By Brent Beggs and Amy R. Hurd Internships Bring the Classroom to Life

I NTERNSHIPS ARE A COMMON PRACTICE in parks andreation as they are a requirenrient for NRPÄ accreditedprograms. These internships allow students to apply their classroom learning to a real situation. Students spend 4-plus years preparing to become a professional and the internship serves as a training ground where students can build on the skills they already pos-sess and help them make the transition from student to full time employee. Internships serve multiple purposes including (a) networking with professionals, (b) developing professionalism. (3) demonstrating, refining, and acquiring competencies. (4) preparing to secure an entry level position, and (5) bridging the gap between theory and practice. These are achieved through successful mternships which are a result of academic preparation, student motivation, student competency, and the internship site itself. Key to any successful internship is the people in