Diversify Intern

Diversify Internship

Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District (THPRD) is firmly committed to fostering an inclusive environment that is representative of the community we serve through embracing employees from varied backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences. The Diversify Internship aims to magnify the lens of those whose journey has been impacted by race/ethnicity, LGBTQ identities, experiences with a disability, and other identities. 

We take pride in offering internship opportunities that explore a wide range of career possibilities within the field of parks and recreation. Our goal is to create an inclusive learning, working, and networking environment for all interns.

For the summer 2025 cohort, which will take place from June - August, we’re excited to provide the following internship opportunities:
 

• Community Gardens Intern– Assists with our program's daily operations, including regular site visits, general garden maintenance, cleanup events, and research on community garden practices. The intern will also create educational materials to benefit gardeners and their success in our program. This position regularly interacts with community gardeners, district staff, and volunteers. 
• Community Wellness Intern – Supports district-wide fitness events in addition to representing fitness at assigned events. Works on community engagement through social media by creating and distributing fitness and wellness information/videos/graphics. Supports our fitness in the park and group fitness program – shadowing instructors and working on class outlines. Proposed projects – research and develop strategies for engaging marginalized communities in fitness and wellness programs OR develop a digital campaign to encourage participation in the fitness program (i.e., Take a Class with Me series) 
• Culinary Arts Intern – Shares their passion for cooking and love for working with kids to create a fun, hands-on cooking camp experience. You’ll assist with selecting age-appropriate recipes, incorporating games and activities, and setting up engaging cooking stations. During camp, you’ll lead interactive cooking sessions, teach basic techniques and kitchen safety, and introduce kids to nutritional concepts. Additional responsibilities include supervising campers, taking attendance, maintaining a safe and inclusive environment, and keeping supplies organized. This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in culinary education while making a lasting impact on young chefs!
• Fitness Intern – Supports specialized exercise programs, such as REVIVE, and assists with fitness programming at the Elsie Stuhr Center, which offers recreational activities for patrons aged 55 and older. The intern is involved in conducting exercise screenings, including senior fitness assessments and functional motor screenings. Additionally, the intern will work within our personal training and group fitness programs, shadowing trainers and contributing to the development of exercise and class programs. The role also includes supporting youth and teen fitness camps. A proposed project for the intern is to identify and develop a new fitness program, class, or workshop for implementation.
• Inclusion Intern – This opportunity is for students pursuing a career in Recreation Therapy. The intern will work under the supervision of a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) in a fast-paced community recreation setting, supporting patrons with a variety of physical, cognitive, social, and emotional disabilities. The intern will have the opportunity to lead TR groups, assist at Camp Rivendale (a specialty camp for patrons with disabilities), organize staff and volunteers, and participate in special events. To be eligible for this internship, candidates must be currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s program in Therapeutic Recreation or a related field and must have completed the required coursework necessary for the internship.
• Nature Center Intern –Helps with different programs based on the skills you want to learn. If you want to connect with the community, join Nature Mobile. You will provide free environmental education to the public and build your knowledge in environmental education and teaching skills. If you are looking to improve your administrative skills, you can work on office support projects, practice technical writing and data entry, and create training materials. If you enjoy photography, videography, and social media, you can help us showcase the Nature Center. You will develop our online presence and update our training materials with new photos and videos.
• Summer Camp Intern – Assists in bringing fun, creativity, and organization to our camp programs, including the Rec Mobile Camp, which serves underserved youth. Your role will involve planning and leading engaging activities, managing daily operations, tracking attendance, and ensuring smooth transitions between activities. Additional responsibilities will include organizing materials, maintaining camp documents, preparing vehicles for field trips, and ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all campers.
• Special Programs/Projects Intern– Assists with our RISE Volunteer Program by sending email reminders and shift schedules to THPRD staff and RISE Volunteers. This role involves working with the Volgistics scheduling system and following up with volunteers and staff regarding evaluations and reported hours. Additionally, you will support Conestoga's Passport Program, which celebrates THPRD's 70th Anniversary by organizing engaging activities for patrons to complete. Participants will earn stamps that can be redeemed for prizes. Other responsibilities may include data collection and analysis, as well as assisting with the planning and implementation of Conestoga's Parks & Rec Palooza event on Sunday, July 13th.
• Volunteer Services Intern –Gets experience managing volunteers and engaging the public while working with a dynamic team of passionate volunteer coordinators. You’ll learn the logistics necessary for a successful volunteer event and train to take the lead with volunteers at events. In addition, you’ll create and share virtual training resources for volunteers in various positions and staff who manage volunteers across the district. Anyone interested in this position must enjoy engaging with people to build community and have some experience using technology to create and share virtual videos, photos, resources, etc. 

Click here to learn more about this opportunity and to view the full job description.

Typical job duties vary based on the program area and include both administrative and field experience:

-Perform a wide variety of work duties and responsibilities based on assignment, academic coursework, and/or degree program.

-Conduct research and analysis; prepares project reports, progress summaries, spreadsheets, and other written materials.

-Assist in the development and delivery of program materials and program area activities.

-Schedules and facilitates meetings with staff, (which may be indoors, outdoors and/or virtually) as needed to accomplish project goals.

-Perform data entry. Prepare and/or proofread a variety of forms, letters, flyers, promotional materials, etc.

-Research policies, procedures, guidelines, and standards; identifies opportunities for improvement and makes recommendations.

-Assist in promoting positive public relations and customer service for various programs, services, or activities. Attend and participate in staff meetings, trainings, and workshops.

-Participate in various phases of a planned training and evaluation of the internship program.

Interns in this position will work with a supervisor to collaboratively identify steps to complete the project that fit both the intern’s goals and the district’s needs. Interns will also gain experience working with cross-district employees while contributing to a positive and inclusive experience for community members.

Previous experience in the focus area is desired, but not required. Successful candidates will have a basic understanding of software and computer operations, written and verbal communication, basic math, and an interest in fitness and/or recreation.

These internships are budgeted for 10 – 12 weeks and schedules are often ~29 hours per week. The district will work with interns to develop a schedule that works around their current class schedule. Hours will vary depending on the program’s needs and may include weekend days and evenings. Part-time employees are scheduled variable hours and may work less than 1,560 hours per year.

THPRD is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, THPRD will ensure that people experiencing disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources at humanresources@thprd.org.

Please follow THPRD on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram to learn more about our organization.

 

Salary : $18 - $19