Recreation Workers

Career summary

Recreation workers may also be called recreation leaders, recreation coordinators, recreation assistants, recreation specialists, or camp counselors.

Most recreation workers plan and direct activities at community centers and recreation facilities. Some organize programs in workplaces that offer activities for employees. Recreation workers design and lead classes in a variety of activities, including:

• Arts and crafts
• Music
• Camping
• Sports
• Exercise

Recreation workers teach participants and encourage them to try new activities. For example, they may demonstrate how to make a pot from a piece of clay. They also monitor the safety of participants. They give first aid or call emergency workers if someone is hurt. They try to prevent injuries by enforcing the recreation centers safety rules.

Many recreation workers have administrative duties. They schedule activities and keep records of the number of people who participate in each program. Sometimes they collect fees. They keep track of supplies and equipment. They may order new supplies or tell coworkers which supplies to order.

Recreation workers supervise the work done by recreation attendants and other staff. They assign duties to other workers and coordinate activities at the recreation center. They hire staff, evaluate their performance, and maintain personnel records.

Recreation workers attend a number of meetings. At some meetings they discuss rules and work-related problems with the staff. They may meet to plan new programs and discuss how to improve current programs. They also meet with parents or program participants who have complaints. They listen to the problems and try to resolve them.

Related careers

This career is part of the Hospitality and Tourism cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Coaches and Scouts
• Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors
• Preschool and Kindergarten Teachers
• Recreation Attendants
• Recreation Guides
• Recreational Therapists
• Rehabilitation Counselors
• Residential Counselors
• Social Workers

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to recreation workers.

• Enforce safety rules of the center.
• Promote interest in recreational activities.
• Manage the daily operations of recreational facilities.
• Administer first aid or notify emergency medical personnel.
• Change activities and equipment to meet participant needs.
• Greet participants and introduce them to each other.
• Schedule facility activities and maintenance. Keep inventory of equipment and supplies.
• Act as liaison between administrators and instructors.
• Explain rules and safety procedures of the recreation center.
• Evaluate recreation facilities and services.
• Meet with management. Discuss and resolve participant complaints.
• Supervise and coordinate the work activities of personnel. Train staff and assign duties.
• Meet with staff, community leaders, and professional personnel to plan and modify recreational programs.
• Conduct recreational activities and instruct participants. Encourage people to try new things.
• Meet with staff to discuss rules and work-related problems.
• Schedule entertainment and set up decorations and equipment.
• Evaluate staff performance and maintain personnel records.
• Encourage participants to create activities and leadership skills.
• Supervise planning and upkeep of recreation facilities.

Common work activities

Recreation workers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Get information needed to do the job
• Think creatively
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Schedule work and activities
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Document and record information
• Process information
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Develop and build teams
• Perform for or work with the public
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Use computers
• Evaluate information against standards
• Monitor and control resources
• Develop goals and strategies
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Teach others
• Assist and care for others
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Coach others
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Perform administrative tasks
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Analyze data or information
• Recruit, interview, or hire others
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Convince others to buy goods or change their minds or actions
• Handle and move objects

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, recreation workers:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social interaction. They work closely with the public and other staff members.
• Are often placed in conflict situations. They listen to complaints and try to resolve them.
• Deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals on a weekly basis.
• Are responsible for the health and safety of recreation participants.
• Are responsible for the work done by those they supervise.
• Communicate with participants and coworkers daily by telephone or in person.
• Work in a group or as part of a team.
• Speak to the public on a weekly basis. They lead participants in activities, such as aerobics.

Physical work conditions

• Work indoors most of the time. They may occasionally work outdoors when leading activities.
• Are often exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting and uncomfortable, such as music.
• Work near other people, but usually have a few feet of space separating them from others.
• Are occasionally exposed to diseases or infections of others.

Work performance

• Must be exact in their work. This is to ensure that participants are safe and enjoy themselves.
• Make decisions on a daily basis that strongly impact participants and coworkers. They rarely consult a supervisor before making decisions.
• Rarely consult a supervisor before setting tasks for the day.
• Sometimes repeat the same physical activities, such as stretching.

Hours/travel

• Generally do not have a set schedule each week. May work only during the summer when recreation centers are busiest.
• May work part time or full time, but most work 40 hours a week.
• May work evenings or weekends.

Physical demands

It is important for recreation workers to be able to:

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for recreation workers to be able to:

• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.

Skills and abilities

Recreation workers need to:

Communicate

• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Understand written information.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.
• Read and understand work-related materials.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.
• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.
• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.

