Recreation Intern

Description

The Recreation Intern is a structured, hands-on developmental position within the Recreation Department at Forest Highlands Golf Club. This immersive internship is designed to develop future recreation and hospitality professionals through real-world exposure to private club operations.

The Intern rotates through Concierge, Aquatics & Facilities, Fitness & Spa, and Programs & Events, gaining experience in member services, program planning, back-office systems, leadership development, and event execution. The position emphasizes anticipatory service, operational excellence, relationship-driven hospitality, and professional growth while upholding the Club’s mission and standards.

Essential Functions:

Department Rotations & Operational Exposure

Participate in structured rotations through:

• Concierge Operations
• Aquatics & Facilities
• Fitness & Spa
• Camps, Youth Programming & Special Events

Shadow supervisors and actively engage in both front-line service and back-office operations.

Program & Event Execution

Assist in the planning, setup, facilitation, and breakdown of:

• Youth camps and field trips
• Teen/tween programs and Crew Nights
• Family and kids special events
• Lawn Games and sports programming
• Fitness classes and spa promotions
• Aquatics programming and facility oversight

Ensure programs are safe, engaging, organized, and aligned with Forest Highlands standards.

Member & Guest Experience

• Deliver professional, warm, and anticipatory service to Members and guests.
• Communicate clearly and confidently via phone, email, and in person.
• Support check-in and check-out procedures across departments.
• Demonstrate discretion, professionalism, and executive-level communication skills.

Administrative & Systems Training

Gain hands-on experience with internal systems including:

• Jonas
• When to Work
• Pacesetter
• Mindbody
• Clubster
• Google Drive
• Social media platforms (Instagram, TikTok, CapCut)

Assist with:

• Data entry and program setup
• Member charges and registration tracking
• Expense coding and budget review
• Inventory management
• Vendor communications
• Scheduling logistics

Project Development & Implementation

• Complete capstone-style projects including:
• Designing and proposing a new Concierge service
• Creating and launching a Fitness/Spa promotion
• Assisting in the implementation of a Recreation special event
• Analyzing event success and presenting reflections
• Develop feasibility plans, pricing strategies, marketing drafts, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) under supervisor guidance.

Safety & Risk Management

• Adhere to all Club safety protocols and procedures.
• Demonstrate awareness in youth supervision, allergy management, aquatics safety, and emergency response procedures.
• Maintain CPR/First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain).
• Anticipate and prevent potentially unsafe situations during programs and events.

Professional Development

• Participate in weekly supervisor check-ins and performance evaluations.
• Engage in reflective learning discussions.
• Demonstrate growth in leadership, initiative, accountability, and service mindset.
• Represent the Recreation Department and Forest Highlands brand with excellence and integrity.

Learning Outcomes & Competencies:

• Upon completion of the internship, the Recreation Intern will be able to:
• Demonstrate working knowledge of front-end and back-end recreation operations
• Coordinate program logistics and staffing support
• Communicate at an executive level with Members and vendors
• Design, market, and implement a program or service initiative
• Process registrations, charges, and expense documentation accurately
• Supervise and facilitate youth and family programming safely
• Analyze program effectiveness and apply lessons learned
• Exhibit professionalism, adaptability, and initiative in a private club environment

Additional Responsibilities:

• Provide on-site support for major Club initiatives and seasonal events.
• Assist with facility preparation and equipment organization.
• Adapt to a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Exercise sound judgment and problem-solving skills with limited supervision.
• Support cross-department collaboration when needed.

Qualifications

Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Minimum Requirements:

• Pursuing or recently completed degree in Recreation Management, Hospitality, Business, Education, or related field
• Strong interest in private club, recreation, or hospitality operations
• Valid Driver’s License
• Ability to obtain CPR/First Aid certification
• Clean background check
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Professional demeanor and willingness to learn

Preferred Requirements:

• Previous experience working with children, camps, events, or hospitality
• Experience in customer service environments
• Familiarity with social media content creation

Language Skills:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.  Ability to communicate effectively with guests, management, vendors/suppliers, the general public and other employees of the Company.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.  Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• Position is in a busy golf/country club in a private residential community.
• Flexibility in schedule.
• Ability to lift up to 25lbs regularly; up to 50lbs occasionally and to lift overhead and push/pull.
• Work in an upright standing position for long periods of time.
• Must be able to frequently walk, sit, stand, bend, use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear, stoop kneel, crouch, adjust vision accordingly (close, distance, peripheral, and depth perception)
• Exposed to outside weather conditions including heat, cold, wind, rain, snow, and humidity.
• Continuous ability to talk and hear.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close and far vision.

Equipment Used: Vehicles, non-electric equipment, chemicals, etc.

Supervisory Responsibility: None directly. Intern may assist in overseeing program participants under supervisor guidance.

Budgetary Responsibility: None directly. Participates in budget review discussions, expense tracking, pricing strategy development, and revenue-generating project planning under supervisor guidance.

Employee Acknowledgment:
This job description outlines the primary responsibilities and expectations of the Recreation Intern position. I understand the duties described and agree to fulfill them to the best of my ability.