Recreation and Sport Operations Internships

Recreation and Sport Operations provides a variety of programs and services to meet the needs and interests of the University community. Specific programs include Group Exercise, Fitness, Adventure Trips, Archery, Climbing Programs, Open Recreation, Massage Therapy, Intramurals, Club Sports, Esports, Special Events, Wellness Education, and Marketing.

All upper campus indoor and outdoor sport recreation facilities are managed by Recreation and Sport Operations. These facilities include McPhee Center/Ade Olson Addition, Hilltop Recreation Center, Crest Fitness Center, Eagle’s View Challenge Ropes Course, Simpson Fields, Towers Field, Bridgman basketball courts, and Bollinger Fields.

Many of the student employee positions may be counted as an internship. If you work for Recreation and are interested in finding out if your position might qualify, talk to your supervisor.

Recreation Internships

Recreation and Sport Facilities at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire offers an internship each semester during the academic year. The program is intended for students completing an undergraduate or graduate degree in recreation or a related field. This full-time (40 hours per week), undergraduate internship will report to the Assistant Director of Recreation and Sport Facilities. Interns gain leadership and supervisory experiences in all aspects of our comprehensive programs, including:

• Competitive Sports
• Special Events
• Outdoor Recreation
• Marketing

• Group Exercise
• Budgeting
• Open Recreation

• Club Sports
• Fitness Centers
• Facilites Management

Skill Development

• Communication: Develop and maintain employee manuals and provide clear and concise instruction to staff and participants.
• Program Development/Implementation/Evaluation: Assist in program development, implementation, and evaluation of programs and operations. Identify new activities to enhance the overall program and encourage participation. Assist in the oversight of facility operation
• Collaboration: Serve on department, divisional or campus-wide committees, as assigned or desired.
• Teamwork/Building: Attend and participate in regular meetings such as full- staff meetings, student staff meetings, and Student Leadership Team meetings. 
• Leadership: Provide leadership within Recreation by providing support to student and full-time staff. Participate in professional conferences and workshops.
• Creativity: Assist in development and implementation of marketing and promotion strategies to promote Recreation.
• Group Facilitation: Provide on-site supervision and coordination of special events/conferences.
• Assessment/Evaluation: Assist in the assessment of participant satisfaction and student employee learning outcomes. 
• Supervision: Assist in recruiting, hiring, training, supervising, scheduling, and evaluating of student staff members.
• Budgeting: Assist in budget development (personnel, equipment purchasing and maintenance, and marketing.
• Research: Assist in conducting research (i.e., benchmarking, surveys, focus groups etc.) to further develop programs, policies, and procedures and make recommendations for improvements.
• Problem Solving/Critical Thinking: Assist in employee management, scheduling, and event coordination.
• Other: Assist in other departmental activities and perform other duties as assigned.

Specific Responsibilities

• Go on an adventure trip, help with trip planning and preparation.
• Become familiar with the operations of the outdoor program: memberships, rentals, trips, and bouldering wall. 
• Spend 2-3 days learning about assisting with field maintenance (measuring and painting).
• Participate in a Climbing Wall Orientation and observe at a Ropes course event.
• Participate in Group Ex tryouts and evaluations.
• Prepare and teach a Group Ex class.
• Work 2-3 desk shifts at each fitness center. 
• Assist with even set ups and shadow Building Managers as available.
• Assist with redshirt reviews for facility staff. 
• Attend at least one lifeguard in-service.
• Attend open recreation and building manager meetings.
• Spend 3-5 Evenings supervising intramural play.
• Plan and carry out a major project or program (proposal, approval, marketing, execution, evaluation, final report).
• Set up time to visit and learn about other departments (Housing, Dean of Students, Centers, Blugold Central, and Park/Rec).
• Assist in promoting, interviewing, hiring, and training of Recreation student employees. 
• Reach out to previous interns, set up an informational interview and update their information. 

Base Wage

• Current student (must be enrolled for credit before beginning the internship) $10/hour with housing included (The Priory or a Campus Hotel).
• If not a current student, $15/hour, employment will be LTE (Limited Term Employee) and housing is not included.
  • Arrangements must be made in advance with internship supervisor.

To Apply

Interested students should email their resume, letter of interest, and contact list of three references to:

Sheryl Poirier, Assistant Director of Programs
Recreation and Sport Operations
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI 54702