What does an Activity Assistant do?

An Activity Assistant helps keep people entertained. In long-term care facilities, Activity Assistants create opportunities for socialization, exercise and creative thinking that can improve residents’ quality of life. Aboard cruise ships, an Activity Assistant ensures that passengers enjoy their vacations and have plenty to do both while at sea and in ports of call. As a result, they can have a big impact on customer satisfaction. Activity Assistants working in summer camps, schools and daycare centers provide opportunities for learning and enrichment, contributing to the organizations’ success.

Activity Assistant skills and qualifications

To perform well in their role, a prospective Activity Assistant needs a set of specific skills. Some qualifications to list on your Activity Assistant job description include:

• Creative thinking skills to continuously plan unique events

• Budgeting skills to control activity costs

• Organizational skills to plan multiple events at once

• Interpersonal skills to interact positively with other staff members and activity participants

• Computer skills to use email, word processing, recordkeeping and spreadsheet software

• Problem-solving skills to overcome obstacles before and during activities

• Written communication skills to compile participant surveys and activity reports

• Knowledge of CPR and basic first aid

Activity Assistant experience requirements

How much work experience a candidate will need to perform well in your open position will depend on the nature of the job. If you only have one Activity Assistant on your team, you may prefer to hire someone who has worked as an assistant for one or more years previously or who has some sort of event management experience. When filling a vacancy on a team of Activity Assistants, candidates with less or no experience may suffice, as they can receive on-the-job training and assistance from your more seasoned employees.

Activity Assistant education and training requirements

Generally, there are no formal education requirements for Activity Assistant roles. As you review resumes, you may wish to prioritize candidates who hold relevant voluntary certifications. If you’re including CPR and first aid skills in your Activity Assistant job description, holding Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association may be beneficial. 

Those who obtained this certification have completed a training course and passed an examination For positions at long-term care facilities, Activity Professional Certification (APC) from the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals (NCCAP) may be desirable. The NCCAP grants this credential to Activity Assistants who participate in a training course that culminates in an exam.

Activity Assistant salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for an Activity Assistant is $36,310 per year. Geographic location, work experience, educational background and certification status largely determine how much an individual Activity Assistant makes. 

Job description samples for similar positions

If this description for Activity Assistant positions isn’t an ideal fit for your organization, consider these alternative job titles:

• Activity Director

• Caregiver

• Event Planner

• Camp Counselor

Activity Assistant job description FAQs

How should I tailor my Activities Assistant job description to fit our work setting?

If your Activity Assistant job description is for a position at a long-term care facility, you may wish to include reviewing resident care plans to ensure that activities are safe and accessible for a large number of participants. For an Activity Assistant who will work aboard a cruise ship, the ability to speak local languages in ports of call may be a desirable skill. At summer camps and schools, Activity Assistants may be responsible for sending home permission slips for events, finding donations or enlisting parent volunteers. 

Who does an Activity Assistant report to?

Who an Activity Assistant reports to varies. If you have more than one Activity Assistant on staff, an Activity Coordinator may be responsible for overseeing the entire team. Otherwise, assistants may report to an Assistant Director, Director, Event Manager or other member of your management team, depending on your organizational structure.

What’s the difference between an Activity Assistant and an Event Planner?

An Event Planner typically works for an event planning service or a venue that hosts events. Like an Activity Assistant, they aid in planning. However, the events they organize are usually special occasions such as weddings and banquets.