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.

Also Known As:

Activities Assistant Activities Director Activity Aide Activity Assistant Activity Coordinator Activity Director Recreation Assistant Recreation Coordinator Recreation Supervisor

Wages

Hourly

Annual wages for Recreation Workers in United States

Job Outlook Average

New job opportunities are likely in the future

United States 2034 Projected Employment

341,100

4% Change From 2024

Explore Recreation Workers video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

Take residents on community outings.
Assess the needs and interests of individuals and groups and plan activities accordingly, given the available equipment or facilities.
Explain principles, techniques, and safety procedures to participants in recreational activities and demonstrate use of materials and equipment.
Provide for entertainment and set up related decorations and equipment.
Provide for entertainment and set up related decorations and equipment.
Enforce rules and regulations of recreational facilities to maintain discipline and ensure safety.
Schedule maintenance and use of facilities.
Conduct individual in-room visits with residents.
Evaluate staff performance, recording evaluations on appropriate forms.
Evaluate staff performance, recording evaluations on appropriate forms.
Manage the daily operations of recreational facilities.
Evaluate recreation areas, facilities, and services to determine if they are producing desired results.
Organize, lead, and promote interest in recreational activities, such as arts, crafts, sports, games, camping, and hobbies.
Serve as liaison between park or recreation administrators and activity instructors.
Administer first aid according to prescribed procedures and notify emergency medical personnel when necessary.
Supervise and coordinate the work activities of personnel, such as training staff members and assigning work duties.
Greet new arrivals to activities, introducing them to other participants, explaining facility rules, and encouraging participation.
Complete and maintain time and attendance forms and inventory lists.
Confer with management to discuss and resolve participant complaints.
Meet with staff to discuss rules, regulations, and work-related problems.
Encourage participants to develop their own activities and leadership skills through group discussions.
Develop treatment goals for individuals based on their assessments.
Direct special activities or events, such as aquatics, gymnastics, or performing arts.
Document individuals' progress toward meeting their treatment goals.
Supervise and coordinate the work activities of personnel, such as training staff members and assigning work duties.
Greet new arrivals to activities, introducing them to other participants, explaining facility rules, and encouraging participation.
Oversee the purchase, planning, design, construction, and upkeep of recreation facilities and areas.
Explain principles, techniques, and safety procedures to participants in recreational activities and demonstrate use of materials and equipment.
Supervise and coordinate the work activities of personnel, such as training staff members and assigning work duties.
Meet and collaborate with agency personnel, community organizations, and other professional personnel to plan balanced recreational programs for participants.
Organize, lead, and promote interest in recreational activities, such as arts, crafts, sports, games, camping, and hobbies.

Subject areas you may need to master.

Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
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.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
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.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
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.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.