Parks and Rec Intern
Austin
Experience Information
Employer: Coopersville Parks and Recreation
Job Title: Parks and Rec Intern
Major: Sport Management
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: Yes
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
The Coopersville Parks and Recreations department is run by Matt McKinnon, and he is the one that organizes, plans, and sets up all of the events planned out for all seasons of the year. Matt is the Parks and Rec Director and runs the program by himself, which I find to be very impressive.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
I prepared all of the athletic fields for the spring/summer events, and I helped plan all of the Covid-19 testing for this year. I also designed and updated the signs for the athletic fields, and I helped facilitate the events as well.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
I learned that planning and executing everything for a small town takes a lot of hard work, and you really need to be prepared for any setback that presents itself. I also learned that you need to be prepared and have everything organized for al of the events and setting up, and you also have to have great communication skills to relay all of the necessary information to the parents, players, and interns.
Favorite Part of the Experience
My favorite part of the internship was learning about how a small town Parks and Rec Department operates and how one person can make a difference in the community. Another favorite part was seeing all of the kids playing and being happy that they have sports to play within a small community like Coopersville.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
This experience has influenced my career goals by giving me an option to pursue as a potential career within sport management. This experience helped me see a different side to sport management that not a lot of people see, and it was interesting to learn about the different aspects in youth sports.
Internship Format
Hybrid (some in person and some remote)