Activities Director

Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:

• Gather information in order to provide services to clients.
• Develop plans for programs or services.
• Develop treatment plans for patients or clients.
• Communicate with management or other staff to resolve problems.
• Arrange facility schedules.
• Monitor recreational facility operations.
• Document client health or progress.
• Prepare operational reports or records.
• Evaluate employee performance.
• Administer first aid.

Typical Working Conditions

• Frequent contact with others.
• Working with a group or team.
• The freedom to determine tasks, priorities, and goals.
• Working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions.
• Freedom to make decisions without supervision.
• Responsibility for others’ health and safety.
• Exposure to sounds or noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable.
• Dealing with unpleasant or angry people.

Tools & Technology used by Activities Directors

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Most Important Skills for Activities Directors

• Being Aware of Others—Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Coordinating with Others—Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
• Listening—Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Speaking—Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Helping Others—Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Thinking Critically—Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Managing People—Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
• Monitoring Performance—Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Teaching—Teaching others how to do something.
• Reading—Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents

Most Important Knowledge Areas for Activities Directors

• Education and Training—Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Psychology—Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• English Language—Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Public Safety and Security—Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• Customer and Personal Service—Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Therapy and Counseling—Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
• Clerical—Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
• Philosophy and Theology—Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
• Computers and Electronics—Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Administration and Management—Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Interests
Different careers may be a good fit for your personality or interests. This career is:

• Social—Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising—Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Low indicates 25% of workers earn less and 75% earn more. Median indicates 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more. High indicates 75% of workers earn less and 25% earn more.

Demand
This career is seeing high growth compared to other careers. There will be a need for about 16,346 new Recreation Workers to meet market demand between 2018-2028. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

This career is best for those with at least a high school degree, and many professionals earn an Associates degree.

View the local post-secondary education options from our partners: Central Lakes College & MSTATE.

Helpful High School Courses
Examples of helpful classes that help you prepare for this career:

• Accounting
• Business Management
• Culinary Arts
• Economics
• Foods and Nutrition
• Health and Wellness
• Marketing
• Public Speaking
• Sociology
• Team Sports
• World Geography
• World Language

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise