Recreation aids and assistants work in federal job series 0189. The job calls for practical knowledge of one or more recreational activities, plus the skill to use and look after recreation equipment and supplies. People in these positions support recreation specialists and recreation program managers instead of running programs on their own.
The settings vary. Some jobs are at community centers on military bases or in cities. Others cover child care and youth centers, recreation for senior citizens, outdoor recreation, hobby shops and craft centers, sports centers, or places built around music and theater. Some aids help with general recreation for particular groups, including students at Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding schools and people held in federal correctional institutions.
Day to day, the work means handling limited parts of the recreation program and spending time directly with participants during activities that have already been planned out and are closely supervised.