Community Therapeutic Recreation Internship

Description

Do you embrace and promote inclusion and access for all individuals?

Do you enjoy and have experience working with people with disabilities?

Are you excited to gain relevant working experience related to your degree?

Excited to Apply?

If this sounds like you, The Montgomery County Department of Parks is the place you want to be!   The Program Access Office is currently seeking a dynamic, creative, highly organized Community Therapeutic Recreation Intern. The internship experience must be a minimum of 560 hours (up to 37.5 hours per week) and span a minimum of 14 consecutive weeks.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is a six-time National Recreation and Park Association Gold Medal Award Winner.  Behind the vast and diverse Montgomery County Department of Parks system is a career staff complement of over 850 employees, 419 parks and over 37,000 acres of park land that serves a diverse population of more than one million residents. There is a robust team focused on program access and inclusion for individuals with disabilities and adults 55.

Interns will report directly to the Program Access Manager (Certification ID # 57097) and receive guidance and supervision from additional staff in various stages of becoming Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS).

Go to our website to learn more:  https://www.montgomeryparks.org/accessibility  

DIVERSITY STATEMENT: The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate a workplace culture of diversity, equity and inclusion without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other non-merit factor.

What the internship will involve:
The internship will utilize the Therapeutic Recreation processas defined by the current NCTRC Job Analysis.

Examples of Important Duties

Examples of Important Duties:

Observe and participate in programs, special events and leisure programs with various disability groups.

Observe and participate in the administrative responsibilities required of a Community-Based Therapeutic Recreation Specialist.

Assist in the development of Therapeutic Recreation, adaptive sport programs and other specialized programs and provide direct leadership/support as needed.

Observe and participate in programs for the 55 and better population.

Act as Support Staff in programs and classes as needed and facilitate social inclusion amongst participants with and without disabilities.

Internship Outcomes 

Develop and demonstrate enhanced communication, organization, problem-solving, and leadership skills.

Develop professional leadership and confidence in planning, programming, and implementing programs for all groups served.

Develop specific skills necessary to become a CTRS.

Complete a special project.The Internship Supervisor will work directly with the intern to develop a plan to complete a special project. Examples could include: Development of an internship manual; Creation of departmental training videos related to the Americans with Disabilities Act, quality program planning and accessible special event considerations; Development of an adaptive outdoor recreation / adventure sport program for participants with physical and developmental disabilities (i.e. mountain biking program, adaptive tree climbing, Bocce, Pre-School Nature Program, Sensory Friendly Gardening Curriculum for adults 55+ with disabilities, other)

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: 

Enrollment in a baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university with a major in (a) therapeutic recreation (recreation therapy); (b) recreation or leisure with an option in therapeutic recreation; (c) therapeutic recreation, recreation, or leisure in combination with other fields of study (e.g., Therapeutic Recreation and Health Studies; Recreation and Sport Management; Leisure and Tourism); and (d) a major in another field of study with a concentration/emphasis/sub-plan/option/minor/certificate in recreation therapy/therapeutic recreation.

Internship must be completed after the majority of required therapeutic recreation coursework is completed. Verification of the completed internship must appear on your transcript. Must have completed no less than 12 semester or 16 quarter hours of TR content coursework.

A valid driver’s license in accordance with both State and Commission rules and regulations. Driver’s licenses must be unencumbered by restrictions, revocations, suspensions, or points that could limit the employee’s ability to drive Commission vehicles or perform driving duties required of the position.

Preferred Qualifications 

Proficient in MS Office, collecting and reporting data, preparing presentations, researching, document control and performing other computer functions for data management and retrieval.

Ability to communicate in another language a plus.

Supplemental Information

Undergraduate (Intern I): $16.50 – $19.00 per hour
Graduate (Intern II): $17.00 – $21.00 per hour

Please Note: The pay range listed above represents the earning potential for this position. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Important Skills and Characteristics: 

General knowledge of Therapeutic Recreation, Inclusion, Adaptive Recreation, and 55+ Programming.

General knowledge of disabilities and disability characteristics.

General knowledge of legislation and regulations affecting individuals with disabilities (i.e., Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Organize work efficiently and effectively.

Ability to solve complex problems involving many variables.

Ability to work with confidential documents and data while ensuring confidentiality.

Deliver exceptional customer service to internal and external customers.

Strong communication skills, superb written, verbal, organizational and interpersonal skills.

Working Conditions:
Works in an office and in the community. Some work outside of core business hours including evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays is required. Some driving is required. Works with individuals with a variety of disabilities, including some with potentially unpredictable or aggressive behavior. Responds to crisis intervention situations. Incumbents in this class must frequently: remain stationary, position themselves to complete work, communicate and exchange information with internal staff and the public, be able to see objects and words, and lift objects and individuals weighing up to 100 pounds.

To Apply
Complete the application, include a resume and answer all supplemental questions as part of the submission. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. Capacity to complete fieldwork as well as telework when requested is required. Equipment and instruction for teleworking will be provided.

Contact Jennene Blakely, MS, CTRS, CPRP directly with questions or 

May be subject to medical, drug and alcohol testing.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate a workplace culture of diversity, equity and inclusion without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other non-merit factor.

Applicants with Disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

If you require accommodations or special arrangements due to a qualifying disability, please notify the Recruitment & Selections Services Unit at the time of applications at or (Maryland Relay 7-1-1)

M-NCPPC will make all efforts to reasonably accommodate you.