Recreation workers are employed in a variety of settings, such as youth camps, long-term care facilities, and parks. They plan as well as lead activities for their therapeutic value for clients’ fitness, skill development and socialization. Some activity types are aquatics, performance art, arts and crafts and cultural presentations.
You will want to mention excellent communication ability as a required skill in your recreation worker job description because recreation workers spend most of their time verbally instructing and leading groups of people. Clear communication is also needed to keep clients safe and on task.
Another skill to emphasize in your job description is strong problem-solving skills. When issues arise during an activity, recreation workers need to think quickly to bring a successful resolution to any difficulties. Check out this recreation worker job description to see how to organize and write your job
description.
Recreation Worker Job Summary
Are you ready to share your talents and abilities with youth at the Pine Lake Summer Camp? We are looking for friendly individuals who enjoy working with elementary and middle school-aged children in a fun, natural setting. Our recreation workers lead sports, teach arts and crafts and work as instructors in our aquatic program. More than just keeping kids busy, recreation is a way to learn new hobbies and skills while gaining valuable socialization at the same time. This summer position is a great opportunity for individuals pursuing a career in education or recreation and leisure studies. Apply today for a summer full of adventure at Pine Lake!
Job Responsibilities
- Plan appropriate group activities within the activity designations that teach or refine skills
- Organize all equipment and supplies needed for activities ahead of the scheduled activity time
- Communicate clearly to individuals and groups to explain activity steps, rules and safety instructions to maintain an orderly activity and a safe environment
- Lead children of all ages, acting as a role model at all times
- Modify instructions and scope of activity to accommodate various age and skill levels so a safe and satisfying experience is had by all participants
- Enforce camp rules at all times, including safety measures unique to each different activity
- Carry a first aid kit with you at all times to give first aid to injured or sick campers and inform the camp nurse of any camper health issues that arise
- Remain flexible with camp programming in the event that weather or personnel changes necessitate a change in program plans
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
- First aid training and CPR Certification
- Clear background check
- Excellent communication skills with a variety of ages
- Leadership and problem-solving skills with both large and small groups
Preferred:
- Teaching experience
- Background in childcare
Recreation Worker Job Responsibilities
As the most substantive part, the job responsibilities section in a recreation worker job description should be accurate and informative. It is likely that the employee you hire for this position will work as part of a team and report to a manager. You want to specify the duties that the recreation worker will be accountable for performing and give prospective applicants a sense of the contribution they could make to the operations of your facility or park.
Start by coming up with several responsibilities for this position. It is a good idea to aim for roughly 6-8 distinct tasks or goals to be thorough without overwhelming applicants. Use bullet points to structure this part of a recreation worker job description and start each point with an action verb. Jobseekers should be able to envision themselves fulfilling these responsibilities to determine whether they should apply.
Consider the sample recreation worker job responsibilities listed below:
- Maintain quality of recreational facilities and develop or prepare areas for organized activities
- Enroll participants in group activities and make accurate entries in master event and reservation schedules
- Instruct volunteers about operational requirements and safety standards to minimize liability
- Manage daily operations and inform co-workers and managers about issues and problems
Recreation Worker Job Specifications
A wide range of candidates may show interest in a career in recreation. For this reason, it is important to set clear requirements in a recreation worker job description. If you are not sure which achievements or skills to require from prospective applicants, you may want to work with a manager or other supervisor to determine what they are looking for from employees on this level.
Make the job qualifications and skills section easy for candidates to skim by formatting it as a bulleted list. Start with the requirements that recreation workers should have to fill this position and continue on to mention any abilities or skills that may help jobseekers to succeed in this role. If you come up with preferred qualifications, consider listing these in a separate list below the essential qualifications to prevent unnecessary confusion.
The list of specifications in a recreation worker job description is likely to be shorter than the list of responsibilities, but it is just as important. These requirements and skills can give applicants an idea of what to address in their cover letters, resumes and other application materials to show they are the right fit for the job.
Keep the following recreation worker job specifications in mind as you write your description:
- High school diploma or equivalent preferred
- Strong customer service and teamwork skills
- Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds
- Sufficient organization and time-management abilities to excel in an unstructured environment