JOB REPORT / 39-9032 · 24 TASKS

Recreation Workers.

Can AI do the work of Recreation Workers?

Mostly it works alongside you. Here is what shifts, task by task.

YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS

How does this fit your work?

How many tasks do you use AI to assist with at work?

Drag the dot. There’s no wrong answer; it starts at our estimate.

Starting pointOur estimate

The mark shows what’s typical for this job.

The parts of your job AI can already do most of:

Complete and maintain time and attendance forms and inventory…
Schedule maintenance and use of facilities
Document individuals' progress toward meeting their treatment goals

Your free lesson plan builds the skills that keep you ahead of AI.

A free set of short lessons, about 20 minutes each, at your own pace. No payment, no experience needed.

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Earn a certificate in your job

A guided certificate program in AI-assisted Recreation Workers work. It covers the 19 AI-affected parts of your job and ends in a capstone a person reviews.

WHAT WE LOOKED AT

Your job, task by task.

19 of 24 tasks reviewed

This job has 24 core tasks. We went through 19 of them, one at a time.

Task by task, from the work Recreation Workers actually do. How we describe AI use in each task is our own read of it, not a measurement of whether AI can replace the job.

TASK 01
Complete and maintain time and attendance forms and inventory lists.
AI DOES
Auto-fills time sheets, flags missing entries, and generates inventory summaries from input data
YOU DO
Confirm real-world headcounts and verify physical inventory accuracy
TASK 02
Schedule maintenance and use of facilities.
AI DOES
Builds draft schedules, spots conflicts, and sends reminders automatically
YOU DO
Weigh community needs and handle unexpected situations on the ground
TASK 03
Document individuals' progress toward meeting their treatment goals.
AI DOES
Drafts progress note templates and suggests wording based on input
YOU DO
Observe each person directly and judge their true growth
TASK 04
Develop treatment goals for individuals based on their assessments.
AI DOES
Suggests sample treatment goals and goal-writing templates based on common assessment findings
YOU DO
Apply personal knowledge of each person's needs, motivations, and life context to shape goals that actually work
TASK 05
Organize, lead, and promote interest in recreational activities, such as arts, crafts, sports, games, camping, and hobbies.
AI DOES
Drafts activity schedules, writes promotional content, and suggests program ideas
YOU DO
Show up, read the room, and keep people engaged in the moment
TASK 06
Assess the needs and interests of individuals and groups and plan activities accordingly, given the available equipment or facilities.
AI DOES
Suggests activity options based on group type, age, interests, and available equipment
YOU DO
Watch the group in real time and adjust plans based on what you see and feel
TASK 07
Evaluate recreation areas, facilities, and services to determine if they are producing desired results.
AI DOES
Summarizes feedback, spots trends in usage data, and drafts evaluation reports
YOU DO
Walk the space, talk to participants, and judge real community fit
TASK 08
Evaluate staff performance, recording evaluations on appropriate forms.
AI DOES
Drafts evaluation templates, suggests performance criteria, and helps write clear feedback comments
YOU DO
Watch staff in action and make fair, firsthand judgments about their real-world performance
TASK 09
Meet and collaborate with agency personnel, community organizations, and other professional personnel to plan balanced recreational programs for participants.
AI DOES
Drafts meeting agendas, suggests program ideas, and summarizes notes
YOU DO
Build real relationships and make judgment calls about community needs
TASK 10
Manage the daily operations of recreational facilities.
AI DOES
Drafts schedules, tracks usage data, answers routine questions, and flags maintenance needs
YOU DO
Stay present, read the room, and make quick calls when something goes wrong with real people
TASK 11
Explain principles, techniques, and safety procedures to participants in recreational activities and demonstrate use of materials and equipment.
AI DOES
Drafts clear instructions, safety checklists, and activity scripts
YOU DO
Show up in person, read the group's energy, and demonstrate hands-on skills safely
TASK 12
Serve as liaison between park or recreation administrators and activity instructors.
AI DOES
Drafts emails, schedules meetings, and organizes shared info between teams
YOU DO
Build trust and read the room when people have concerns or conflicts
TASK 13
Supervise and coordinate the work activities of personnel, such as training staff members and assigning work duties.
AI DOES
Drafts schedules, suggests training plans, and organizes duty assignments
YOU DO
Show up in person, coach your team, and make real-time judgment calls
TASK 14
Confer with management to discuss and resolve participant complaints.
AI DOES
Drafts complaint summaries and suggests resolution options
YOU DO
Bring empathy and read the room in live conversations
TASK 15
Oversee the purchase, planning, design, construction, and upkeep of recreation facilities and areas.
AI DOES
Drafts budget plans, researches design ideas, and helps write specifications or maintenance schedules
YOU DO
Walk the site, manage contractors, and make real-world judgment calls
TASK 16
Encourage participants to develop their own activities and leadership skills through group discussions.
AI DOES
Suggests discussion prompts, icebreakers, and leadership activity frameworks
YOU DO
Show up in person, read the group's mood, and build real trust with participants
TASK 17
Direct special activities or events, such as aquatics, gymnastics, or performing arts.
AI DOES
Helps plan schedules, write event descriptions, and suggest activity ideas
YOU DO
Show up, lead people, and respond to what's happening in the moment
TASK 18
Provide for entertainment and set up related decorations and equipment.
AI DOES
Suggests themes, decoration ideas, and equipment checklists
YOU DO
Show up, set it up, and make the space feel welcoming
TASK 19
Meet with staff to discuss rules, regulations, and work-related problems.
AI DOES
Drafts meeting agendas, summarizes rules, and suggests talking points
YOU DO
Show up, listen, and build trust with your team in person

