Despite winter weather holding on, some local recreation departments are looking to hire for their summer programming.
Peterborough Recreation Director Lisa Koziell-Betz said it’s exciting and fun to be thinking about summer programs during snowstorms, and many people have already sign up for those programs, proving that residents are thinking about warmer weather as well.
“People are coming out of the woodwork and they’re registering for programming,” she said. “I’m hoping the worker bees will be coming out of the woodwork, too.”
Koziell-Betz said she’s trying to be especially proactive this year out of concern for what happened to some recreation departments last year, when COVID-19 caused shortages in staffing necessary positions such as lifeguards.
“We were very fortunate last year that we could run everything,” she said. “We managed to get all the lifeguards we needed, and we got all the summer staff we needed. I’m worried about it because I know it happened to a lot of people last year – we’ll see how it all shakes out.”
So far, she said the department has reached out to all of last year’s employees, and has heard back from many of them that they’ll be returning. Those wishing to apply can reach out to Lauren Martin, who is processing applications, at lmartin@peterboroughnh.gov or 603-924-8080. Koziell-Betz said the department hopes to do interviews in mid-March.
Jen Booth with the Hancock Recreation Department is also working on hiring for this summer, although she doesn’t believe that this is an early time to start on that work.
“It seems that all the local rec departments have the summer programs already listed and are hiring,” she said. “Parents plan for summer right after they plan for the February and April breaks. I was this way also when my kids were younger – as a working parent, there is a bit of fear of what to do with the kids on these off times.”
Booth said she is hoping to avoid staffing shortages that hit some recreation departments last summer, particularly in the lifeguard positions due to the time needed for training. She added that she already has some staff returning, but not all of them.
“I am not sure how staffing will look this summer as many have moved on to college, internships or full-time jobs,” she said. “Fingers crossed we have too many applications submitted.”
Despite these concerns, Booth said that the process of getting ready is exciting.
“It is fun to plan,” she said. “I am always hopeful that when I put out the call to our locals about wanting/needing fun activities for the kids to do, that we will get some response.”
Those wishing to apply to work with the Hancock Recreation Department this summer can reach out to Booth at booth14@juno.com, or visit the town website at hancocknh.org.