What does a recreation manager do?
Recreation managers create programs at a recreation center for specific people such as the elderly, children, and disabled people. These managers keep communities informed regarding the different excursions, programs, and exhibitions. They advise counselors and administrators on recreation and parks and ways to obtain sponsors. They coordinate and keep records of all activities and events. Their job also includes dealing with issues like being understaffed. They must work with different kinds of people, must have management and organizational abilities, and be physically fit.
Recreation manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real recreation manager resumes:
- Manage activity and progress reports including statistical data require by regulators, initial assessments, MDS and IDC documentation.
- Examine injure persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.
- Attend and present at borough staff and safety meetings.
- Participate in QA and QIS survey at a facility and corporate level.
Recreation manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 22% of Recreation Managers are proficient in CPR, Cleanliness, and Safety Procedures. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Flexibility, and Leadership skills.
We break down the percentage of Recreation Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- CPR, 22%
Certified Pool Operator, Certified Medication Technician, CPR and First Aid Certified, ServeSafe food handling certification.
- Cleanliness, 20%
Ensured the cleanliness and safety of the facility and equipment by careful inspection at opening, hourly, and closing rounds.
- Safety Procedures, 12%
Developed and managed safety procedures training, performed general office duties to include timesheets and payroll tracking.
- Guest Satisfaction, 7%
Maintained high level of guest satisfaction by communicating and interacting with customers.
- Recreation Facilities, 6%
Performed regular inventory of recreation facilities, and provided comprehensive process improvement techniques and tools to and streamline operations.
- Aquatics, 4%
Supervised the operation of Sports & Wellness Department, consisting of Fitness, Aquatics and Physical Education.
Common skills that a recreation manager uses to do their job include "cpr," "cleanliness," and "safety procedures." You can find details on the most important recreation manager responsibilities below.
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a recreation manager to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "recreation workers must be able to communicate well." Recreation managers often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "maintain written and personal communication with general public and local community through ongoing powerpoint presentations, weekly newsletters and monthly newspaper. "
Flexibility. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling recreation manager duties is flexibility. The role rewards competence in this skill because "recreation workers must be flexible when planning activities." According to a recreation manager resume, here's how recreation managers can utilize flexibility in their job responsibilities: "developed a supervisory structure that maximized flexibility and customer service. "
Leadership skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of recreation managers is leadership skills. This skill is critical to many everyday recreation manager 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: "work with volunteer club leadership on facility management. "
Physical strength. For certain recreation manager responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "physical strength." The day-to-day duties of a recreation manager rely on this skill, as "most recreation workers should be physically fit." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what recreation managers do: "completed foundations of leadership, p3 strength finders, and effective training skills courses. "
Problem-solving skills. Another common skill required for recreation manager responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." This skill comes up in the duties of recreation managers all the time, as "recreation workers need strong problem-solving skills." An excerpt from a real recreation manager resume shows how this skill is central to what a recreation manager does: "conflict resolution among staff or among staff and veterans is a very important aspect of my duties. "
The three companies that hire the most recreation managers are:
- Marriott International12 recreation managers jobs
- State Of Montana4 recreation managers jobs
- Hyatt Hotels3 recreation managers jobs
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Compare different recreation managers
Recreation manager vs. Summer camp counselor
Summer camps are programs with different themes organized for children or teenagers during the summer months. Summer camp counselors are responsible for the overall supervision of campers and the planning and implementation of the different programs to give children a memorable experience. It is their responsibility to create a fun, safe, and rewarding environment for each camper. They provide counsel, support, and monitor each camper's individual development. A good summer camp counselor is reliable, honest, and has strong leadership skills.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between recreation managers and summer camp counselor. For instance, recreation manager responsibilities require skills such as "cleanliness," "guest satisfaction," "recreation facilities," and "aquatics." Whereas a summer camp counselor is skilled in "child care," "kids," "customer service," and "work ethic." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Summer camp counselors tend to make the most money working in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $30,707. In contrast, recreation managers make the biggest average salary, $41,106, in the hospitality industry.summer camp counselors tend to reach similar levels of education than recreation managers. In fact, summer camp counselors are 4.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Recreation manager 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.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that recreation manager responsibilities requires skills like "guest satisfaction," "recreation facilities," "aquatics," and "direct reports." But a day camp counselor might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "kids," "pet," "direct supervision," and "social work."
Day camp counselors earn a lower average salary than recreation managers. But day camp counselors earn the highest pay in the education industry, with an average salary of $34,530. Additionally, recreation managers earn the highest salaries in the hospitality with average pay of $41,106 annually.day camp counselors earn similar levels of education than recreation managers in general. They're 1.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for recreation managers in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Samuel Lankford Ph.D.
Chair, Professor, California State University
Recreation manager 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.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, recreation managers are more likely to have skills like "cleanliness," "guest satisfaction," "recreation facilities," and "aquatics." But a camp counselor is more likely to have skills like "kids," "role model," "child care," and "incident reports."
Camp counselors earn the highest salary when working in the education industry, where they receive an average salary of $29,249. Comparatively, recreation managers have the highest earning potential in the hospitality industry, with an average salary of $41,106.When it comes to education, camp counselors tend to earn similar degree levels compared to recreation managers. In fact, they're 4.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Recreation manager 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.
Types of recreation manager
Updated January 8, 2025
