FEATURE ARTICLE
A three-part study finds that more than 200 park and
recreation agencies do not offer internships
BY DANIEL G. YODER AND RONALD SALSKI
Research indicates
less overall interest in careers with Illinois public leisure providers.
Not only are there more options for students, but students are more
aware of these opportunities than ever before.
Internships have been a key component of the leisure
service field over the past 40 years, but we know relatively little about them. To fully understand internships
it is useful to consider them as a system with three key
components: 1) the leisure service agencies that offer
internships, 2) the college students who do them, and
3) the universities that coordinate them.
Each component makes a contribution and expects
to receive particular benefits from their participation.
Agencies sacrifice time and energy to acquire good, young
professionals and to support the field in general. Students contribute their time—usually about 12 weeks—to receive a unique educational and professional experience and to fulfill the university requirements. Universities coordinate, supervise and evaluate the relationship between students and agencies.
To determine the state of the system in Illinois, the
Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) College
and University Relations Committee undertook a statewide study completed in 1999. Researchers gathered
data from three primary sources. First questioned were
therapeutic recreation agencies in institutional settings,
special recreation associations, municipal recreation departments, forest preserves, conservation districts and
park districts. Secondly, students who were currently
doing an internship or anticipating undertaking an internship within the next few months offered perspectives based on their own expectations and resources. Finally, internship coordinators at several Illinois universities that have park and recreation programs contributed
their ideas and concerns about internships and leisure
service agencies.
Agency Responses
The agencies responded conscientiously to the request
for information. A total of 335 agencies received surveys
with 281 completed and returned questionnaires for a
84% response rate. Such a high return rate allows researchers to make inferences to larger populations with considerable confidence. As the chart on page 16 indicates, fewer
than half of all responding agencies (47.7%) currently
have internship programs in place.
Of agencies with internship programs, 57% offer some
type of stipend to the student; another 30% pay interns
an hourly rate, and 13% offer no pay at all. Some agencies noted that they work with interns on an individual
needs basis. This often includes minimal "gas money" or
mileage reimbursement to offset the students' expenses
for transportation. Occasionally, park districts provide fully
or partially subsidized housing for interns, when appropriate.
Student Responses
College students filled out short questionnaires regarding internships with local public recreation providers in
Illinois. The vast majority of interns and soon-to-be interns (115 of the 117 interns contacted) believed they
should be compensated through stipends, wages, and/or
housing allowances.
While a wide variety of responses were given regarding
the desire for compensation, common themes emerged.
Students noted that they were unable to work the jobs
they normally held while they were attending classes on
campus.
As one student wrote: "I am unable to do my intern-
January/February 2000 | 27
FEATURE ARTICLE
ship without wages. I live on my own and I
have bills to pay."
Another student noted: "Not only are we
working full-time internships, but we are paying full-time tuition and we have other bills
to pay."
Others take a different perspective by noting that they feel they are working approximately 40 hours per week and deserve compensation.
Qualities of Internships
Ranked by students from most
important to least important
• A wide variety of learning experiences
• The possibility of employment after intemship
• Agency's reputation
• Agency's willingness to provide stipend
• Location of agency (proximity to student's permanent address)
• Agency's willingness to provide housing
• Agency's willingness to pay minimum wages
The study also sought to determine factors in student's selection of intemship sites.
Students planning on graduating in 1999 or
2000 were asked to rate the relative importance of seven common qualities of internship sites (see list at left). The research found that the number one priority for an internship site was that it should provide students
with a variety of learning experiences. Second in importance was the possibility of securing permanent employment with the agency. Third was the agency's reputation,
followed by the possibility of a stipend, the
location of the agency and the possibility of
the agency providing housing.
The least important aspect of an internship was the agency's willingness to pay minimum wage. According to student responses, there seems to be a genuine concern about preparation and initiation into the profession. Students desire an agency that provides them with a range of experiences that will
"put the final polish" on their formal educational experience. They look for an agency
that will give them a fair opportunity for employment after the internship.
It should be noted that for many of the student respondents, filling out a questionnaire about internships may be different than actually selecting an agency at which they desire to complete an internship. Immediate and concrete issues at the moment of selection—such as proximity to the students' home and the possibility of housing—may
become the issues on which the decision is based. It may be one thing to think about an
internship site; it may be totally different to actually commit oneself to three or four
months of learning and doing.
University Responses
Internship coordinators from seven Illinois
were interviewed by telephone for the study.
The questions posed to coordinators asked
only about park districts programs, because
these far outnumber other agencies. Nevertheless, their responses directly and indirectly
provide information about other leisure service providers. For the 1998-1999 academic
year, approximately 125 students chose to
do internships with Illinois park districts.
Internships at Illinois park districts
amounted to approximately one-third of all
the internships undertaken by park and recreation majors in our state's universities and
this number has been decreasing over the
past five years. When asked to compare the
quality of internships at Illinois park districts
with other sectors, responses included:
• It depends on the agency.
• They're about the same.
• They generally compare favorably.
• They tend to be more organized.
• They are superior.
• They are favorable with other
government agencies and way ahead
of commercial sites.
• They are the best.
