Parks and Recreation Internships

Columbia Parks and Recreation offers three internship opportunities each year for senior students majoring in Parks and Recreation, Sports Management, or a related degree. Positions are based on department availability and may be offered for each season (spring/summer/fall/winter).  The internship opportunity with the Parks and Recreation Department is a 16-week program.

This internship position is exclusively for students earning college credit for the work completed during the internship. The Parks and Recreation Intern will spend 30 hours/week for 16 weeks with all program areas of the Recreation Services and with most Parks Management divisions; based on department needs and candidate interests. 

Program areas include: Activity & Recreation Center, Adapted Community Recreation, Aquatics, Community Recreation/CARE, Day Camps, Golf, Life Enrichment Classes, Special Events, Natural Resources, Maintenance, Planning and Sports Turf Management.

Intern duties may include: working in the field or frontlines in each area; working directly with the public; planning/developing programs and/or events; implementing programs and events; attending training(s) or gaining certifications; supervising facilities or programs; attending department meetings; participating in park design; sports turf management; natural resource management; and general park maintenance.

The Internship Position will be posted as a position on the City’s Human Resources (HR) website for twelve (12) to fourteen (14) days in the months of February, April and October, pending seasonal internships. 

Upcoming dates

Summer 2024: Posted Feb. 6-19, 2024
Fall 2024: Posted April 14-26, 2024
Winter/Spring 2025: Posted Sept. 26-Oct. 9, 2024
Summer 2025: Posted Feb. 4-27, 2025

Applicants will need to go to www.gocomojobs.com to apply. Each applicant will be required to attach a cover letter and resume. HR staff are happy to assist applicants with the application process. Applications or resumes that are not submitted through the city’s on-line system will NOT be accepted. If you are interested in Parks and Recreation work experience but not receiving credit, please go to www.gocomojobs.com and submit an application for any position that is of interest.

P&R staff will review all the applications after the job posting has closed and select candidates will interview with a panel of P&R employees for the internship position.  P&R staff will be interviewing up to 10 candidates for each position. Interviews will be conducted within 10-15 days of the position closing.

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