Summer jobs from the strange to the wonderful

Summer is supposed to be the season for rest and relaxation, a time to leave the cares and pressures of our jobs behind. But, of course, lots of work gets done over the summer, interesting and important work that’s often tied to the rhythms of the season. KCRW met an eclectic group of people who hold down some unusual jobs during the summer. In their own words, they talk about what they do and the joys and challenges that come with their work. Give a listen below.

Below, Excavator Laura Tewksbury says she’s found saber tooth cats, coyotes, bison, horses, camels, mastodons, mammoths and birds and more while digging at the Page Museum in Los Angeles.

“When I’m performing, I just go,” says Rachel Jael at Venice Beach, who is raising money for a camera to make a film.

Jack Haskell at the Pacific Crest Trail Association says his job is to help hikers have “amazing experiences.”

Samuel Nathan Stevenson is a sea urchin diver. “It’s not a 9-5 job,” he says.

Yesenia Curiel is spending her summer looking for the Asian Tiger Mosquito.