MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Each summer ice cream shops around the area become a lot busier. J's Cone Zone on Marsh road is an ice cream shop that's open seasonally from May-September. The shop employs mostly high school and college students looking for summer work and owner Jim Patterson thinks summer jobs are a great way for kids to break into the working world.

"A lot of times this is their first job" Patterson said. " it's their first paycheck, and experience with social security taxes," said Patterson.

"I think when you think about summer its your time" Nault said " You don't have to do anything with school, so its a good time for sports and to earn a little money on the side," said Devin Nault, Cone Zone employee.

Life guarding is another popular job for summer students. Lake Lansing Park South employs multiple lifeguards each summer. Head life guard Sharissa seger believes that summer jobs are popular because there is so much going on during the school year.

"During the school year its hard to juggle their homework and their job," Seger said. "Summer is a good time to relax and take a little time off, so then they can build up their bank account and use that throughout the year."