Summer 2025 Parks and Recreation Intern

The City of Urbandale is seeking an individual for the Summer 2025 Parks and Recreation Intern position. Urbandale is a progressive and growing community of over 45,000 people. Urbandale is a suburb of Des Moines, located on the northwest side, and is nestled between West Des Moines, Clive and Johnston.

Urbandale Parks & Recreation offers youth and adult classes, programs, and events; a bustling Senior Recreation Center; more than 50 parks and playgrounds; and more than 50 miles of paved trails!

We believe the internship should be a well-rounded, comprehensive experience that gives the student an opportunity to learn about all aspects of the recreation/leisure services and parks departments. We understand that the intern may need to complete a minimum of 40 hours/week for 14 weeks (or equivalent), however we can also offer some flexibility with the internship duration and hours to meet a student's needs.

This internship will run from mid-May through mid-August, 2025.

Routine Job Duties/Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a special project from beginning to end using all elements of program planning to successfully complete the project.
• Assist as needed in the office developing phone etiquette, filing, record keeping and answering customer inquiries.
• Assist with public relations and promotions of department programs and activities including press releases, coordinating media coverage, developing customer friendly operating procedures, designing program fliers and elements of program marketing and assisting with developing the seasonal program guide.
• Create and implement three new programs, for varying age groups, to be offered in the seasonal program guide.
• Attend board meetings, staff meetings, and council meetings.  Review budget procedures, contract management and other administrative duties.
• Assist with personnel functions (hiring, training, payroll, supervision, volunteer recruitment, scheduling and evaluation).
• Assist with recreation programs (development, coordination, scheduling, supervision and customer satisfaction).  Programming includes preschool, youth and adult social and cultural activities, adult sport leagues, aquatics, senior citizen activities and special events.
• Implement new programs and activities for the staff Wellness program.  Attend City and School District Wellness Committee meetings, set up agendas, etc.

Typical Qualifications:

This internship is open to students pursuing a degree in recreation, leisure services, sports management, or related field.  

Must be 21 years of age.

Must have a valid driver's license.

For more information, please contact Chris Barkema at the Urbandale Parks and Recreation Department at (515) 331-6783 or via email at cbarkema@urbandale.org.

Supplemental Information:

There is one (1) opening available for the Summer 2025 Parks and Recreation Intern position. Applications selected will be invited to participate in the oral interview process.

The job posting may remain open until a candidate is selected. 

Post-offer/pre-employment background/motor vehicle report check and drug test are required.

This position is eligible for the $400 2025 Summer Referral Bonus! Here's how the referral bonus works: Summer 2025 employees who refer a friend that also gets hired into a summer role (Summer Recreation positions, Summer Laborer openings, or the Athletic Field Maintenance position) and works the full season will receive $400 for the successful referral. The friend must be a new employee to the City of Urbandale, they cannot be returning from a previous season. Have your friend put your name down on the application for how they learned about the vacancy. It's that easy! Be sure to follow us on social media and share our job postings with your friends to get the referral bonus! 

The City of Urbandale is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Persons with disabilities must submit requests for ADA accommodations to the Human Resources Department, in writing, prior to the application deadline.