Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)

The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) at the Meriden YMCA is a paid summer job program for Meriden, Connecticut teens and young adults who might not otherwise get early work experience. It is part of the Connecticut Summer Youth Employment Program, and the Meriden YMCA hires participants as camp counselors. In 2026, the position paid $16.94 per hour and was listed as seasonal work in Meriden, CT. Spots are limited, and applying does not guarantee a placement.

For the 2026 program, applicants had to be 14 to 24 years old as of July 1, 2026 and had to live or attend school in Meriden. The program is state funded, so applicants also need to meet an income-related requirement. Examples include qualifying for free or reduced school meals, having family income within 185% of the poverty level, belonging to a family that receives food stamps, or being a foster youth, among other listed criteria. Meriden Public School students qualify for free lunch. Students apply online through the YMCA's careers portal. They must fill out the application completely and upload a Social Security card, birth certificate and photo ID. The 2026 posting did not list an application deadline, and no 2027 posting has appeared yet.