, OR -- Bend Parks and Rec is recruiting young people to volunteer with summer youth recreation programs. "Typically, you’ve got to be at least 12," says the district's Julie Brown, "But we’ll take them older than that. It’s a great opportunity to get some job experience, and just overall skill building in leading other younger kids, typically, in these programs."

Volunteers are needed from late June through the end of August. "We have a lot of volunteer opportunities for all ages, but this time of year in particular, we have some special opportunities for teens," says Brown. 

"We have some camp programs - both art camps, as well as Cougar Camp. Cougar Camp is one of those standard, traditional outdoor camps at Shevlin Park. Kids get dirty and they ride bikes and they learn skits," Brown tells KBND News, "As well as, we’ve got a junior lifeguard program and a junior swim instructor aide program that happen at Juniper Swim and Fitness Center."

She says volunteers must enjoy working with younger kids, willing to take initiative and create a positive and encouraging environment, commit to a schedule and have reliable transportation. Click HERE for more information.

"We’ll probably have more than 100 teenagers helping us out in these programs. It’s a great opportunity and it helps us have a really great program."