Ep#153 | Internships That Actually Launch Careers

In this episode of The Daily Parks and Rec Show, host Craig LeBlanc sits down with Nick Campion, Assistant Director of Danvers, MA Parks & Recreation, to explore the most robust internship program in the nation. 🎓 From intern to innovator, Nick reveals how his vision created a model that’s helping build the next generation of Parks & Rec professionals. Whether you’re a director looking to start an internship program or a student looking to break into the field, this episode is packed with real-world insights and actionable tips. 🚨 Topics Covered: How to build and scale a Parks & Rec internship program Partnering with universities like Endicott College and UNH Paid internships, project examples, and recruiting tips Why investing in interns fuels your agency's future Conference opportunities and YPN (Young Professionals Network) ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro: Why Nick Campion is one of a kind 02:45 - The origins of Nick’s internship journey 06:12 - Building trust with leadership before starting 09:40 - The first intern and initial pitch 13:05 - How the internship structure evolved 15:30 - Pay scale and intern expectations 18:42 - Sample projects & day-to-day intern tasks 22:30 - Partnering with Endicott, UNH, and others 27:10 - How professors & coordinators feed the pipeline 32:15 - College major types & real-world assignments 37:40 - Full-cycle event planning: a live case study 42:00 - When interns turn into full-time hires 45:28 - Pitching the program to other directors 48:00 - The value of mentorship & two-way learning 51:22 - The rise of pickleball: intern-driven innovation 55:00 - Intern interview process and red flags 58:10 - Hosting multiple interns: sweet spot and rhythm 1:01:30 - How early to communicate with schools 1:03:45 - Connecting with the next generation 1:07:22 - Shoutout to Northern New England Rec Conference 1:11:00 - State associations and conference planning 1:14:50 - Marketing to future leaders 🔔 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more Parks & Rec leadership insights. #parksandrec #internshipprograms #NickCampion #leadership #leadershipseries #youthdevelopment #recreationmanagement #danversma #ypnetwork #communityimpact #communitymatters #thedailyparksandrecshow #craigleblanc #thedoorman #parksforall #powerofparks