My ideal summer job: hard work, low pay, black flies, and the experience of a lifetime!

TORONTO, May 6, 2013 /CNW/ - As university and college students are searching for the perfect summer job that will provide a decent wage while allowing enough time to catch up on their sleep, about 300 students already know where they'll be working. The Summer Aboriginal Literacy Camps are day camps that are run by Frontier College in Aboriginal communities across the country.

The impetus for the camps, now in their seventh year, is to provide activities that are fun yet educational for Aboriginal children, ensuring that their reading levels remain the same or improve during the summer months.

But one of the by-products of the camps has been the experience that the counsellors gain by working in these often-remote communities. A number of the counsellors return, year-after-year, despite the hard work, low pay, and in many cases, challenging environments.

Brad Clearsky, who lives in Winnipeg, will be working in Waywayseecappo again this summer. As a future teacher, he feels good about seeing the kids "building their reading skills, recognizing words, as well as forming friendships at the camp," and he can't wait to return.

Lisa Oliver, who is a Queen's student from Lucan, Ontario, has worked in fly-in communities Eagle Lake and Aroland. She is looking forward to returning, as she loves "building a bond with the kids that makes my summers unforgettable".

Sara Coverett, a Trent student, is excited to be going back despite the obstacles faced while working in such a remote community. "Camp is an amazing opportunity to meet new people, travel, gain experience and give kids an engaging and exciting place to spend their summer. I love it and can't wait to go back!"

Although their salaries won't fill a bank account, they will fill the counsellors with life-long memories as well as the kind of experiences that many of these students wouldn't get if they were working in a conventional summer job.

About Frontier College

Frontier College is Canada's original literacy organization. Founded in 1899, this non-profit organization recruits and trains volunteers to deliver literacy programs to children, youth and adults in communities across the country. Frontier College helps Canadians improve their literacy and increase their opportunities.  We believe that literacy is a right. www.frontiercollege.ca

SOURCE: Frontier College

Abby Robins, Director of Communications, Frontier College
[email protected]  416-923-3591 ext. 378 OR 416-277-3340 (mobile)