Everyone has a busy life and it’s important to take a break and do some recreation. If you enjoy working with various types of people of all backgrounds and ages with diverse needs and have an interest in working outdoors, a major in parks and recreation may be for you. You’ll learn to develop and manage places where people participate in recreational activities. (And don’t worry, it’s not as crazy as the show!)
Education
A parks and recreation major will lead to a bachelor’s degree. You’ll learn how to lead people in a wilderness setting, work on recreation programs, mockup annual budgets, analyze legal issues and learn to manage a staff. A parks and recreation major will likely take courses in park management, legal issues, leadership training, camp management, financial management, managing nonprofit agencies and marketing. The most important thing you’ll do in this major is take an internship because it will allow you to get hands-on experience in the field; you could even spend a whole semester working in a state park. In high school, it helps to takes classes like algebra, speech, sociology, English, computer applications and a foreign language.
Questions to ask
Make sure the program is accredited by the National Recreation and Park Association Council. Parks and recreation is broad — does the program offer specializations? Inquire about the recreation facilities that are available on campus. Will there be internship opportunities? What about after graduation — will the program help you find work?
Salary
In 2012, a recreation worker made an average of $22,240 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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