About the position
The San Ramon Parks and Community Services Department is certified through the California Board of Recreation and Park Certification, Inc. as a site qualified to accept Recreational Therapy Interns who are prepared to complete 600 hours of internship work. This internship opportunity is nonpaid. Under supervision of National and State certified Recreation Therapists, the program is designed to provide challenging work experiences in a municipal/community recreation setting while promoting an understanding of working in local government. The program is structured so that therapeutic interns will be exposed to active senior citizens, Alzheimer's/dementia, blindness/visual impairments, deafness/hearing impairments, public school students, youth at risk, developmental disabilities, and the Department's Inclusion program. This program will provide the following objectives: Opportunity to expand the student's knowledge of the field of community-based recreation therapy; Opportunity to observe and practice the application of theory to real life situations; Learn firsthand what it means to be a professional in the recreation therapy field; Enable interns to realize their personal strengths and challenges; Assist interns to develop networking skills; Provide the opportunity to gain hands on experience in participant assessments, accommodations, documentation, program planning, and leadership functions within a community recreation setting; Provide a creative, collaborative and award winning environment.
Responsibilities
- Expand knowledge of community-based recreation therapy.
- Observe and practice the application of theory to real life situations.
- Learn about professionalism in the recreation therapy field.
- Realize personal strengths and challenges.
- Develop networking skills.
- Gain hands-on experience in participant assessments, accommodations, documentation, program planning, and leadership functions.
Requirements
- Approval from academic advisor before applying.
- Sufficient education and practical work experience to fulfill university's internship requirements.
- Good interview performance.
- Understanding of the needs of both the intern and the department.
- Involvement with professional and/or academic organizations.
- Essay expressing goals and objectives for the internship.
- At least two letters of recommendation from an academic advisor.
- Computer experience in Microsoft Office.
Benefits
- Hands-on experience in a municipal/community recreation setting.
- Exposure to diverse populations including seniors and individuals with disabilities.
- Opportunity to work under certified Recreation Therapists.
