Campus Recreation Student Intern

Penn State University•University Park, IL

1d•$16

About The Position

The Campus Recreation Leadership Intern serves as an integral member of the Campus Recreation team, supporting operations, human resources, and student development initiatives in alignment with the department’s mission and Student Development Model. This internship offers two concentration tracks: (1) Recreation & Operations or (2) Human Resources & Student Development. Interns gain hands-on experience within a complex organizational structure serving 600+ student employees while developing competencies in leadership, assessment, and organizational effectiveness. Concentration Tracks Recreation & Operations focus: • Support day-to-day operations, staff supervision, scheduling, and risk management within assigned unit area(s). • Participate in facility inspections, audits, and equipment oversight. • Assist with hiring, training, and development of student employees. • Coordinate or assist with programs, events, and workshops. • Collect and analyze participation, staffing, and facility use data. Human Resources & Student Development Focus: • Assist with recruitment, onboarding, and employee experience initiatives across unit areas. • Support implementation of the Campus Recreation Student Development Model and leadership curriculum. • Gather and analyze retention, compliance, and assessment data. • Contribute to onboarding redesign, recognition programs, and engagement strategies. • Support staff communications, training compliance, and documentation processes. Shared Responsibilities (All Interns) • Attend and contribute to staff meetings and trainings. • Collaborate on departmental assessment and reporting projects. • Facilitate or co-facilitate staff development initiatives. • Complete a capstone project aligned with departmental strategic priorities. • Engage in cross-department experiences to build systems-level understanding. Learning Outcomes • Demonstrate applied leadership, supervision, and project management skills. • Connect academic theory to professional practice in recreation, park and tourism management and/or human resources. • Develop assessment and data interpretation competencies. • Develop transferable skills aligned with NACE Career Readiness competencies. • Explore intersections of operations, employee experience, and organizational culture.

Requirements

Enrolled in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Management; Human Resources; Labor and Employment Relations; or related field.
Strong communication, organization, and time management skills.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a professional environment.
CPR/AED and First Aid certification (can obtain at hire).
Willingness to work evenings or weekends.
Ability to balance academic and job responsibilities.

Responsibilities

Support day-to-day operations, staff supervision, scheduling, and risk management within assigned unit area(s).
Participate in facility inspections, audits, and equipment oversight.
Assist with hiring, training, and development of student employees.
Coordinate or assist with programs, events, and workshops.
Collect and analyze participation, staffing, and facility use data.
Assist with recruitment, onboarding, and employee experience initiatives across unit areas.
Support implementation of the Campus Recreation Student Development Model and leadership curriculum.
Gather and analyze retention, compliance, and assessment data.
Contribute to onboarding redesign, recognition programs, and engagement strategies.
Support staff communications, training compliance, and documentation processes.
Attend and contribute to staff meetings and trainings.
Collaborate on departmental assessment and reporting projects.
Facilitate or co-facilitate staff development initiatives.
Complete a capstone project aligned with departmental strategic priorities.
Engage in cross-department experiences to build systems-level understanding.