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Recreation Therapist/Recreation Specialist

Andrus Childrens Center
Yonkers, NY Full Time
POSTED ON 3/31/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 5/31/2026

Job Overview of Recreation Therapist/Recreation Specialist

The Recreational Specialist/Recreational Therapist is responsible for overall design, planning, facilitation, and monitoring of therapeutic recreation services delivered to assigned clients and across campus in collaboration with department peers. The Recreational Specialist/Recreational Therapist manages the administrative aspects of program delivery and supports team members with the facilitation of activities and programs. The Recreation Specialist/Recreational Therapist is an effective and collaborative interdisciplinary team member who strives to leverage all on and off-campus recreational resources and opportunities to meet the individualized treatment goals of ANDRUS youth through the clinical implementation of therapeutic recreation services (the APIED process).

 Schedule:  Tuesday-Saturday from 10:00am until 6:00pm 


Essential Duties of Recreation Therapist/Recreation Specialist 

Key duties of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

  • Designing and facilitating engaging, motivating, and developmentally appropriate activities, programs, and community outings
  • Creating monthly recreation activity and trip schedules with significant client and cottage treatment team input and feedback
  • Collaborating with Recreation Department team members to design and deliver community recreation programming, special events, and holiday events
  • Developing and facilitating TR groups using the APIED process ensuring alignment between client treatment goals and therapeutic recreation interventions along the five domains of Therapeutic Recreation (Social, Emotional, Psychological, Spiritual, and Physical)
  • Documenting client progress in agency EMR system (both individual and group notes)
  • Assessing client interests through data collection and seeking to increase access to programs based on self-report measures such as surveys
  • Ensuring a variety of programming opportunities which include diverse areas of interest, normalizing childhood experiences, and experiences which promote social-emotional growth and development
  • Participating actively in proactive and responsive treatment team meetings (TPCs, Achiever meetings, Red Flags, weekly team meetings, programming meetings, and daily briefing meetings)
  • Managing and monitoring recreation supplies, budgeting, purchasing, and replenishment
  • Maintaining specialized program skills and certifications (CTRS, Lifeguarding, Ropes Course facilitation, RIDE Program, RAP Studio, etc.)
  • Ensuring high level of activity facilitation guidance and support for Direct Support Professionals, including establishment of Talent Integration Projects

 

Essential Qualifications of Recreation Therapist/Recreation Specialist

Key qualifications include:  

 

  • For Recreational Therapist: Bachelor’s Degree in Therapeutic Recreation, Recreational Therapy, Recreation or related field
  • For Recreational Therapist: Must be on the CTRS certification track or have obtained the CTRS certification, required
  • For Recreational Specialist: High School Diploma and two years of experience in recreation.
  • Experience with OR willingness to be certified in at least one of the following areas: Ropes Course facilitation, Lifeguarding, MSF Dirtbike School Instruction, RAP Studio Music Production, Animal Assisted Interventions, Sports Coaching, and other areas of Therapeutic Recreation
  • Must be proficient in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and Power Point; Ability to learn additional software/programs a must (including agency EMR software)
  • Ability to work as a member of interdisciplinary teams with strong collaboration and communication skills
  • Ability to engage youth and colleagues in activities and programs through motivational and relational leadership
  • Ability to design programming based on client treatment goals, monitor client progress, and manage client data
  • Excellent time management, coordination, and delegation skills
  • Drivers license in good standing is preferred
  • Ability to access and utilize ADP app on smartphone or other device for access to agency programs

Benefits for Recreation Therapist/Recreation Specialist 

  • Generous PTO, 4 weeks of vacation, floating holidays, holidays, personal and sick time
  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Benefits
  • 401(k) Employer Contributions
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Flex Spending Accounts
  • Employer Paid STD, LTD and Life Insurance
  • Professional Development 


Physical/Travel Requirements 

 

  • Must possess ability to sit, stand, walk, see, climb stairs, kneel, and lift weight of up to 30 lbs. The employee must be able to meet these requirements with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Recreation staff must possess physical abilities relevant to safe facilitation of specialized program skills (i.e. American Red Cross swimming endurance standards for Lifeguarding, fine motor skills for high Ropes belaying and other technical skills, adequate sensory integration abilities for OHV/Dirtbike lesson demonstration and coaching, etc.)
  • Must possess manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer keyboard
  • Candidates who are successfully hired, must participate in our Therapeutic Crisis Intervention training which concludes with a written and verbal test, and you will be evaluated on conducting a proper physical restraint.
  • Must be able to hear and see well enough to provide appropriate supervision of children.

 

 

 

Disclaimer

Nothing in this job description restricts Andrus’ right to modify the duties/responsibilities of this job at any time, with or without advanced notice.

 

EEO Statement 

Andrus is an equal opportunity employer.  

 

Salary : $55,000 - $65,000

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