Therapeutic Recreation Intern

Therapeutic Recreation Programs & Inclusion Services Intern The Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Department is looking for a Therapeutic Recreation Programs & Inclusion Services Intern. 

The goal is to provide students who are majoring in the field of Therapeutic Recreation and seeking the certification from the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) an opportunity to practice the knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom; to fulfill their school’s requirement to obtain a degree and to meet NCTRC’s certification requirements. The internship will provide an effective transition from the classroom to a professional setting. The supervised leadership experience provides students with the opportunity to test classroom theories, concepts, and philosophies in realistic situations under the guidance and supervision of dedicated professionals. Furthermore, it provides the intern with a constructive review and evaluation of their skills and competencies; thus, allowing realistic direction to further professional development. 

Day to Day duties can include, but are not limited to: 

• Working under the supervision of a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) for the duration of their internship to learn the aspects of developing, implementing, and evaluating skill development and therapy based therapeutic recreation programs.

• Supervising participants (youth or adult) involved in program and events, adhering to program and event safety protocols. 

• Completing short term and/or long-term projects and case studies, depending upon their current standing in school. (Senior Intern - short-term project, long-term project, and case study; Graduate Level Intern - long-term research/administrative project and case study). 

• Providing excellent customer service to internal and external customers both written and orally. 

• Preparing and/or submitting records and reports that are programmatic and administrative. 

• May be required to work varied hours evenings, nights, holidays, and weekends in an outdoor environment in various weather conditions and for extended periods of time greater than 8 hours. 

Expected Schedule / Hours: Candidates typical work week will be 40 hours unless otherwise agreed upon. The schedule will be varied by days, evenings, weekends, holidays, and program schedule needs. The applicant is responsible to provide their own transportation to work and housing during the internship.

 Expected Duration: May 12, 2025 – August 22, 2025 (15 weeks, can be adjusted based upon school requirements.) 

Required Education: Candidates pursuing a Therapeutic Recreation (BS in Therapeutic Recreation, or Recreation with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation); Must be eligible to sit for National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) upon completion of internship and degree confirmation. 

Application Deadline: February 23, 2025 

Compensation (depends on academic year): 

• Freshman/Sophomore: $15/ hour 

• Juniors/Seniors: $16/ hour 

• Graduate Students: $17/ hour 

Application Process: Interested candidates will need to complete an application for the Internship Program (Requisition #43286) by visiting www.vbgovcareers.com. Please include Cover Letter, Resume, Official Transcript, List of Strength & Growth Areas as they would apply to internship & List of Goals and Objectives for Internship experience. Incomplete applications will not be considered for the internship program. References may be requested at time of interview. If you have any questions regarding this posting, please contact HRRecruit@vbgov.com.

The City of Virginia Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer.