Practicum Site and Location

Practicum Site: Slippery Rock Area Parks and Recreation Center

Location: 320 N Main Street, Slippery Rock, Pa 16057

Supervisor: Mrs. Messer

Title: Director of Parks and Rec

Email: srpark@zoominternet.net

Phone: (724) 794-8180

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Summary

From the first day I started, Mrs. Messer had my jump right into it. There was no time really to be acquainted with the other individuals that worked there or with my surroundings. My initial task was to input registrations for the variety of programs the parks and rec. center offered into the computer. I continued to do this task on a daily basis usually. The only time I did not have to work on registrations were days close to an event or if I worked in the afternoon.

I also worked on my communication skills when speaking to someone face-to-face, on the phone and to a large crowd. Some days I had parents/guardians come in to pay a bill or register for a program for themselves or their child. On random days, I had to call different people for a variety of reasons. Those reasons usually revolved around preparation for an event or a change in dates. After the end of the actually color run I was in charge of announcing the winners of the raffles and top times for the run.

Another task I was in charge of was Hoop Heroes. I was down at the elementary school every Wednesday to help with attendance, set up and tear down. During the program, I would supervise and assist with anything that coaches needed. After the program, I made sure all the kids stayed near or in the gym until their parents picked them up. I also helped order the t-shirts for Hoop Heroes, along with flag football and soccer.

My biggest task for this practicum was getting donations for the post run raffle. Sometimes I was going to businesses for the first time to ask for a donation and other times I just had to pick them up. The donations included gift cards, gift baskets and items from their store. On my shorter days, this would be the only task I would do. On top of that, I had to run to classic ink in Butler to pick up all the t-shirts.

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Impact

Throughout this experience, I started to learn a lot about myself. Much like my first practicum, I have found another career choice. A director of parks and recreation has many responsibilities, but in the end, it is very rewarding to see a difference in the community. For example, all those kids that participated in Hoop Heroes got a certificate at the end and to see their smiles was very touching. Another thing I learned is that I want to work in a position I can make a difference in the community and society.

This also leads into the personal growth I experienced through this practicum. I have personally learned that making a difference and helping get kids of the street has helped my personal development. It made me realize that children need a figure to look up to that can help make an impact in their lives, whether it is by lending a hand or leading by example. It has taught me that there is no limit to what you can do in the community. It has instilled a dream in my mind that I hope to make it back to my hometown and help young adults’ get off the streets. Whether I do this by opening a new recreation center or implementing a program in middle schools and high schools in Allentown. To answer what area I grew the most personal growth would be social or societal aspect of it.

The professional growth I have gained during this experience is interacting with people and the community. With going to business-to-business I learned that if you actually introduced yourself and found common ground, it was a lot easier to discuss donations or the possibility of donating. When I first started, I would go in, introduce myself, and get right into it. Some said yes, but others did not. After I few times I realized that I wasn’t gaining much from that approach. To me, it was more about getting to know the different individuals that were a part of the community. Sometimes to make a long lasting professional connection, you have to understand that person and get to know a personal interest.

For example, someone made a mistake and asked me to go to Giant Eagle who was a major sponsor for Village Fest. Not knowing at the time, I went in and still asked. In the beginning he seemed like he wanted me out as soon as possible, but then I noticed by his office he had a huge interest in sports memorabilia. Although he did not give a donation, we discussed autographed memorabilia and the coolest thing we have collected. Leaving Giant Eagle I made an impression on him and he considered giving another donation. This has professionally taught me that that the little things can have a major impact on a business decision.

This experience has given me some major insight into the field of sport management. It has taught me that the field is not just marketing and sales. It could also be about making an impact and making long lasting relationships. As I mentioned before, through this field you can make a difference and get individuals more involved in sport. Whether or not that leads to individuals that you can market towards or sell to, it still switches the way I look at the field. Without out parks and rec. centers or YMCA’s, there may not be as many individuals into sports. They may be at home playing video games or on the streets getting in trouble. This is a major factor in the participation of sport for individuals who lack the financial stability to pay to play.