Career summary

Details for Recreation Workers


Description

Conduct recreation activities with groups in public, private, or volunteer agencies or recreation facilities. Organize and promote activities, such as arts and crafts, sports, games, music, dramatics, social recreation, camping, and hobbies, taking into account the needs and interests of individual members.

Tasks

  • Enforce rules and regulations of recreational facilities to maintain discipline and ensure safety.
  • Organize, lead, and promote interest in recreational activities, such as arts, crafts, sports, games, camping, and hobbies.
  • Manage the daily operations of recreational facilities.
  • Administer first aid according to prescribed procedures and notify emergency medical personnel when necessary.
  • Greet new arrivals to activities, introducing them to other participants, explaining facility rules, and encouraging participation.
  • Explain principles, techniques, and safety procedures to participants in recreational activities and demonstrate use of materials and equipment.
  • Evaluate recreation areas, facilities, and services to determine if they are producing desired results.
  • Complete and maintain time and attendance forms and inventory lists.
  • Confer with management to discuss and resolve participant complaints.
  • Supervise and coordinate the work activities of personnel, such as training staff members and assigning work duties.
  • Meet and collaborate with agency personnel, community organizations, and other professional personnel to plan balanced recreational programs for participants.
  • Schedule maintenance and use of facilities.
  • Direct special activities or events, such as aquatics, gymnastics, or performing arts.
  • Meet with staff to discuss rules, regulations, and work-related problems.
  • Provide for entertainment and set up related decorations and equipment.
  • Encourage participants to develop their own activities and leadership skills through group discussions.
  • Serve as liaison between park or recreation administrators and activity instructors.
  • Evaluate staff performance, recording evaluations on appropriate forms.
  • Oversee the purchase, planning, design, construction, and upkeep of recreation facilities and areas.
  • Conduct individual in-room visits with residents.
  • Take residents on community outings.
  • Assess the needs and interests of individuals and groups and plan activities accordingly, given the available equipment or facilities.
  • Document individuals' progress toward meeting their treatment goals.
  • Develop treatment goals for individuals based on their assessments.

Interests

  • Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
  • Artistic - Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
  • Social - Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
  • Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Education, training, experience

  • Education - Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
  • Training - Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
  • Experience - A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Knowledge

  • Mathematics -Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Administration and Management -Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • Computers and Electronics -Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Philosophy and Theology -Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
  • Clerical -Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
  • Customer and Personal Service -Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Public Safety and Security -Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • English Language -Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Psychology -Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
  • Education and Training -Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Skills

  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

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