Parks and Recreation Intern

Jackson County•88 Cullowhee Mountain Road -- Cullowhee, NC

About The Position

This internship is for a college or university student to gain knowledge of the mission and programs offered by the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department. The internship runs from February 1, 2027, through April 30, 2027, with 15 to 35 hours per week and a minimum of 200 total hours during the internship period. The intern supports recreation programs and sports activities for youth and adults, assists with the Jackson County Special Olympics Spring Games and Young Athletes events, and performs customer service, administrative, facility, and aquatics-management-related tasks. The position requires professional conduct, adherence to departmental policies and safety standards, and timely completion of assigned work and university internship paperwork.

Requirements

Be a current college or university student seeking a degree in recreation, sports management, or a related field.
Possess a valid State of North Carolina driver's license.
Know County and departmental policies and procedures.
Have knowledge of computers and job-related software programs.
Be skilled in prioritizing and organizing work and in oral and written communication.
Be able to work independently and meet deadlines.
Be able to assist employees and members of the general public.
Be able to adhere to established safety standards and ensure they are not violated.
Be able to operate a motor vehicle and various equipment required to perform the work.
Be able to communicate and interact effectively with management, employees, the general public, and other groups involved in County activities related to the department.

Responsibilities

Design, assist with, plan, organize, and facilitate recreation programs for youth and adults.
Handle monetary exchanges and complete the required receipts and paperwork for each transaction.
Answer telephone calls, respond to questions, and forward calls to the appropriate voicemail.
Register participants for programs and provide information about program areas.
Conduct routine facility walk-throughs.
Represent the department professionally and uphold departmental policies within the facility.
Supervise sports program practices and games; assist with organizing and operating sport-specific programs.
Lay out, mark, and line sport-specific fields.
Complete accident and incident forms and other paperwork as needed.
Complete other assigned tasks and return university internship paperwork on time.
Assist with planning and implementing the Jackson County Special Olympics Spring Games and Young Athletes events.
Assist in soliciting and acquiring sponsorships for the Jackson County Special Olympics program.
Facilitate front desk check-ins and membership processing using program software.
Provide photography for programs and events.
Assist in creating a printed magazine catalog of annual programs and events.
Perform administrative duties, including filing, organizing, shredding, drafting emails, updating social media, community engagement, and facility tours.
Perform facility management duties, potentially including painting sports fields, facility upkeep and cleaning, equipment repair, organizing storage areas, and landscaping.
Complete a general introduction to aquatics facility management.