Recreation workers organize and lead leisure activities.

Most recreation workers plan and direct activities at community centers and recreation facilities. Some organize programs in workplaces that offer activities for employees. Recreation workers design and lead classes in a variety of activities, including:

• Arts and crafts
• Music
• Camping
• Sports
• Exercise

Recreation workers teach participants and encourage them to try new activities. For example, they may demonstrate how to make a pot from a piece of clay. They also monitor the safety of participants. They give first aid or call emergency workers if someone is hurt. They try to prevent injuries by enforcing the recreation centers safety rules.

Many recreation workers have administrative duties. They schedule activities and keep records of the number of people who participate in each program. Sometimes they collect fees. They keep track of supplies and equipment. They may order new supplies or tell coworkers which supplies to order.

Recreation workers supervise the work done by recreation attendants and other staff. They assign duties to other workers and coordinate activities at the recreation center. They hire staff, evaluate their performance, and maintain personnel records.

Recreation workers attend a number of meetings. At some meetings they discuss rules and work-related problems with the staff. They may meet to plan new programs and discuss how to improve current programs. They also meet with parents or program participants who have complaints. They listen to the problems and try to resolve them.