START LEARNING AI

Practice AI.
Use your judgment.

There are 19 short lessons for this job, about 15 minutes each. Each one starts from a task above and teaches the part that stays with you.

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AT A GLANCE

Occupation: Recreation Workers
SOC code: 39-9032
Tasks reviewed: 19 of 24

How we assess

PAY & OUTLOOK

Compare pay by state

Median pay (national): $36,560 · BLS OEWS 2025
Median pay (Colorado): $38,820 · BLS OEWS 2025
Employed (national): 331,490
Employed in Colorado: 6,100
Job outlook: +4.1% by 2034 · ~68,100 openings/yr

Wages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. National figures cover the United States. Job outlook is national.

How does this fit your work?

Earn a certificate in your job

Your job, task by task.

Complete and maintain time and attendance forms and inventory lists.

Schedule maintenance and use of facilities.

Document individuals' progress toward meeting their treatment goals.

Develop treatment goals for individuals based on their assessments.

Organize, lead, and promote interest in recreational activities, such as arts, crafts, sports, games, camping, and hobbies.

Assess the needs and interests of individuals and groups and plan activities accordingly, given the available equipment or facilities.

Evaluate recreation areas, facilities, and services to determine if they are producing desired results.

Evaluate staff performance, recording evaluations on appropriate forms.

Meet and collaborate with agency personnel, community organizations, and other professional personnel to plan balanced recreational programs for participants.

Manage the daily operations of recreational facilities.

Explain principles, techniques, and safety procedures to participants in recreational activities and demonstrate use of materials and equipment.

Serve as liaison between park or recreation administrators and activity instructors.

Supervise and coordinate the work activities of personnel, such as training staff members and assigning work duties.

Confer with management to discuss and resolve participant complaints.

Oversee the purchase, planning, design, construction, and upkeep of recreation facilities and areas.

Encourage participants to develop their own activities and leadership skills through group discussions.

Direct special activities or events, such as aquatics, gymnastics, or performing arts.

Provide for entertainment and set up related decorations and equipment.

Meet with staff to discuss rules, regulations, and work-related problems.

Practice AI.Use your judgment.

Practice AI.
Use your judgment.