Recreation and fitness workers


People spend much of their leisure time participating in a wide variety of organized recreational activities, such as aerobics, arts and crafts, the performing arts, camping, and sports. Recreation and fitness workers plan, organize, and direct these activities in local playgrounds and recreation areas, parks, community centers, health clubs, fitness centers, religious organizations, camps, theme parks, and tourist attractions. Increasingly, recreational and fitness workers also are found in workplaces, where they organize and direct leisure activities and athletic programs for employees of all ages.
Recreation workers hold a variety of positions at different levels of responsibility. Recreation leaders, who are responsible for a recreation program�s daily operation, primarily organize and direct participants. They may lead and give instruction in dance, drama, crafts, games, and sports; schedule use of facilities; keep records of equipment use; and ensure that recreation facilities and equipment are used properly. Workers who provide instruction and coach groups in specialties such as art, music, drama, swimming, or tennis may be called activity specialists. Recreation supervisors oversee recreation leaders and plan, organize, and manage recreational activities to meet the needs of a variety of populations. These workers often serve as liaisons between the director of the park or recreation center and the recreation leaders. Recreation supervisors with more specialized responsibilities also may direct special activities or events or oversee a major activity, such as aquatics, gymnastics, or performing arts. Directors of recreation and parks develop and manage comprehensive recreation programs in parks, playgrounds, and other settings. Directors usually serve as technical advisors to State and local recreation and park commissions and may be responsible for recreation and park budgets. (Workers in a related occupation, recreational therapists, help individuals to recover from or adjust to illness, disability, or specific social problems; this occupation is described elsewhere in the Handbook.)
Camp counselors lead and instruct children and teenagers in outdoor-oriented forms of recreation, such as swimming, hiking, horseback riding, and camping. In addition, counselors provide campers with specialized instruction in subjects such as archery, boating, music, drama, gymnastics, tennis, and computers. In resident camps, counselors also provide guidance and supervise daily living and general socialization. Camp directors typically supervise camp counselors, plan camp activities or programs, and perform the various administrative functions of a camp.
Fitness workers instruct or coach groups or individuals in various exercise activities. Because gyms and health clubs offer a variety of exercise activities such as weightlifting, yoga, aerobics, and karate, fitness workers typically specialize in only a few areas. Fitness trainers help clients to assess their level of physical fitness and help them to set and reach fitness goals. They also demonstrate various exercises and help clients to improve their exercise techniques. They may keep records of their clients� exercise sessions in order to assess their progress towards physical fitness. Personal trainers work with clients on a one-on-one basis in either a gym or the client�s home. Aerobics instructors conduct group exercise sessions that involve aerobic exercise, stretching, and muscle conditioning. Some fitness workers may perform the duties of both aerobics instructors and fitness trainers. Fitness directors oversee the operations of a health club or fitness center. Their work involves creating and maintaining programs that meet the needs of the club�s members. (Workers in a related occupation— athletes, coaches, umpires, and related workers—participate in organized sports; this occupation is described elsewhere in the Handbook.)

Related news articles
Business Credit Expert Dr. Richard M. Krawczyk To Be Interviewed ... - 16 Oct 2006
PR Web (press release),Business Credit Expert Richard M. Krawczyk, Ph.D. (a/k/a Dr. Richard -- America's Financial Fitness Trainer™), has announced the airing of an interview on ...

Merlin Transformations Provides Holistic Breakthrough in Addiction - 16 Oct 2006
Press Dispensary (press release),Rebekah Rhind began her career as a personal fitness trainer and nutritional specialist with specific interest in eating disorders and clinical weight issues ...

Cobras fitness trainer suspended - Oct 12, 2006
Supersport,Cape Cobras fitness trainer and video analyst Fayyaaz Mohiudeen was found guilty on Thursday of breaching two counts of the Rules and Code of Conduct of ...

Is anything cooking between Heather Mills and her fitness trainer? - Oct 9, 2006
DailyIndia.com,London, Oct 9 (ANI): Heather Mills may have denied a romantic liaison with her fitness trainer Ben Amigonibe, but his former girlfriend's dad reportedly feels ...

Sport Fit Bowie Hosts World Class Tennis and Fitness Trainer ... - Oct 14, 2006
PR Web (press release),...and fitness professionals, including Director of Tennis, Kevin G. McClure and Director of Personal Training, Jonathan Ross, Personal Fitness Trainer of the ...

How to pick a fitness trainer - Oct 2, 2006
San Luis Obispo Tribune,We head back to the gym, step up our exercise pace and may even consider hiring a personal fitness trainer. Why hire a fitness trainer? ...

Review: Adeo Fitness Trainer - Oct 3, 2006
Playlist,Satellite functionality in a workout device—as well as an accessory that works with more than just an iPod nano—MotionLingo offers the Adeo Fitness Trainer ...

Bahrain appoint fitness trainer - Sep 27, 2006
Gulf Daily News,NORBERT Hauenstein was appointed physical fitness trainer of the Bahrain national soccer team as part of their preparations for the 2007 Asian Cup qualifying ...

Fitness trainer Eric Bellas demonstrates a dumbbell chest press on ... - Sep 27, 2006
Dailyrecord.com,Why: Doing exercises on a ball improves core strength as well as balance and coordination. Adding a weight exercise such as a chest ...

Local fitness trainer heading to Florida - Sep 14, 2006
Lindsay This Week,But this weekend she's heading to Tampa for a training camp in preparation for the Nov. 11 competition. At the competition she will ...

McCook YMCA Adds Third Trainer - Sep 21, 2006
Southwest Nebraska News,Shannon Pevoteaux recently received her Personal Fitness Trainer Certification from the Aerobic and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). ...

Work Zone: Business percolates in cafes - Oct 15, 2006
Pittsburgh Post Gazette,...to hang their shingles. Fitness trainer Terrence Thomas, 32, regularly stakes out a spot in Borders or Starbucks. On this day, Mr ...

Muslim-Jewish Relations Bridged With Exercise: Health and Fitness ... - Oct 10, 2006
Emediawire (press release),Now the studio may get a reputation as a common ground for women of all faiths as it welcomes a new personal fitness trainer, Jamie Kaplan, into its family. ...

In new light - Oct 13, 2006
Richmond Register,Todd Platner will be the fitness trainer for the firefighters who are required to use the facility to workout, and Shawn Moore of the Richmond Police ...

The Fit America Contest Brings Reality TV Weight Loss Results to ... - Oct 12, 2006
Emediawire (press release),Annette Hudson, a nationally certified personal fitness trainer, launched MyFitnessTrainer.com as a way to share the power of strength training and the secrets ...

Sania ties up with SA trainer Mattews - Oct 2, 2006
Indiatimes,BANGALORE, Oct 2: India's teenaged tennis star Sania Mirza will work with South African fitness trainer Heath Mattews in the 2007 season in a bid to take her ...

NU looking for net results - Oct 13, 2006
Tonawanda News,..."One thing I learned over the summer was that nothing comes easy. Our fitness trainer put me on a good nutrition program. Basically ...






More information on Recreation and fitness workers from The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook
Overview of Recreation and fitness workers occupation
Number of Recreation and fitness workers in the U.S.
Salary and earnings for Recreation and fitness workers
Working conditions for Recreation and fitness workers
Significant points for Recreation and fitness workers
Training requirements for Recreation and fitness workers




Labor Information Home | Occupational data by city | Search
Rainforests | Madagascar | What's new