Talk to any recreation programmer and they will tell you two things about
the job: it's fun and it's a lot of work!
No matter where they work, be it at a community center, a church or a school,
recreation programmers can always be found where the fun is.
Gary Walker is the programmer at a community recreation center. The center
is "where it's at" for most small towns and even bigger cities. This is the
place where people play sports, take courses and attend wedding receptions,
seminars and town meetings. The job of a programmer is quite varied.
In a typical day, Walker will purchase equipment, hire instructors, monitor
the budget, plan special events and promote new programs.
"Basically, we try and get 10 hours of work out of every eight-hour day,"
he says.
But it's not a case of all work and no play.
"People in this field have a real love of life; we are happy people," says
Walker. Once, he was having his picture taken for being voted Employee of
the Year. Just as the picture was being taken, some of his co-workers soaked
him with water from head to toe!
"These guys are real clowns," Walker laughs. He's used to practical jokes,
now that he has worked in the recreation field for more than a decade.
It was her love of music and her involvement with her own church that led
Karen Sheaner to her job as the director of music ministries at a church.
Sheaner's background is musical -- she holds a bachelor's degree in music
and a master's degree in conducting, so she's had to learn how to be a recreation
programmer on the job. Her work focuses on coordinating 10 choirs and their
performances, along with church fund-raisers, youth programs and major events.
It was tough learning how to manage the performance schedules, the volunteers'
schedules and extra events for the church, and to stay on top of being the
music director, all at the same time.
"It's a very time-consuming job, but it's fun," she says.
But for all the work that is involved in making the programs work, the
rewards are plentiful.
"I get to see people develop their talents," Sheaner says.
The drawback to working for a church or any nonprofit organization is the
pay, she notes. "You work a lot harder than you are paid for."
One of the keys to being successful is working with the volunteers who
help run the events.
"I have to earn their respect and their trust," she says. But that runs
both ways: the volunteers must understand what they are supposed to be doing.
Jeff Burkard comes to the occupation from yet another angle. He is the
campus recreation director at a university.
Burkard has a master's degree in physical education. To get a job at a
university, a master's degree is strongly recommended. What it's in, be it
physical education, kinesiology, recreation or recreation administration,
is not as important as the degree itself.
What is important is stamina. Burkard typically works an 11-hour day, 10
of which are in the office. Burkard is in the department of kinesiology and
teaches courses in the department.
He spends the other hour out and about the campus. And that's not the end
of it -- Saturdays and Sundays also are workdays, but only about five hours
a day.
If long hours haven't scared you away, Burkard has this advice for people
getting into this career:
"Develop as many skills as possible with practical experience in the environment
you desire. For me, helping others develop is one of my primary motivations
in life. The university environment is ideal for allowing me to facilitate
others' development."
Burkard stays interested in his career because he is able to continue learning
better ways of doing his job and helping people achieve their goals.
In this job, it's important to have a sense of humor.
Walker remembers what happened at his first job. He'd been hired at a rural
rec center after graduating from a community recreation program.
Just as he was about to sit down for his daughter's fourth birthday dinner,
the phone rang. There was a double booking at the facility and everyone was
frantic.
When Walker arrived, he was met by a chuckle of clowns and a crowd of people
attired in their Sunday best.
"It was quite a sight, pretty funny," recalls Walker. Sure enough, the
facility's only room had been booked by both the clowning club and a church's
social committee.
After talking to both groups, it was agreed one could use the cafeteria
and wouldn't have to pay a rental fee.
"Then they both wanted the cafeteria! We flipped a coin and the clowns
won."