Recreation workers plan, organize, and direct recreation activities for people of all ages, social and economic levels, and degrees of physical and emotional health. The exact nature of their work varies and depends on their individual level of responsibility.
Recreation workers employed by local governments and voluntary agencies include recreation supervisors, who coordinate recreation center directors, who in turn supervise recreation leaders and aides. With the help of volunteer workers, they plan and carry out programs at community centers, neighborhood playgrounds, recreational and rehabilitation centers, prisons, hospitals, and homes for children and the elderly, often working in cooperation with social workers and sponsors of the various centers.
Recreation supervisors plan programs to meet the needs of the people they serve. Well-rounded programs may include arts and crafts, dramatics, music, dancing, swimming, games, camping, nature study, and other pastimes. Special events may include festivals, contests, pet and hobby shows, and various outings. Recreation supervisors also create programs for people with special needs, such as the elderly or people in hospitals. Supervisors have overall responsibility for coordinating the work of the recreation workers who carry out the programs and supervise several recreation centers or an entire region.
Recreation center directors run the programs at their respective recreation buildings, indoor centers, playgrounds, or day camps. In addition to directing the staff of the facility, they oversee the safety of the buildings and equipment, handle financial matters, and prepare reports. Directors of recreation and parks develop and manage recreation programs in parks, playgrounds, and other settings.
Recreation or activity leaders, with the help of recreation aides, work directly with assigned groups and are responsible for the daily operations of a recreation program. They organize and lead activities such as drama, dancing, sports and games, camping trips, and other recreations. They give instruction in crafts, games, and sports, and they work with other staff on special projects and events. Leaders help train and direct volunteers and perform other tasks as required by the director. Activity specialists provide instruction and coaching primarily in one activity, such as art, music, drama, swimming, or tennis.
In industry, recreation leaders plan social and athletic programs for employees and their families. Bowling leagues, softball teams, picnics, and dances are examples of company-sponsored activities. In addition, an increasing number of companies provide exercise and fitness programs for their employees.
Camp counselors lead and instruct children and adults in nature-oriented forms of recreation at camps or resorts. Activities usually include swimming, hiking, horseback riding, and other outdoor sports and games, as well as instruction in nature and folklore. Camp counselors teach skills such as wood crafting, leather working, and basket weaving. Some camps offer specialized instruction in subjects such as music, drama, gymnastics, and computers. In carrying out the programs, camp counselors are concerned with the safety, health, and comfort of the campers. Counselors are supervised by a camp director.
Another type of recreation worker is the social director, who plans and organizes recreational activities for guests in hotels and resorts or for passengers aboard a ship. Social directors usually greet new arrivals and introduce them to other guests, explain the recreational facilities, and encourage guests to participate in planned activities. These activities may include card parties, games, contests, dances, musicals, or field trips and may require setting up equipment, arranging for transportation, or planning decorations, refreshments, or entertainment. In general, social directors try to create a friendly atmosphere, paying particular attention to lonely guests and trying to ensure that everyone has a good time.
- Adventure Travel Specialists
- Aerobics Instructors and Fitness Trainers
- Amusement Park Workers
- Arborists
- Archaeologists
- Archivists
- Athletic Directors
- Baggage Porters and Bellhops
- Baristas
- Bartenders
- Bed and Breakfast Owners
- Bicycle Mechanics
- Botanists
- Cancer Exercise Specialists
- Caterers
- Civil Engineers
- Cooks and Chefs
- Cruise Ship Workers
- Ecologists
- Environmental Education Program Directors
- Environmental Lawyers
- Environmental Planners
- Environmental Restoration Planners
- Environmental Scientists
- EPA Special Agents
- E-Sports Professionals
- Event Planners
- Exercise Physiologists
- Fast Food Workers
- Fish and Game Wardens
- Fitness Directors
- Flight Attendants
- Food Service Workers
- Foresters
- Forestry Technicians
- Gaming Occupations
- Geological Technicians
- Geologists
- Geophysicists
- Green Hotel/Resort Ecomanagers
- Grounds Managers
- Health Club Owners and Managers
- Historians
- Hosts/Hostesses
- Hotel and Motel Managers
- Hotel Concierges
- Hotel Desk Clerks
- Hotel Executive Housekeepers
- Hotel Restaurant Managers
- Housekeepers and Maids
- Inbound Tour Guides
- Jockeys
- Kinesiologists
- Land Acquisition Professionals
- Land Trust or Preserve Managers
- Landscapers
- Lifeguards and Swimming Instructors
- Marine Biologists
- Museum Attendants
- Museum Directors and Curators
- Music Venue Owners and Managers
- National Park Service Employees
- Naturalists
- Occupational Safety and Health Workers
- Park Rangers
- Parking Attendants
- Personal Shoppers
- Personal Trainers
- Physical Education Teachers
- Physical Therapists
- Physical Therapy Assistants
- Pilots
- Professional Athletes, Individual Sports
- Professional Athletes, Team Sports
- Range Managers
- Recreational Therapists
- Reservation and Ticket Agents
- Resort Workers
- Restaurant and Food Service Managers
- Rewilders
- Ship's Captains
- Ski Resort Workers
- Soil Conservationists and Technicians
- Soil Scientists
- Spa Attendants
- Spa Managers
- Space Tourism Managers
- Sports Agents
- Sports Broadcasters and Announcers
- Sports Equipment Managers
- Sports Executives
- Sports Facility Managers
- Sports Instructors and Coaches
- Sports Photographers
- Sports Physicians
- Sports Psychologists
- Sports Publicists
- Sports Scouts
- Sports Trainers
- Sportswriters
- Stadium Ushers and Vendors
- Strength and Conditioning Coaches
- Swimming Pool Designers
- Tour Guides
- Travel Agents
- Umpires and Referees
- Wedding and Party Consultants
- Wildland Firefighters
- Yoga and Pilates Instructors
- Zoo and Aquarium Curators and Directors