Therapeutic Recreation Internship

The Therapeutic Recreation Intern will gain hands-on experience planning, implementing, and evaluating inclusive recreation programs for youth, teens, and adults. Under the guidance of the Recreation Supervisor, the intern will assist with therapeutic recreation assessments, participant goals, adaptive techniques, staff support, and program evaluation while completing required fieldwork hours toward the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential.

Operational Excellence

• Assist with planning, organizing, implementing and oversight of youth, teen and adult specialty recreational programs.
• Provide developmentally appropriate activities that meet the needs and interests of participants.
• Assist in the development and implementation of goals and objectives specific to area of responsibility.
• Develop and implement an internship project.
• Assist in evaluating effectiveness and efficiency of program and services, making recommendations on introduction or deletion of programs and services.
• Assist with the development and implementation of a marketing strategy for recreation programs, events, and services consisting of appropriate pricing and promotional efforts.
• Analyze, make recommendations, and assist Recreation Supervisor regarding the quality of programming content, monitoring participation, and evaluating the success of program participants
• Evaluate and give constructive feedback to program staff concerning participant, behavior management techniques, program activities, structure, site specific protocol, and curriculum.
• Assist and make recommendations to recruit, hire, schedule, train, supervise, mentor and evaluate staff with guidance from the Recreation Supervisor
• Assist Recreation Supervisor and completes in conducting Therapeutic Recreation assessments
• Provide staff with recommendations in adaptive techniques and intervention strategies to allow for maximum program participation and to meet the individual needs of participants.
• Mentor seasonal staff in identifying barriers, writing participant goals, tracking and evaluating participant progress, and communicating to parents/guardians
• Completes administrative responsibilities correctly and on time, such as verifying staff timesheets, accident reports, behavior incidents, daily logs, weekly site attendance, equipment inventory, and evaluations of staff and other reports as requested.
• Use effective and positive communication with program participants, other staff, parents/guardians, and internal and external agencies.
• Act as a RPD liaison for the Recreation Supervisor while communicating with other RPD departments.
• Attends scheduled meetings as determined by the Recreation Supervisor to include weekly staffing, directors meetings, and additional meetings as needed.
• Creates and follows structured program outline.
• Use confidentiality in all aspects regarding participants involved in programs
• Maintains a working knowledge of department safety procedures. Attends safety training, completes educational in-service opportunities and attends other district wide trainings as required. As well as enforces rules and regulations set-up by the Rockford Park District.
• Attends meetings, trainings and workshops related to agency and professional development
• Gathers, loads, transports and sets-up supplies and equipment for the program sites, including inventory and maintenance with support from program staff.
• Enforces and follows all rules, regulations and policies set up by the Rockford Park District to include the Affirmative Action Plan, maintaining an alcohol and drug free workplace, and following all safety and risk management procedures.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.