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What does a Recreation Assistant do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

A recreational assistant is responsible for performing administrative support tasks while under the supervision of a recreational manager. Their duties revolve around planning various activities that align with the company's vision and mission, such as sporting events and other fun games. They also participate in arranging equipment and supplies such as tables and stages, facilitating programs, securing necessary permits and documentation, responding to calls and inquiries, and assisting participants. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with all workers and adhere to company policies and regulations.

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Recreation assistant responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real recreation assistant resumes:

  • Manage one-on-one and group social and physical sessions with long-term nursing and short-term rehabilitation residents
  • Assist multiple MWR facilities with the upkeep, accountability and sanitation of workout and rehabilitation equipment.
  • Respond to emergency situation and administering first aid and CPR when need.
  • Assist in the setup and operation of major MWR events, such as Oktoberfest and fund raising concerts.
  • Coordinate large events/gatherings in accordance with MWR procedures, including reserving special locations, food & beverage and entertainment.
  • Conduct therapeutic groups such as ADL skills, team building, self expression and skill building amongst all age groups.
  • Need to have basic understanding of CPR, respiration devices and other medical procedures in the case of a medical emergency.
  • Conduct training sessions for both family members and new hires on how to effectively communicate with persons with Alzheimer's and dementia
  • Develop and run cognitively stimulating programs for the residents.
  • Assist in providing leadership and mentoring to elementary students participating in town sponsor after school programs.
  • Develop a strong foundation in leadership, communication, time-management, professional compromising, and interpersonal skills.
  • Examine injured persons, and administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation if necessary, utilizing training and medical supplies and equipment.
  • Maintain standards for state requirements involving documentation, HIPAA and NCTRC regulations.
  • Plan activities for residents such as bingo, coffee socials, current events, spa and cinema etc.
  • Perform equipment maintenance on lawn cutting machinery mowers, weed whackers, blowers, chainsaws, and sprayers.

Recreation assistant skills and personality traits

We calculated that 31% of Recreation Assistants are proficient in Customer Service, MDS, and Recreation Programs. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Flexibility, and Leadership skills.

We break down the percentage of Recreation Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Customer Service, 31%

    Provided patrons with information on group fitness classes/facility hours and assisted in equipment rental while providing world class customer service.

  • MDS, 16%

    Completed documentation including: activities assessments, MDS assessments, spiritual assessments, daily activities charting, and one-to-one visits records

  • Recreation Programs, 9%

    Provide assistance to residents in recreation programs; encourage social communication through group recreation; document resident participation; admission assessments.

  • CPR, 8%

    Needed to have basic understanding of CPR, respiration devices and other medical procedures in the case of a medical emergency.

  • Patients, 8%

    Provided recreational therapy to patients being treated for mild to severe psychiatric illnesses and completed extensive training on HIPAA and investigative services

  • Rehabilitation, 6%

    Provided recreational therapy to residents Assisted in both cognitive and physical rehabilitation

Most recreation assistants use their skills in "customer service," "mds," and "recreation programs" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential recreation assistant responsibilities here:

Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a recreation assistant to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "recreation workers must be able to communicate well." Recreation assistants often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "supervised students with autism on community outings implemented aba teaching methods utilized augmentative devices to facilitate communication with students"

Flexibility. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling recreation assistant duties is flexibility. The role rewards competence in this skill because "recreation workers must be flexible when planning activities." According to a recreation assistant resume, here's how recreation assistants can utilize flexibility in their job responsibilities: "streamline fitness program offerings with creation of all-inclusive pass thatencourages flexibility for participants. "

Leadership skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of recreation assistants is leadership skills. This skill is critical to many everyday recreation assistant duties, as "recreation workers should be able to lead both large and small groups." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "created award winning video for outdoor rec cpr certified 2005 skills used leadership automotive mechanic computer entertainment ski"

Physical strength. recreation assistant responsibilities often require "physical strength." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "most recreation workers should be physically fit." This resume example shows what recreation assistants do with physical strength on a typical day: "reviewed care plans created by the physical, occupational, and recreational therapy departments centered to each child's individual needs. "

Problem-solving skills. Another common skill required for recreation assistant responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." This skill comes up in the duties of recreation assistants all the time, as "recreation workers need strong problem-solving skills." An excerpt from a real recreation assistant resume shows how this skill is central to what a recreation assistant does: "provided customer service to guests including complaint resolution. "

See the full list of recreation assistant skills

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Compare different recreation assistants

Recreation assistant vs. Day camp counselor

The job of the camp counselors is to develop recreational plans and oversee camp activities in residential camps. Their duties and responsibilities include organizing camping trips, planning and scheduling group activities, and guiding children and teenagers in various outdoor activities such as swimming and hiking. They are expected to lead campers in emergency procedures and fire drills, explain safety rules and procedures, and provide emotional support to campers. Camp counselors are also responsible for assessing and responding to emergencies when they arise.

