Depending on the work environment, a recreation assistant may have a variety of responsibilities. Organizing recreational activities, overseeing storage or inventory of recreational supplies and equipment, and training and assisting activity participants are all common responsibilities. Education programs, sports clubs, and recreational activity centers are some of the places where you can find work in this field. Recreational employment is also available at health spas, country clubs, and senior centers.
A recreation assistant usually works under the direction of a recreation director. In many cases, the director will delegate some of his responsibilities to an assistant. The amount and type of work delegated is typically left to the discretion of each director. In some cases, a recreation assistant may be required to perform the duties of a recreation director if the director is unavailable.
A recreation assistant’s job often entails custodial work that is directly related to recreational activities. This includes ensuring that all equipment and supplies are clean and functional. In most cases, responsibilities also include maintaining a current inventory of all supplies required to carry out planned activities. Inventory control can sometimes include ordering supplies, though this is usually delegated to a recreation director.
A recreation assistant may be expected to work directly with participants in some work environments. Those who assist in activities at recreation centers for people with physical disabilities may be required to have a background in physical therapy. This is critical because each participant may require individualized assistance with various activities. Senior centers and recreation centers that provide various types of recreational training are two other work environments that may require personal assistance.
The health care industry has a lot of openings for assistants in recreation. Nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and long-term care facilities all fall under this category. A recreation assistant working in the health care field may be required to keep records detailing the progress of individual patients in addition to custodial and planning responsibilities. A physical therapist can then look over these records to see if any changes to the patient’s treatment or activity levels are necessary.
A recreation assistant’s annual salary can vary widely. Higher salaries are earned by those with a college degree in physical education or physical therapy. Wage expectations can also be influenced by work experience and geographic location. The average annual salary for a recreation assistant in the United States is around $42,000 dollars (USD).