Paid Recreation Therapy Internship - Summer 2025

Youth Villages has been a national leader in the implementation of research-based treatment philosophies in the field of children's mental and behavioral health. Our commitment to helping troubled children and their families find success spans 30+ years and includes a comprehensive array of programs and services.

Please note this is specifically for students majoring in Recreation Therapy. 

Program Overview

Youth Villages’ Residential Treatment programs serve children with emotional and behavioral problems. Our residential campuses provide the setting for an intensive treatment program that combines the unique balance of structure and freedom. This enables children and their families to identify, understand and cope with their individual needs and develop the skills necessary to succeed in less restrictive settings.  We have three different types of facilities—Intensive Residential Centers, Open Campuses, and Group Homes.  Located in Tennessee and Georgia, all of these facilities utilize the Re-Education of Emotionally Disturbed Children therapy model (Re-Ed). 

Position Overview

As an intern in the Recreation Therapy Program, you will have the opportunity to do some of the following:

Work under the supervision of an NCTRC certified staff member
First half of the internship is spent shadowing one or more recreation therapists, as well as interacting with youth from multiple programs 
Interns learn how to complete assessments and clinical documentation 
During the second half, interns are designated a specific group(s) where they work with the other recreation therapists to facilitate the groups sessions typically held 3 times per week
Each session is usually 1-2.5 hours long
Sessions include having the child set objectives or goals they want to accomplish during the activity and evaluating those objectives at the end of each session.
Interns also participate in treatment team planning which includes setting recreational goals that are implemented during sessions in addition to the child’s other therapeutic goals.
Interns typically work Monday-Friday, 40/hrs a week (hours can be flexible based on groups and events. Interns would receive a monthly schedule), internship will be from May to August.

This will be a paid internship opportunity! Interns are responsible for their own housing and transportation. 

Requirements
Must be pursuing a Bachelors or Masters degree in Therapeutic Recreation and have completed junior year.
Experience working with children or adolescents.

Must be lifeguard certified or able to obtain certification by passing swim test. 

• Swim test: Swim 300 yards continuously using front crawl or breaststroke, tread water for 2 minutes using only legs, complete a timed event within 1 minute 40 seconds: start in water and swim 20 yards, surface dive to a depth of 9ft to retrieve a 10lb object. Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on your back to the start keeping both hands on the object and keeping the face at or near the surface to be able to breath. Once at the start exit the water without using a ladder. This must be completed without goggles.

Physical Requirements:
Duties performed in these types of environments are often highly stressful and potentially physical. Candidates must be able to participate in all physical interventions including all indoor/outdoor therapeutic activities (hiking ,ropes, etc). In addition, working with our troubled youth requires a certain level of stamina and temperament. One must also have the ability to bend, stoop, squat and lift a minimum of 50 lbs.

Youth Villages is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Youth Villages is committed to not only advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace but also in our work with children and young adults. We know that children, families and young people of color can face inequity in child welfare and justice systems, and we train our employees to build the skills they need to work with the communities that we serve, as well as, other employees from different cultures and backgrounds. Youth Villages is opposed to racism in any of its forms and is committed to inclusion, equity, and diversity. We believe that respect for each other is crucial in the work that we do each day.