We looked at the average recreation assistant salary and compared it with the wages of a day camp counselor. Generally speaking, day camp counselors are paid $1,656 lower than recreation assistants per year.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both recreation assistant and day camp counselor positions are skilled in cpr, safety procedures, and developmental disabilities.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between recreation assistants and day camp counselor. For instance, recreation assistant responsibilities require skills such as "customer service," "mds," "recreation programs," and "patients." Whereas a day camp counselor is skilled in "kids," "cleanliness," "pet," and "direct supervision." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Day camp counselors really shine in the education industry with an average salary of $34,530. Comparatively, recreation assistants tend to make the most money in the health care industry with an average salary of $29,963.The education levels that day camp counselors earn slightly differ from recreation assistants. In particular, day camp counselors are 3.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a recreation assistant. Additionally, they're 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Recreation assistant vs. Camp counselor

Camp counselors' general responsibility is the supervision of a camping event. Camp counselors' duties include reiterating the rules and regulations, emergency drills and procedures, and related standard protocols to ensure that the campers maintain a safe camping environment. A camp counselor should possess strong leadership and decision-making skills to develop recreational programs and immediately resolve concerns that might affect everyone's overall camping experience. Camp counselors also help develop social interaction, promote teamwork, and monitor participation among campers.

On average, camp counselors earn a $6,700 lower salary than recreation assistants a year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Recreation assistants and camp counselors both require similar skills like "cpr," "recreational facilities," and "safety rules" to carry out their responsibilities.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that recreation assistant responsibilities requires skills like "customer service," "mds," "recreation programs," and "patients." But a camp counselor might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "kids," "summer camps," "role model," and "child care."

Camp counselors may earn a lower salary than recreation assistants, but camp counselors earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $29,249. On the other hand, recreation assistants receive higher pay in the health care industry, where they earn an average salary of $29,963.In general, camp counselors achieve similar levels of education than recreation assistants. They're 0.0% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Recreation assistant vs. Activities director

An activities director is responsible for planning engaging events for the participants, considering individual interests and the safety of procedures and resources. Activities directors guide the activity staff on assisting the participants, ensuring that they are comfortable with joining the activities. Since most activities directors work at a healthcare facility or elderly institution, they must also monitor the health of the participants by conducting therapeutic activities and evaluate the participants' progress for every program. The activities director must be a critical-thinker, as well as have excellent communication skills to coordinate with facilities personnel for successful activity completion.

On average scale, activities directors bring in higher salaries than recreation assistants. In fact, they earn a $13,942 higher salary per year.By looking over several recreation assistants and activities directors resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "customer service," "mds," and "cpr." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from recreation assistant resumes include skills like "recreation programs," "recreational facilities," "safety rules," and "resuscitation," whereas an activities director is more likely to list skills in "resident care," "home health," "comprehensive assessments," and "bed facility. "

Activities directors make a very good living in the health care industry with an average annual salary of $41,547. On the other hand, recreation assistants are paid the highest salary in the health care industry, with average annual pay of $29,963.activities directors typically earn similar educational levels compared to recreation assistants. Specifically, they're 2.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Recreation assistant vs. Group leader

A group leader is responsible for overseeing and distributing fair tasks to the members, ensuring clear instructions and procedures. Group leaders are mainly the ones leading the team towards their success. Duties of a group leader also include setting the team's expectations, providing necessary resources to make the task successful, and sharing regular updates on the team's performance. A group leader requires to have strong leadership and problem-solving skills to manage team concerns and resolve complaints quickly and efficiently.

Group leaders tend to earn a higher pay than recreation assistants by an average of $69,440 per year.While both recreation assistants and group leaders complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like customer service, cpr, and safety procedures, the two careers vary in some skills.While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "mds," "recreation programs," "patients," and "rehabilitation" are skills that commonly show up on recreation assistant resumes. On the other hand, group leaders use skills like osha, center management, dexterity, and manual dexterity on their resumes.In general, group leaders hold similar degree levels compared to recreation assistants. Group leaders are 4.0% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 1.7% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of recreation assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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