Area
Employer
Information/Strategies
Area:
Commercial Recreation
Resort and Private Recreation
Sub-Area:
- Administration
- Guest Relations:
- Trip Planning and Reservations
- Sales/Marketing
- Event/Program Planning and Evaluation
- Facilities Management
Employers:
- Convention services
- Event planning companies
- Corporate employee services
- Hotels
- Resorts
- Theme/amusement parks
- Casinos
- Country clubs
- Motor home parks
- Campgrounds
- Boating/marina facilities
- Second home communities
- Travel/tourism companies
- Guide services
- Ecotourism agencies
- Cruise, air, bus and rail lines
Strategies & Information:
- Develop strong communication and customer service skills and the ability to work well with people from various backgrounds.
- Acquire foreign language experience and study abroad to increase multicultural perspective.
- Seek employment with resorts, hotels, recreation departments or special events companies.
- Pursue positions in reservations or telephone sales to build sales and customer service skills.
- Volunteer at university and community-wide conferences.
- Join student organizations related to travel or recreation and seek leadership and planning opportunities.
- Increase knowledge of business theory by pursuing a minor or by taking additional classes in management, advertising and public relations.
Area:
Commercial Recreation
Local Recreation
Sub-Area:
- Administration
- Facilities Management
- Sales/Marketing
- Event/Program Planning and Evaluation
Employers:
- Multipurpose sports clubs
- Racquet clubs
- Dance studios
- Health and fitness clubs
- Pools
- Golf courses
- Sport-related franchises, eg. Little Gym, My Gym
- Bowling alleys
- Skating rinks
- Movie theaters
- Party services
- Entertainment providers
- Event planning companies
- Festivals and fairs
- Vendors
Strategies & Information:
- Seek experience through related internships, part-time or summer jobs at campus and community recreational facilities.
- Join student organizations such as campus entertainment board, cultural attractions committee or student union.
- Participate in planning/executing community events and activities, i.e. fairs, festivals, sporting events, conventions.
- Develop membership sales techniques for some customer-service positions.
Area:
Government Recreation
Sub-Area:
- Administration
- Program Management
- Recreation Management
- Recreation Planning
- Park Development/Management
- Natural Resource Management
Employers:
- City, county or regional government agencies:
- Parks
- Public recreation/education programs
- State and federal government agencies:
- Parks, forests, wildlife areas and water resources
- Conservation organizations
- Department of Defense:
- Military bases in U.S. and foreign countries
- Correctional facilities
- Rehabilitation centers
Strategies & Information:
- Learn federal, state and local job application procedures.
- Obtain experience with government agencies.
- Participate in campus and local recreation programs and activities.
- Volunteer to lead teams or organize committees in local recreation leagues.
- Take additional coursework in wildlife, turf or natural resource management, exercise science or other related field to increase marketability.
Area:
Community Recreation
Sub-Area:
- Administration
- Camp Management
- Program Management
- Community Center Management
- Programming
- Coaching
Employers:
- Community centers
- Community programs
- Senior centers
- Adult daycare centers
- Special Olympics
- Youth programs, i.e. YMCA or YWCA
- Sports leagues
- Camps and outdoor recreational programs
- Nonprofit, social service and religiously-affiliated organizations
Strategies & Information:
- Obtain experience with community-based programs, camps, youth groups, etc. through paid, intern or volunteer positions.
- Get involved in campus activities and seek leadership roles.
- Learn to work well with people from varying backgrounds with varying abilities.
Area:
Faith-Based Recreation
Sub-Area:
- Administration
- Program Management
- Facility Management
Employers:
- Churches
- Synagogues
- Mosques
- Para-church organizations, i.e. Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Campus Crusade for Christ
Strategies & Information:
- Understand the relationship between religion, sport and recreation.
- Participate in faith-based recreational programs, and seek leadership experience.
- Develop skills for working in multi-cultural environments.
- Research major programs such as AWANA and CYO (Catholic Youth Organization).
- Attend training seminars that target sport and recreation in religious organizations such as RecLab.
Area:
Recreation Retailing
Sub-Area:
- Management
- Buying/Purchasing
- Small Business Ownership
Employers:
- Department stores
- Specialty shops
- Pro shops/Club stores
- Sporting goods stores
- Outdoor outfitters
Strategies & Information:
- Obtain a part-time job or internship in sales to gain experience, as these positions are often stepping stones to higher-level opportunities.
- Develop excellent interpersonal, communication and customer service skills.
- Hone management and persuasion techniques.
- Seek experience in all retail areas including purchasing, stock control and merchandise display and promotions.
- Pursue expertise in a recreational area such as hiking, fishing, boating, skiing or hunting.
- Take additional coursework in business or pursue a business minor.
- Plan to work long and/or irregular hours, including holidays.
Area:
Education
Sub-Area:
- Teaching
- Research
- Administration
- Student Affairs including:
- Student Activities
- Campus Programming
- Campus Recreation, i.e. outdoor recreation programs, facilities management, fitness programming, intramural/club sports
Employers:
- Colleges and universities
- Public and private schools (K-12)
- Public and private preschool programs (e.g., Head Start)
- Programs servicing children and adults with special needs
Strategies & Information:
- Earn a graduate degree for teaching at the college and university level.
- Research the process for teacher certification in the K-12 system, which varies by state.
- Seek part-time or summer jobs working with youth.
- Serve as a tutor, peer mentor, resident assistant or student advisor.
- Utilize campus recreational programs and facilities, including intramural sports, as a first step in pursuing student affairs positions.
Area:
Therapeutic Recreation
Sub-Area:
- Administration/Management:
- Programs and Staff
- Evaluation and Documentation
- Specialties:
- Intervention
- Aquatic
- Outdoor
Employers:
- Rehabilitation hospitals/centers
- Nursing homes
- Senior centers
- Adult daycare centers
- Assisted living facilities
- Residential facilities
- Psychiatric facilities
- Community mental health centers
- Substance abuse centers
- Recovery centers
- Correctional facilities
- Educational facilities
- Camps and outdoor recreational programs
Strategies & Information:
- Pursue a major in therapeutic recreation or a program with a therapeutic recreation focus.
- Volunteer and intern in therapeutic recreation settings such as camps, senior centers and rehabilitation facilities.
- Demonstrate ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team with physicians, nurses, physical and occupational therapists.
- Earn relevant licensure or certification; regulation varies by state. Consider specialization in areas such as aquatics, intervention, outdoor recreation and art therapy.
- Exhibit patience, creativity, motivational skills and a high comfort level working with people of all ages including those who are sick or disabled.
General Information and Strategies
- An undergraduate degree is suffi cient for entry-level recreation positions. A graduate degree may be required for administrative positions and teaching/research positions at universities and colleges.
- Obtain summer, part-time, internship or volunteer experience in camps, recreation/fitness centers, social service organizations, tourist attractions, etc.
- Develop solid background of recreational and leisure theories and therapeutic practices.
- Develop broad knowledge base of recreational activities such as athletics, music, arts and crafts, nature, dance, drama, etc.
- Hone leadership and supervisory skills for coordinating and directing others in various activities.
- Obtain Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential offered through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certifi cation for some positions. Certification in first aid and safety, CPR or life-guarding may be helpful.
- Demonstrate strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work on a team.
- Learn to interact effectively with people of various ages, backgrounds and ability levels.
- Exhibit physical agility, stamina and a motivational spirit. An interest in working outdoors is essential for some positions.
- Join related professional associations. Attend state/national professional association conferences.
- Seek knowledge of U.S. and world geography, history, social customs and languages for some opportunities.
- Consider participating in the Walt Disney College Program.