CLASS DESCRIPTION
Internships play a critical role in developing the next generation of parks and recreation professionals. This course explores best practices for designing, managing, and evaluating meaningful internship programs that benefit both students and host organizations. Led by an experienced university internship coordinator, the session examines how to structure internships that align academic expectations with real-world workforce needs, create clear learning outcomes, and provide mentorship that supports professional growth. Participants will leave with practical strategies for recruiting interns, setting expectations, and creating internship experiences that build strong talent pipelines.
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, participants will be able to:
- Explain the role of internships in workforce development and professional preparation.
- Identify key components of a high-quality, educationally sound internship program.
- Distinguish between effective and ineffective internship structures and supervision models.
- Develop clear learning objectives and expectations for interns.
- Apply best practices for mentoring, evaluating, and supporting interns throughout the internship experience.
After successfully passing the Knowledge Check, participants will receive a completion certificate and follow-up email. The PRB+ University team is actively working to create partnerships with CEU-accrediting agencies and administrators. Please check back regularly for updates about new CEU partners, approved courses, and submission details: https://www.prbplus.com/ceus/.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Julie Knapp, PhD, is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Bloomington. She teaches within parks and recreation-focused areas and, in her role as Internship Coordinator, has worked with a variety of park and recreation departments on facilitating internship and practicum experiences for college students. Julie currently serves as a member of the American Camp Association’s Staff Recruitment and Retention Committee. She also directs Indiana University’s Executive Development Program for Park and Recreation Professionals. www.iuedp.org