WELLS — Although summer is still months away, now may be the time to start looking for that summer job.

Many towns, including Wells, have already begun advertising for summer seasonal positions. Recently, Wells officials posted openings in seasonal park maintenance and for an assistant harbor master, a Junior Leadership camp coordinator, and 10 summer camp counselors.

“I typically don’t advertise but a lot of my regular (high school) counselors are aging out. I’m looking for a new crew and have 10 openings,” said Tina LeBlanc, director of the Wells Parks and Recreation department.

The department runs an annual summer camp program for approximately 150 Wells and Ogunquit children grades K-6. It also is one of only a few communities to offer a Junior Leadership program for boys and girls grades 7-9.

The camp runs daily from June 22 to Aug. 15, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with extended before- and after-care options from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

“It’s a great experience for the children. They get outdoors, explore nature, learn to be team players and get social interaction they might not get outside of school. It beats sitting around and watching TV. Kids don’t get out and play as much as we did when I was growing up,” said Kim Hamlyn, Wells summer camp director.

Hamlyn, 53, is a retired daycare provider. She sold her business years ago but after a brief retirement, she found she missed working with children and approached LeBlanc about starting a summer camp. LeBlanc said she jumped at the opportunity to bring such a seasoned childcare provider on board.

“Kim, and all of my student counselors, are what makes this program work so well,” said LeBlanc, who had no qualms recommending Hamlyn extend her employment as summer camp director to take on the before- and after-school program approved this year.

Many of the the department’s camp counselors are students like 16-year-old Noah Pease, a junior at Wells High School. As a child, Pease was a regular summer camp attendee. He started working as a counselor after school this year.

“Honestly, it’s the best job you could have. You come hang out with kids and they teach you as much as you teach them. It’s a great experience,” Pease said.

Pease is one of two high school students who work year-round as counselors for the before- and after-school program.

“I used to play outside with my older brother before he went to college. Now I play outside with the kids. It’s just as fun. They do silly walks. We all laugh and have a good time together,” Pease said.

LeBlanc is hoping to find more enthusiastic and responsible young adults like Pease to fill 10 summer camp openings.

Overall, LeBlanc has 30 camp counselors and five full-time coordinators to help run the summer program.

“I am excited to have some new staff but I am bummed to see some of the old staff move on,” LeBlanc said, adding that Pease is not the only summer camp graduate who has come back to work as a counselor.

“There is a lot of responsibility I expect out of them. We are responsible for 150 children. They need to be able to follow direction but also take charge. And yes, they need to be able to have fun and be silly with the kids,” she said.

One of the most critical positions open this year is that of the Junior Leadership camp counselor position for grades 7-9.

“That is a more senior position for someone 21 or over. This person leads outdoor camping trips and must know how to work well with children and also how to navigate them through the outdoors,” LeBlanc said.

The skills that camp counselors learn help them prepare for careers and full-time jobs working with children.

“We’ve had a number of staff go on to become teachers. Some go and work with AmeriCorps, or special needs populations. Some even to go into pediatric medicine. I’ve even seen graduates of our summer camp go on to lead other neighboring park and rec departments,” LeBlanc said.

For more information about job openings go to www.wellstown.org and click on the tab “Job Openings.” Registration for summer camp will not commence until May 12.