City of Berkeley, CA

02/17/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/17/2026 16:26

Apply for seasonal jobs in recreation programs

Work seasonal summer jobs at Berkeley's day and overnight camps, pools, fields, and parks. Apply by March 2 to get paid experience supporting recreation programs.

Published:
February 17, 2026
Last Updated:
February 17, 2026

Teens looking for a summer job can apply for a range of positions serving kids and adults in the City's recreation programs.

We're looking for overnight camp staff in the Sierras, recreation activity leaders, lifeguards, and a variety of other roles who will provide fun, active, and creative programs.

  • You might hike with campers, spend long days outdoors, and lead group activities at an overnight camp.
  • You might guide hands-on building and play at Adventure Playground, or run games and themed activities for kids at our parks.
  • You might work poolside in the sun and teach kids how to swim.

These positions build skills for life and future careers. Join a dedicated team that's proud of the service we provide to Berkeley's diverse community.

Apply by March 2 through the jobs portal for seasonal recreation positions.

Qualifications for seasonal recreation jobs

To qualify for seasonal positions, you must be 16 years or older, be able to work 20-40 hours per week, and be available for work June through August. To be a lifeguard, you must be at least 15 years of age and have a current lifeguard certification.

If you get offered a job, you'll also have to pass a tuberculosis test and complete a Live Scan security background check. For questions regarding summer jobs, email [email protected].

Seasonal positions in Berkeley

All positions will start at the end of May and are open until filled.

Berkeley-based jobs in camps, sports, and parks

  • Playground Leader Trainee (16+), $24.50 hourly
    Help lead a wide variety of fun and engaging activities for day campers from kindergarten - 8th Grade.
  • Recreation Activity Leader (18+), $28.13 - $34.39 hourly
    Plan, lead, and supervise camp activities. Put your leadership skills into practice through coaching and supervising Playground Leader Trainees. Minimum of 2 years of applicable experience required.
  • Sports Field Monitor (18+), $24.50 - $25.99 hourly
    Supervise sports programs and help set up for games at ball fields, gyms, and outdoor hard courts.

Aquatics positions at our local pools

Certified lifeguards are encouraged to join us to keep swimmers safe at one of our two outdoor pools. You must have completed a lifeguard certification course before applying for an aquatics position. If you don't have a certification, you can register for an American Lifeguard Certification training course through the City's recreation registration portal.

Overnight camp positions at Echo Lake Youth Camp and Tuolumne Family Camp

Our overnight camps in the Sierras employ a variety of roles. These include cabin counselors as well as staff to support recreation programs, food service, maintenance, and medical aid.

For the summer, staff will live and work in one of two places: Echo Lake Camp, near South Lake Tahoe; or Berkeley Tuolumne Camp, near Yosemite National Park. All overnight camp positions include meals and lodging. Transportation to camp can be arranged; just ask the Camp Manager upon hiring.

Provide medical care at overnight camps as a licensed physician, registered nurse, or licensed vocational nurse.

These jobs are part of the City of Berkeley's Recreation Division, which offers dozens of camps, classes, and other activities for participants of all ages. Families and individuals can learn more about recreation programs, sign up via our registration portal, and see more opportunities on our events calendar.

Recreation Division
1720 8th Street Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 981-5150
Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-5:00 pm
[email protected]

Visit our complete job listings for all open City of Berkeley positions, which we update almost weekly with new positions.

For teens and others looking for seasonal work over the summer, apply by March 2 for one of these jobs on our recreation team and help provide fun, active, and creative programs for Berkeley youth.

Links

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City of Berkeley, CA published this content on February 17, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on February 17, 2026 at 22:26 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]