Download Rec 3530 Program Planning in Recreation and Parks

Rec 3530
Program Planning
in Recreation and Parks
Chapter 11
Leading and Supervising Programs
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the
way and shows the way.”
John C. Maxwell
What do you need people for?
Plan the program
Implement and monitor the program
Evaluate the program
Who will do these things?
Directors, supervisors, managers,
leaders, and volunteers
Leadership/Supervisors
• Facility Supervisors
–Oversee maintenance
–Distribute materials & equipment
–Check user permits
–Collect fees
–Make sure policies are followed
Leadership/Supervisors, cont.
• Program Supervisors
–Focus on program components, such
as selecting & carrying out programs
as prepared
–Supervise program/activity leaders
Leadership/Supervisors, cont.
When hiring staff, consider:

Participant-to-staff ratio---varies
with age of participants and nature of activity

Credentials needed---depends on
program activities and job description for each
position
Leadership/Supervisors, cont.
• Recruit staff---job description, advertising job
opportunities, interviewing, reference checks
and testing (in some cases)
• Training ---orientation to the job, coworkers &
the organization itself; training in leading
program; on-the-job & away from job
• Retaining ---supervising & evaluating;
performance reviews
Leadership/Activity Leaders
• Activity leaders
–implement the program
–are managed by program or facility
supervisors
–may be employees or, more recently,
contract staff
How could hiring contract staff be helpful?
Difficult?
Expectations for Staff
1. Facilitation---help patrons have the best
experience possible
– Frontloading
– Discussion
– Feedback
2. Motivation---energize patrons, sustain
recreational behavior
– Intrinsic
– Extrinsic
Expectations for Staff, cont.
3. Group Dynamics---the study of group effectiveness
IMPROVE group dynamics:
• Clear goals and commitment to them from each group
member
• Effective communication among members
• Equitable power & influence, based on ability and expertise
• Mutual respect and commitment to the group
• High interpersonal cohesion
• Controversy & conflict resolved positively and with minimal
energy
Expectations for Staff, cont.
4. Behavior Management---guide group actions to
maximize program experiences
How?
• Structure physical
environment
• Clearly state expectations
• Clarify benefits of desirable
behavior
• Clarify consequences of
undesirable behavior
• Model the behavior
• Create contracts
• Use regulated permission
• Tolerate some undesirable
behavior
• Use nonverbal clues before
verbal ones
• Change the activity
• Use time-out procedures
Volunteers
• UNPAID staff--- UNPAID
does NOT mean UNIMPORTANT
• Extend program services
• Process for volunteers same as paid staff
regarding recruiting, training and retaining
• Recognition, rather than payment, necessary
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