Recreation and Leisure Major Careers

Area

Employer

Commercial Recreation
Resort and Private Recreation

• 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

• 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.

Commercial Recreation
Local Recreation

• 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

• 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.

Government Recreation

• 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

• 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.

Community Recreation

• 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

• 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.

Faith-Based Recreation

• Churches
• Synagogues
• Mosques
• Para-church organizations, i.e. Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Campus Crusade for Christ

• 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.

Recreation Retailing

• Department stores
• Specialty shops
• Pro shops/Club stores
• Sporting goods stores
• Outdoor outfitters

• 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.

Education

• 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

• 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.

Therapeutic Recreation

• 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

• 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.