Work with people

• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Teach others how to do something.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Recreation, Fitness, and Leisure Studies

Other programs of study to consider

• Child Care Services Management
• Child Development
• Fitness Instructing
• Sport and Fitness Management

Training

To work as a recreation worker, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
• complete short-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

Recreation workers who work part time usually do not need formal education beyond high school. Recreation workers who have full-time, permanent jobs usually have a bachelor's degree. Common areas of study are recreational studies, physical education, and leisure studies. In these programs, you learn to manage recreation programs. You also learn how to meet the recreational needs of special populations. Master's and doctoral degrees are also available in this field.

Special training in a field such as art, music, or athletics is also helpful.

Work experience

Working at a park or a pool in the summer is an excellent way to prepare for this occupation. Volunteer work at a nursing home or child care center is also helpful.

On-the-job training

Many recreation workers learn their skills on the job. For example, if you work at a park during the summer, you usually receive training from an experienced worker. Training includes:

• policies;
• safety procedures; and
• customer service.

This type of training may last up to a month.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Child Development
• Physical Education
• Courses related to what you'd like to teach, such as art

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

For full-time, permanent jobs, most employers prefer applicants who have a bachelor's degree. Preferred areas of study include parks management, recreation, travel and tourism, or a related program. Employers also look for applicants who have experience teaching. Some employers will hire recreation workers who do not have any experience. Other employers prefer to hire recreation workers who have up to a year of experience.

For part-time, seasonal jobs, most employers prefer applicants who have a high school diploma or equivalent. Employers prefer applicants who are skilled in an activity, such as art, skiing, swimming, tennis, or camping.

Employers may require applicants to have experience working with a specific age group. Depending on what they will teach, applicants may also need a good driving record.

Employers prefer applicants who have an outgoing personality. They also look for applicants who have good communication skills for teaching.

Useful skills in a specific recreational activity often are acquired through private lessons. Classes in marketing, public administration, communications, and accounting are also helpful. Workers may be required to have a valid first aid/CPR card and/or lifeguard instructor certification. Some jobs may also require workers to have AED (Automated External Defibrillator) certification.

Tips

Courses in assertiveness training are helpful. Diversify as much as possible. Volunteer work and internships offer valuable experience. Affiliation with the Washington Recreation and Park Association and National Recreation and Park Association is helpful. If you aspire to management positions, round out your education with classes in landscape architecture, public administration, project management, or urban planning. Recreation skills and experience alone will make it extremely difficult to obtain a parks and recreation directorship, assistant manager, or division manager position.

Costs to workers

Some workers join professional associations, which may have annual dues.

Licensing/certification

Certification is customary in some recreation fields. Instructors usually are certified in recreation activities such as skiing, mountaineering, golf, and aquatics. Although certification in Washington is not required, many recreation leaders become certified voluntarily.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Recreation Workers 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

The minimum wage for Washington State as of January 1, 2020 is $13.50 per hour. Some areas of the state may have a higher minimum wage.

Wages vary by employer and area of the country. The recreation worker's duties and level of training, experience, and responsibility also affect wages.

Recreation workers who work full time may receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, and health insurance. Those who work part time generally do not receive benefits.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• City government recreation programs
• Nursing care facilities
• Civic and social associations such as the YMCA

National outlook

Demand for this occupation is growing faster than average as recreation programs for both kids and seniors increase. There is a push at the local, state, and federal levels to encourage children to be more active. And the growing aging population increases the need for programs that will help to keep seniors active and healthy.

Opportunities for part-time or seasonal work are very good. Competition for full-time, year-round positions is strong. Job prospects are best for those with formal training and previous experience.

Other resources

American Camp Association 
5000 State Road 67 North
Martinsville, IN 46151
800.428.2267
765.342.8456

American Fitness Professionals and Associates 
PO Box 214
Ship Bottom, NJ 08008
800.494.7782

American Kinesiology Association 
1900 Association Drive
Reston, VA 20191
800.213.7193
703.476.3410

American Red Cross 

Careers in the Camp Community 
(American Camp Association)

National Recreation and Park Association 
22377 Belmont Ridge Road
Ashburn, VA 20148
800.626.6772
703.858.0784

Society of Health and Physical Educators 
PO Box 225
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701
800.213.7193

Washington Recreation and Park Association 
2150 North 107th Street, Suite 205
Seattle, WA 98133
888.459.0009
206.367.8777

References

Career cluster

• Hospitality and Tourism

Career path

• Social

O*Net  occupation

• Recreation Workers (39-9032.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed. A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Counselor, Camp (159.124-010) 
• Director, Recreation Center (195.167-026) 
• Director, Social (352.167-010) 
• Program Aide, Group Work (195.227-010) 
• Recreation Leader (195.227-014) 
• Recreation Supervisor (187.167-238) 

Strong Interest Inventory

• Parks and Recreation Manager

Holland occupational cluster

• Social/Enterprising/Artistic

COPSystem

• Service Skilled