Occupation Details
Recreation Workers
Conduct recreation activities with groups in public, private, or volunteer agencies or recreation facilities. Organize and promote activities, such as arts and crafts, sports, games, music, dramatics, social recreation, camping, and hobbies, taking into account the needs and interests of individual members.
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Interests
Artistic
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Social
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Enterprising
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Work Values
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$30,220.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$39,130.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$47,050.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
29,720
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
43,690
+1,397 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
7,032
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.5%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Degree Needed - Four-year college
Experience Requirements
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Education Requirements
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Apprenticeship
Contact your regional representative to learn more about apprenticeships available in your area by visiting Apprenticeship Contacts.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Leadership
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Braille materials
- Calendars
- Cashboxes
- Desktop computers
- Electronic scoreboards
- First aid kits
- Handheld calculators
- Informational signs
- Ladders
- Laser facsimile machines
- Microphones
- Mobile phones
- Passenger vans
- Photocopiers
- Two way radios
- Wheelchairs
Technology
- Appletree
- Charting software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Database software
- Desktop publishing software
- GroupMe
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Publisher
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
- Recordkeeping software
- Scheduling software
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- lead recreational activities
- evaluate performance of employees or contract personnel
- motivate team members to excel
- complete time or attendance forms
- make presentations
- teach sports rules or techniques
- demonstrate physical activities
- adhere to safety procedures
- resolve behavioral or academic problems
- enforce laws, ordinances, or regulations
- provide customer service
- greet customers, guests, visitors, or passengers
- encourage group participation
- lead indoor or outdoor games
- direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
- coordinate recreational activities
- use interpersonal communication techniques
- use oral or written communication techniques
- use teaching techniques
- follow sport rules or techniques
- use first aid procedures
- use conflict resolution techniques
- use facility management techniques
- adapt activities to meet participant needs
- determine customer needs
- maintain relationships with agency personnel or community organizations
- schedule facility or property maintenance
- schedule guest recreational activities
- schedule or contract meeting facilities
- conduct or attend staff meetings
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Enforce rules and regulations of recreational facilities to maintain discipline and ensure safety.
- Organize, lead, and promote interest in recreational activities, such as arts, crafts, sports, games, camping, and hobbies.
- Assess the needs and interests of individuals and groups and plan activities accordingly, given the available equipment or facilities.
- Manage the daily operations of recreational facilities.
- Administer first aid according to prescribed procedures and notify emergency medical personnel when necessary.
- Explain principles, techniques, and safety procedures to participants in recreational activities and demonstrate use of materials and equipment.
- Complete and maintain time and attendance forms and inventory lists.
- Serve as liaison between park or recreation administrators and activity instructors.
- Direct special activities or events, such as aquatics, gymnastics, or performing arts.
- Evaluate recreation areas, facilities, and services to determine if they are producing desired results.
- Supervise and coordinate the work activities of personnel, such as training staff members and assigning work duties.
- Schedule maintenance and use of facilities.
- Greet new arrivals to activities, introducing them to other participants, explaining facility rules, and encouraging participation.
- Document individuals' progress toward meeting their treatment goals.
- Conduct individual in-room visits with residents.
- Confer with management to discuss and resolve participant complaints.
- Develop treatment goals for individuals based on their assessments.
- Evaluate staff performance, recording evaluations on appropriate forms.
- Meet with staff to discuss rules, regulations, and work-related problems.
- Oversee the purchase, planning, design, construction, and upkeep of recreation facilities and areas.
- Encourage participants to develop their own activities and leadership skills through group discussions.
- Take residents on community outings.
- Meet and collaborate with agency personnel, community organizations, and other professional personnel to plan balanced recreational programs for participants.
- Provide for entertainment and set up related decorations and equipment.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Recreation and fitness workers
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
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