Recreation Management Intern

McDowell County • McDowell Parks and Recreation, NC

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The McDowell County Parks & Recreation Internship is designed to provide college students and emerging professionals with meaningful, hands-on experience in municipal recreation programming. Interns will gain practical knowledge in planning, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating recreation programs while developing leadership, communication, and organizational skills essential for a career in parks and recreation. The internship offers exposure to a wide variety of recreation services including youth and adult athletics, community events, senior programming, wellness initiatives, outdoor recreation, and special events. This internship will also include experiences at our Shooting Range and Campground. Please note this is an unpaid internship. Lodging and travel are not covered as part of the internship. By the completion of the internship, participants will be able to: Understand the daily operations of a county parks and recreation department. Assist in planning and implementing community recreation programs. Develop leadership and customer service skills. Learn budgeting, scheduling, and program evaluation techniques. Build professional communication skills with staff, volunteers, coaches, and participants. Gain experience using recreation management software and registration systems. Understand risk management and safety procedures. Complete an independent capstone project.

Requirements

• Be enrolled in a college or university.
• Major in Parks and Recreation, Sports Management, Exercise Science, Business, Public Administration, Education, Communications, or a related field.
• Possess strong communication and organizational skills.
• Be willing to work evenings and weekends as programs require.
• Have a passion for serving the community.
• PRE-EMPLOYMENT DRUG SCREENING AND BACKGROUND CHECK IS REQUIRED

Responsibilities

• League administration
• Practice and game scheduling
• Coach communication
• Registration assistance
• Tournament operations
• Field preparation support
• Special pool events
• Daily facility operations
• Program marketing
• Recruitment
• Assist with class setup
• Assist with programing and marketing
• Setup and teardown
• Volunteer coordination
• Vendor assistance
• Participant registration
• Event logistics
• Staff meetings
• Program planning sessions
• Budget discussions
• Marketing meetings
• Community partnership meetings
• Facility tours
• Shadowing department leadership
• Develop and implement a new recreation program.
• Create a marketing campaign for an existing program.
• Conduct a community needs assessment.
• Develop a tournament or special event plan.
• Create a program manual or standard operating procedure.
• Evaluate an existing program and provide recommendations for improvement.

Benefits

• Gain real-world municipal recreation experience.
• Build a professional portfolio of completed projects.
• Network with recreation professionals.
• Receive mentorship from experienced staff.
• Develop marketable leadership and management skills.
• Obtain references for future employment or graduate school.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed