If you love the adventure and excitement of the wilderness, you might want to considerer an outdoor recreation leadership career. The active outdoor recreation economy is big and getting bigger. Bicycling, hunting, fishing, camping, paddling, snow sports, and other activities contribute $730 billion annually to the U.S. economy. And outdoor recreation provides nearly 6.5 million jobs across the country.
Those who complete a college program in outdoor recreation leadership can find positions in outdoor research, management, and academics. Positions include adventure travel planner, nature guide, forestry technician, wilderness instructor, and recreation business owner. Students can also obtain certificates to qualify as wilderness first responders, swift water rescuers, and avalanche forecasters.
Working as an outdoor recreation specialist can be more than a career. It also offers a way to improve the environment and contribute to sustainable growth in rural communities. Troy Rarick had that in mind in 2002 when he opened Over the Edge Sports, a bike shop in the struggling town of Fruita, Colorado. While most of the stores downtown stood empty, Troy used his knowledge of outdoor recreation to provide a market for his wares. He encouraged community volunteers to build mountain bike trails and organized the annual Fruita Fat Tire Festival. Thanks to Troy’s efforts, Over the Edge became a world-class mountain biking destination and spiked employment growth at local restaurants, brewpubs, hotels, and shops. Over the Edge pumps millions of dollars into the local economy which was formerly dependent on agriculture.
Troy’s success is one of thousands generated by an eco-friendly industry that is often overlooked as the economic giant it has become. Americans annually spend $243 billion on recreational travel. Billions more are spent on equipment from bikes and kayaks to RVs and snowboards. There’s gold in them thar hills and it has nothing to do with mining. Those who specialize in outdoor recreation leadership can earn some of that gold while providing a healthy, sustainable future for everyone.