Recreation Management Intern

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. Internship Length ? Semester Internship (12–16 weeks) ? 10–20 hours per week (flexible around class schedules) ? Summer full-time internship available **\*\* Can be tailored to fit college requirements \*\*** Department Rotations Interns will gain experience in multiple program areas including: Youth and Adult Sports ? League administration ? Practice and game scheduling ? Coach communication ? Registration assistance ? Tournament operations ? Field preparation support Aquatics (Spring & Summer Only) ? Special pool events ? Daily facility operations ? Program marketing ? Recruitment Campground/Shooting Range ? Assist with class setup ? Assist with programing and marketing Special Events Assist with events such as: ? Pirate Invasion ? MCYFL Camp ? District and State Tournaments ? Commissioners Cup ? Special Olympics ? Senior Games Responsibilities may include: ? Setup and teardown ? Volunteer coordination ? Vendor assistance ? Participant registration ? Event logistics Professional Development Interns will participate in: ? Staff meetings ? Program planning sessions ? Budget discussions ? Marketing meetings ? Community partnership meetings ? Facility tours ? Shadowing department leadership Learning Outcomes Interns will gain experience in: ? Recreation programming ? Event management ? Customer service ? Leadership ? Public speaking ? Volunteer management ? Time management ? Conflict resolution ? Risk management ? Program evaluation ? Community engagement ? Team collaboration Capstone Project Each intern will complete one major project during the semester. Examples include: ? Develop and implement a new recreation program. ? Marketing Video ? 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. The project will conclude with a presentation to Parks & Recreation leadership.Preferred applicants should: ? 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. Evaluation Intern performance will be evaluated through: ? Weekly supervisor check-ins ? Mid-semester evaluation ? Final performance review ? Capstone project presentatio…