Rec Facilities Intern experience
Daniel
Experience Information
Employer: GVSU
Job Title: Facilities Management Intern
Major: Sport Management
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: No
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
Grand Valley State University, located in Allendale, Michigan, including Pew Campus, downtown Grand Rapids. Liberal Arts school,4 year programs.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
Worked on benching marking and fundraising projects related to recreation space, enrollment, space per student, as well as fundraising research for student organizations. Learned about day to day operations and maintenance of all rec facilities, including all outdoor rec, rec center, pool, fitness center, weight room, Kelly Turf building. Help with preventative maintenance tasks, worked with student staff, attending monthly staff meetings, as well as weekly meeting with management. Help with set-up and tear down of some events and activities, and learned about scheduling and memberships.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
Learned valuable information about the inner workings of the Rec facilities and about campus rec. Was able to listen and learn from several different managers, and employees of all levels in many different areas, given me a great overview of what it takes to manage not only daily goals and tasks, but long term as well.
Favorite Part of the Experience
What I enjoyed most was being able to work with so many different people. Instead of just learning one job from one person, Kate made me available to several different people on any given day, which allow me the freedom to move around, and really give me a great overview of the entire operation, and in the process I was able to meet some great people.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
This experience has influenced my future career goals in a positive way. I have been interested and both athletics and rec, however, since I have enjoyed this experience so much I have decided to pursue rec further, and am hoping to do my next internship in that field as well, possibly even pursuing it as a future career.