Therapeutic Recreation Internship Opportunities
The Bend Metro Park and Recreation District offers
undergraduate internships in therapeutic recreation and related
fields under the supervision of two Certified Therapeutic
Recreation Specialists. Internships are offered over 8 and
12-15 week periods each semester. Fall internships typically
run from September through December; winter/spring internships
run anywhere between January and May; summer internships run
from June through early September. Each student will be
expected to work 40 hours per week with some overnight trips.
Schedules are quite varied, but fall and winter/spring
therapeutic recreation internship hours roughly look like:
Tuesday/Thursday 9:00am - 12:00pm and 2:00pm - 7:00pm;
Wednesday 12:00pm-8:00pm; Friday 9:00am-5:00pm, Saturday
1:00pm-4:00pm. A typical summer internship schedule is:
Tuesday/Thursday 12:30pm to 9:00 pm, Wednesday/Friday 12:00pm
to 7:30 pm, and Saturday 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. The student
intern will typically have Sunday and Monday off, however, the
annual campout is scheduled as a Saturday - Monday trip.
The intern experience will include:
• Hands on experience with specialized, inclusive,
and adaptive recreation programs.
• Exposure to a wide range of physical and
intellectual disabilities.
• Exposure to all aspects of the therapeutic
recreation process.
• Exposure to all aspects of recreation
administration (outreach, special events, fundraising,
budgeting, program development, volunteer coordination,
marketing, and public relations).
• Training in most park and recreation program areas
(youth, senior, outdoor, special recreation).
• Preparation for the NCTRC exam.
• Stipend of $100 per week if you find your own
housing OR $50 per week if you live in District housing where
you may be asked to share a room.
Interns
will be exposed to a wide variety of activities such
as:
• Exploring central Oregon lakes and rivers
• Rafting
• Canoeing
• Kayaking
• Swimming
• Hiking
• Attending outdoor concerts
• Playing in local parks
• Developing arts and crafts projects
• Campouts
• Coast trip
• And much, much more!
To qualify for an internship at the Bend Metro Park and
Recreation District, candidates must possess:
• Current First Aid and CPR certification
• A clean criminal background
• A commitment to fun and safety
• Valid driver's license with good driving record
• Experience working with people with disabilities
Download the Therapeutic Recreation Intern Manual
For more information, contact Amber Blanchard, Internship Coordinator at amber@bendparksandrec.org and Sarah Thorsen, Internship Supervisor at saraht@bendparksandrec.org. To learn more about Bend go to www.visitbend.com
