Summer is the busiest season for Brooklyn Park Recreation and Parks Dept. Recently, they held their annual summer staff training. Staff training week is a time for new and current staff to come together, review and learn new skills that will help staff make the best decisions when working at summer camp, the pool, at Zanewood Recreation Center, youth sports classes and for staff who work as inclusion specialists.
In addition to core topics of safety, policies, procedures, and best practices when working with young people, the staff focused on building intercultural competence skills, which help to create and maintain program environments that are inclusive and equitable.
The Recreation and Parks Department is committed to the growth and development of the seasonal staff. Working a summer job in recreation is fun, but it comes with lots of responsibility and hard work. “Recreation jobs teach important 21st century job skills that are critical for success in today’s world. Staff learn communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity when working in their program areas. They learn to rely on and build trust with other staff which will make them exceptional team players when entering the professional work force,” said Recreation Services Manager Jen Gillard.
“I’ve been working summer camps as a Coordinator for over 15 years, and each year we learn new skills to help us be the best camp staff we can be,” said Megan Shea. “I’m amazed with the quality of our programs and the steps they take to make sure summer camp is a wonderful experience for all those who attend.”
Becoming seasonal recreation staff is not easy. It is a very competitive job and only the most qualified and experienced are offered jobs. The Recreation Department recruits seasonal staff year-round. For anyone interested in joining the recreation team, be sure to follow their Facebook Page for job postings and announcements.