Five respondents believe
park district internships are
better than average; one indicated they are about the same
and one advisor believe that
there were too many variables
to make a general comparison.
When asked to indicate positive qualities of Illinois park
district internships, a range of
responses were given. The
most common response was
that internships at Illinois park
districts provide students with
a variety of learning and working experiences. Students are
Agencies Participating in the Study
Agency
#Contacted
Therapeutic Agencies
Special Recreation Associations
25
20
16
80%
Municipal Recreation Departments
34
30
12
40%
Illinois Dept, of Natural Resources
1
1
1
100%
Forest Preserves and Conservation Districts
11
8
6
75%
Park Districts
253
212
93
42%
Totals
335
281
134
47.7
INTERNSHIPS: A VITAL LINK TO OUR FUTURE
typically exposed to the operations of park
districts from upper level management,
middle management and front-line perspectives. Park districts are reported to be flexible in helping students meet their educational needs in the internships, and there is
a reasonable chance that the student will be
considered for a position at the agency at
the conclusion of the internship. It must be
noted that one internship coordinator was
concerned about the lack of job opportunities after internship completion.
There are also characteristics that are less
than positive regarding internships at park
districts. The most common negative comment was that park districts did not project
a favorable image (internship-wise and career-wise) for students. Other negative comments included occasional lack of supervision and poor compensation or no stipend
at all. Three internship coordinators volunteered their own concerns about special recreation associations generally not providing
any type of compensation to student interns.
The challenges that they see facing the
system include:
• marketing opportunities of careers
with Illinois park districts;
• enhancing the image of careers with
Illinois park districts;
• providing interns with a plan for
advancement in their agency and the
field in general;
• providing internships for nontraditional
students who have experience in a park
district; and
• providing payment and housing.
Summary of Findings
The internship system in the state of Illinois is reasonably healthy. Nearly one-half
of the state's public leisure service agencies
offer internship programs. Approximately
125 students complete internships each year
with Illinois park districts and the majority
of the interns report being very satisfied with
their experiences. Furthermore, university
internship coordinators believe that internships at these agencies provide students with
varied learning experiences and a reasonable
opportunity to gain full-time employment
and begin their professional careers. Most
indicate that internships in the local public
sector are superior in general to those in other
sectors.
Universities Participating in the Study
University
# of Internships
at Illinois Park Districts*
% of Internships with
Illinois Park Districts*
Aurora University
8
50%
Eastern Illinois University
30
55%
Illinois Stale University
30
33%
Southern Illinois University
4
15%
University of Illinois
20
33%
University of St. Francis
7
40%
Western Illinois University
26
25%
Totals
125
36.3%
* 1997-1998 school year
However, concerns were clearly expressed
by some participants, and the research uncovered other trends that my signal serious
problems in the future. More than half of
the agencies that responded reported not having an internship program in place. These
agencies (more than 200 in the state) are
missing out on the opportunity of providing
students in the park and recreation field a
rich and rewarding learning experience. In
addition, they are failing to promote a growing and rewarding profession in the most
effective manner. Finally, agencies that do
not have an internship program might miss
out on the opportunity for exposure to and
early evaluation of the field's most promising young professionals.
Student compensation for the internship
is clearly a key issue. Students believe it is
fair to expect some type of compensation,
and they select sites based partly on the possibility of wages, stipends and/or housing allowances. On the other hand, agencies with
limited resources might find it difficult to
make contributions beyond their current
level. Most already provide at least some of
these tangible benefits and the vast majority
contribute a rich and practical learning environment.
Compensation, however, might be part of
a more significant issue. Last year, approximately 140 students did internships with Illinois park districts. According to university
internship coordinators, this number has
been decreasing over the past five years.
Other research indicates less overall interest
in careers with Illinois public leisure providers. Not only are there more options for students, but students are more aware of these
opportunities than ever before.
The commercial sector continues to expand and draws a growing number of top
park and recreation students. Who could
have foreseen that young people from our
field would be considering careers in leisure
services in correctional settings and in the
gaming/gambling arena? In addition, the
nonprofit area is currently the fastest-growing sector in the county and the predictions
are that this trend will continue.
When these trends are coupled with the
possibility of a burgeoning demand for new
and vibrant park and recreation professionals in Illinois, the situation becomes even
more crucial. Park and recreation service providers must proactively promote careers in
the public sector, and one of the best methods for doing so is through internships. If
agencies do not have programs in place, they
must consider establishing them. If they do
have them, they must understand what students look for and design internships that
January/February 2000 | 29
FEATURE ARTICLE
meet the student's needs as well as their own.
Finally, teachers in higher education must do their part to more effectively promote, coordinate, supervise and evaluate internships in leisure service agencies. In the decades to follow, a strong and healthy internship system will pay dividends to Illinois leisure services agencies, students, universities
and, most importantly, the citizens of Illinois.
DANIEL G. YODER
RONALD SALSKI
30 | Illinois Parks and Recreation
Responding
# with Internships
%with Internships
11
10
6
60%
28 | Illinois Parks and Recreation
is associate professor in the Recreation, Park and Tourism
Administration Department of Western Illinois University.
is superintendent of recreation for the Salt Creek Pork District.