Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Recreation Summer Student

🎯 Role Definition

A Recreation Summer Student is the heart and soul of our summer community programs. This isn't just a summer job; it's an opportunity to be a mentor, leader, and source of fun for children and youth in a variety of recreational settings, including summer camps, parks, and community centers. In this role, you are responsible for the direct supervision and engagement of participants, ensuring their safety while facilitating a wide range of activities. You'll bring energy, creativity, and a strong sense of responsibility to a dynamic team, helping to create memorable and positive summer experiences for everyone involved. This position is ideal for a student looking to gain hands-on experience in leadership, program planning, and child/youth development.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

High School or Post-Secondary Student
Volunteer Camp Counselor or Coach
Babysitter / Nanny with extensive experience
Lifeguard or Swim Instructor

Advancement To:

Head Camp Counselor / Program Leader
Recreation Program Coordinator
Camp Director / Supervisor
Full-Time Recreation Programmer

Lateral Moves:

Aquatics Program Assistant
Special Events Assistant / Coordinator
Community Outreach Assistant

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Plan, organize, and enthusiastically lead a wide array of age-appropriate indoor and outdoor games, sports, arts & crafts, and dramatic activities, ensuring rules are clear and participation is inclusive for all.
Actively supervise a group of children or youth at all times, ensuring their safety and well-being during all activities, transitions, and break periods in compliance with our safety policies.
Serve as a positive and energetic role model for program participants, demonstrating sportsmanship, respect, cooperation, and a positive attitude throughout the day.
Proactively build a positive rapport with each participant, taking an interest in their individual needs and ensuring they feel welcomed, valued, and included in the group.
Implement established behavior management techniques to guide participants, encourage positive conduct, and fairly and effectively resolve minor conflicts that may arise.
Maintain a safe and clean program environment by conducting daily safety checks of the facility and equipment, and promptly reporting any hazards or concerns to the supervisor.
Administer basic First Aid and CPR as required, accurately complete incident/accident reports, and communicate with parents/guardians and supervisors according to procedure.
Consistently enforce all program rules, policies, and procedures to maintain a structured and safe environment for all participants and staff.
Adapt activities and communication styles on the fly to accommodate the diverse needs, ages, and abilities of all participants, including those with special needs.
Greet parents and guardians during drop-off and pick-up, providing them with positive and professional updates about their child’s day and answering any questions they may have.
Diligently maintain accurate daily attendance records, sign-in/out sheets, and other required program documentation.
Actively participate alongside children in all activities, including swimming, sports, and games, to foster enthusiasm and encourage involvement.
Oversee the setup, distribution, and proper clean-up of all program supplies and equipment, ensuring everything is stored correctly and accounted for.
Lead and supervise participants during off-site excursions, including maintaining accurate headcounts, managing the group during transportation, and ensuring site-specific rules are followed.

Secondary Functions

Actively participate in all mandatory pre-season staff training, orientation sessions, and scheduled weekly staff meetings to stay informed and develop skills.
Assist senior staff and coordinators with the development of weekly program schedules, special event planning, and brainstorming new activity ideas.
Provide outstanding customer service to the general public by professionally answering inquiries about programs and facility services in person and over the phone.
Collaborate effectively with fellow student leaders and full-time recreation staff to ensure a seamless, high-quality, and team-oriented program delivery.
Take initiative to complete assigned administrative duties, such as filling out daily logs, supply requests, and program evaluation forms, with attention to detail.
Support the organization and execution of community-wide special events, theme days, and end-of-session celebrations as directed by a supervisor.
Monitor the inventory of program supplies like craft materials and sports equipment, reporting any shortages or damages to ensure programs can run smoothly.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Standard First Aid & CPR-C/AED Certification: Must be current and valid throughout the duration of employment.
Child & Youth Program Planning: Demonstrated ability to plan and lead a variety of age-appropriate recreational activities.
Safety and Risk Management: Knowledge of safety standards, hazard identification, and incident response protocols in a recreational setting.
HIGH FIVE® Principles of Healthy Child Development: Certification is a significant asset and often required.
Conflict Resolution Training: Formal or informal training in mediating and resolving conflicts between children.
Knowledge of Child Development Stages: Understanding the basic physical, social, and emotional development of children and youth.

Soft Skills

Leadership & Mentorship: The ability to confidently lead a group, inspire participation, and act as a positive role model.
Exceptional Communication: Strong verbal skills to clearly communicate with children, parents, and co-workers in a friendly and professional manner.
Patience & Empathy: The capacity to remain calm and understanding when dealing with challenging behaviors or sensitive situations.
Teamwork & Collaboration: A proven ability to work cooperatively and positively within a team environment to achieve common goals.
Creativity & Enthusiasm: A genuine passion for recreation and the ability to bring energy and innovative ideas to the program.
Adaptability & Problem-Solving: The flexibility to adjust to changing situations, weather, or group dynamics and find quick, effective solutions to unexpected problems.
Responsibility & Reliability: A strong sense of duty, punctuality, and commitment to fulfilling all job requirements.
Time Management & Organization: The skill to manage a dynamic daily schedule, transition between activities smoothly, and keep program areas organized.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Must be currently enrolled in High School, College, or University and be returning to full-time studies in the subsequent academic term. Must meet the definition of a "student" as per government grant requirements (if applicable).

Preferred Education:

Currently enrolled in a post-secondary program in a field related to the position.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Recreation and Leisure Studies
Education or Early Childhood Education
Child and Youth Work
Kinesiology or Physical Education
Social Work or Psychology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0 - 2 years.

Some experience working or volunteering with children and/or youth in a structured setting (e.g., camp, coaching, daycare, community programs) is a strong asset.

Preferred:

Previous paid or volunteer experience in a municipal or private summer camp, after-school program, or similar recreational environment.