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NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - School's out for the summer. And while that may be good news for kids who just can't wait to escape the homework, moms and dads may think differently.

Before you start pulling your hair out, we're here with today's 5 tips on how to get help your kids out of the house and prepared for the real world.

This seems like a no-brainer. But last year the summer unemployment rate for teens was at the highest it has been since the late 1940s says Northeastern University's Center for Labor Market Studies. And this year could be even worse.

If your teen is considering a career in marketing and sales, advertising, public relations or customer service for example, there are plenty of non-traditional jobs that can line your teen's pockets and fill their brains.

The trick is looking beyond the storefront, says Shawn Boyer, director of SnagAJob.com. He says that some of the best summer jobs aren't necessarily brick and mortar stores.

If a career in sales is something your kids are considering, they can work for a third party contractor handing out bubble gum at stores and measuring the size of the bubbles customers blow for a contest. That job can pay up to $14 an hour!

Or maybe customer service is a strength your kids should foster. A teen can take photos of people at theme parks from Vienna to Virginia. Of course, a teen can always go the more traditional route, like working as a bank teller, a veterinarian's assistant or a Web site developer.

Today there are career recruitment Web sites devoted only to teen jobs. Teens4hire.com allows a member to search opportunities, apply online, and get the latest news, info and tips on how to land a job and get work experience. And the best part: Basic membership is free!

Teens over 17 years old can help build houses for low-income families in places like Tennessee, Florida, Hawaii and South Carolina. These Summer Youth Blitz programs are put on by Habitat for Humanity and they typically last two weeks.

Kids have to come up with travel costs but room and board is included. Students are put on a team and then put to work. But it's not all sweat. Kids do have evening activities, including leadership and training sessions given by the Habitat for Humanity team leaders.

Don't worry if you're kids aren't old enough to swing a hammer. They can always volunteer with the Habitat's Youth United Program. To be a part of this program, the wee ones can on some fundraising activities like building a birdhouse or organizing a car wash. Go to www.habitat.org for more information.

Instead of horseback riding or lanyard lessons, you can just as easily send your kids back to school. Educational consulting company IvyWise has counselors that work with students from kindergarten to graduate school to help them get into the best colleges.

While summer camps today can cost more than $1,500 a week, IvyWise's programs range from $1,000 to over $30,000. Programs can include tutoring to internships to counseling students on summer school.

The price is worth it, according to IvyWise's founder Katherine Cohen. She says summer is a great time to strengthen a talent, work on a weakness or pursue an avenue you may like. She doesn't advocate summer camp or programs where teens build latrines in Mexico. College admissions don't necessarily look at that, she says.

So maybe shoo-ing the kids out of the house won't work for vacation. But today taking the kids on vacation doesn't have to interfere with your sanity. In fact, 12 percent more families are going on vacation with Jr. since last year, according to a Florida travel marketing firm, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell.

If you're itching for some peace and quiet, and your kids won't stop asking for that pony, a dude ranch vacation may be ideal. Today's resorts have activities like hiking, fishing, tennis and white water rafting.

Some ranches also offer special children's programs including overnight camp-outs and arts and crafts projects. Plus they can help you arrange for a baby-sitter. For more information, contact the Dude Rancher's Association at www.duderanch.org.

If big cities are more your speed, you can tap into a children's concierge service. Children's Concierge is a company that creates personalized adventures for families visiting Washington DC, New York, Boston, London or Paris.

A customized plan typically costs $300 to $350 and it can include family-tailored customized scavenger hunts. The service can also arrange for child-care or create behavioral games for the siblings who won't stop fighting, like "Don't hit your brother in line." Check them out at www.childrensconcierge.com, or for on where to go with the family, go to www.familytravelnetwork.com.

If you have more expendable cash, and you can complete the application process in time, think about sending your kid abroad. For $4,800 to $6,900 you can get rid of your kids for 6 weeks.

Where There Be Dragons is a Learning Adventures program that sends kids 15 to 19 years old to developing countries to work with local service organizations and learn the local culture.

Teens can teach English at a Tibetan orphanage, trek the Mongolian border, help volunteer doctors in Vietnam or refurbish Buddhist temples in Laos. Often participants can earn college credit for these courses too. For more information, check out www.wheretherebedragons.com.

The not-for-profit organization, People for People International also has a summer Global Youth Forum Humanitarian Conference for teens ages 15-19. The cost of the 10-day program is $3,895 for 10 days.

People to People also runs a Student Ambassador program that lasts about 2-3 weeks during the summer. In this program students participate in cultural activities like traveling to the Great Wall of China. Their Web site is www.ptpi.com.

Gerri Willis is a personal finance editor for CNN Business News and the host for Open House. E-mail comments to 5tips@cnn.com.