REC 263 Fieldwork II (2 credit hours)

Sherry Jones, REC 163/263 Coordinator
Begley 410
859-622-1249
sherry.jones@eku.edu

REC 263 is the second fieldwork experience required of our students. This course focuses on students being more actively involved in assisting with park, recreation, and leisure service activities. Students are required to complete 90 clock hours in a park, recreation, or leisure related environment focused on planning, organizing, and leading
programs and activities. The agency where REC 263 will be completed must be directly related to the student's option (Public/Nonprofit Recreation Services, Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation, Therapeutic Recreation, or Tourism and Resort Recreation).


Purposes of REC 263

1. To provide students with an opportunity to learn more about the field of park, recreation and leisure services through direct hands-on experience.

2. To provide students the opportunity to explore and evaluate their own leadership style and communication/interpersonal skills through planning, organizing, and leading activities and programs.

3. To gain knowledge about the selected agency by examining its mission, vision, goals and objectives, and philosophy of service.

4. To provide the agency with an opportunity to further the profession by preparing students to become professionals in the field.

5. To allow students to become more familiar with participants, patients, clientele, and their needs and reasons for participating through observation and interaction.

6. To recognize well supervised recreation activities and programs by observing and evaluating leadership techniques of agency staff members.

7. To provide students with the ability to formulate and articulate the goals, objectives, and benefits of the field and their chosen option.

8. To provide students with the opportunity to see the importance of evaluating recreation activities and programs.

Guidelines for REC 263 Fieldwork II

Selection of the Agency

The responsibility of finding and securing placement with an agency lies primarily with the student. The faculty REC 263 coordinator will provide a list of approved local agencies that have accepted and/or requested fieldwork students. There is also a general listing of facilities and agencies that provide recreation services within a given location available to students enrolling in REC 263,

The following criteria need to be considered in selecting a Fieldwork I agency:

1. The agency should be recognized and competent in the area of recreation, park and leisure services.

2. The selected REC 263 agency must be directly related to the student's option (Public/Nonprofit Recreation Services, Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation, Therapeutic Recreation, or Tourism and Resort Recreation.)

3. The agency supervisor should be competent, professional and experienced in effectively supervising students.

4. The agency supervisor should provide continuous constructive feedback to the student.

5. The agency and its staff should be supportive of the student and the student's appropriate level of learning.

6. The agency should demonstrate sound professionalism through its policies and procedures, as well as its relationships with participants, staff, community, patients,and or clientele.

7. The selected REC 263 agency must be a different agency than the REC 163 agency, unless prior permission is obtained from the REC 263 Fieldwork Coordinator.

8. If the selected fieldwork agency is not on the approved list, the Fieldwork Coordinator and the student will adhere to the above criteria in the placement approval process.

Grading and Evaluation

The final course grade for REC 263 will be an "S" (Satisfactory) or "U" (Unsatisfactory). If a student receives a "U" grade, the course must be repeated. Conditions for receiving a satisfactory grade in the course are:

1. attend all required REC 263 class meetings

2. complete and pass the required assignments:

a. Agency Acceptance Form (Appendix E)
b. Mid-Term Oral and Written Report (Appendix F)
c. Written Report (Appendix G)
d. Log of Hours For (Appendix J)

3. demonstrate satisfactory quality of work

4. receive a satisfactory supervisor's evaluation (Appendix I)

5. complete the required hours within the prescribed term

Absences and Holidays

Students are expected to follow the schedule set by the agency supervisor. If for any reason the student must miss a scheduled date, the student must notify the agency supervisor as soon as possible. Any hours missed, approved or unapproved, must be rescheduled. The student should be aware that this is a professional experience and should be approached in the same manner as a professional paid position.


Dress, Appearance and Conduct

Students are to adhere to the professional atmosphere of the agency. This will include appropriate attire and interaction with participants and staff. The professional image should be expressed by the agency supervisor as stipulated by the agency's policies and procedure guidelines.


Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend all scheduled class meeting set by the Fieldwork II Coordinator. These meetings will be conducted as a class with the expectation of participation. The meetings will prepare the student for the fieldwork experience by providing necessary information and assignment requirements. Failure to attend the scheduled class meetings may result in receiving an "unsatisfactory" grade.


Length and Time Line

REC 263 provides the student with a 90 hour fieldwork experience. The student will have a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 12 weeks to complete the 90 hours The student is expected to evenly distribute the 90 hours within the REC 263 timeline.