Gymnastics Recreation Instructor

Recreation Instructor

The Recreation Instructor is ultimately responsible for planning, class instruction, and leading activities for specific classes.

Examples of duties include:

• Planning, implementing, and facilitating recreation programs, classes, workshops, or trips.
• Establishing and communicating expected conduct to ensure a safe learning environment, enforcing safety rules to prevent injury.
• Explaining the rules of the activities and instructing participants at a variety of skill levels.
• Modifying activities to suit the needs of specific groups, such as seniors.
• Administering basic first aid if needed.
• Organizing and setting up tools and equipment used in recreational activities.
• Teaching activity participants per lesson plans.
• Maintaining close supervision and maximizing safety of staff and participants at all times.
• Establishing and maintaining effective relationships with participants.
• Attending appropriate in-service training sessions as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Typical qualifications include:

• Must be age 18 or older.
• Significant experience in related area of activity.
• Current CPR, AED and First Aid certification.
• Current certifications in the recreation area as needed.
• Must pass criminal background check.
• Valid Driver's License.

Required knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Flexibility, a positive attitude, enthusiasm and excellent problem-solving skills preferred.
• Must have experience as a leader or supervisor of others.
• Strong background in related area of activity.
• Ability and desire to interact with participants of all ages in a positive and courteous manner.
• Ability to teach and coach participants in a professional manner.
• Willingness to work according to agency policies, procedures, and scope of training.
• Demonstrated punctuality and reliability in work habits.
• Strong interpersonal, supervisory, and safe decision-making skills.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of the recreation activity.

Work environment and physical effort:

• This is a non-smoking workplace. Depending on the specific program, work is performed both indoors and outdoors using Park District, public or private facilities or in the water or recreational areas. Though most programs operate during the day, a few programs meet in the evenings and/or overnight. Programs and trips may be out of reach of cell phone coverage.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• A Recreation Instructor must be in good physical condition must be physically able to assist participants and participate in activities.
• Must be able to perform physical requirements of programs at the most rigorous level.
• May experience exposure to extended periods of sun, snow, rain, cold temperatures, wind, water and potentially uneven terrain that may contain trip hazards.
• Must be able to hear distress noises and hear and see distress signals in a variety of environments, keeping safety in mind at all times.
• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, grab, pull and push objects, squat down, stoop, kneel, crouch and jump.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Hours will vary depending on the program schedule and may include early morning, weekend and evening shifts.