5 INTERESTING JOBS IN RECREATION MANAGEMENT

Recreation Management Jobs

• Amusement Park Manager
• Cruise Ship Director
• Corporate Recreation Director
• Parks and Recreation Director
• Recreation Therapist

The ideal candidate for recreation management jobs should have an outgoing personality and possess the gene for helpfulness. Jobs in this sector are service oriented and people focused. Recreation management specialists create fitness and recreational programs, deliver the material to a target audience and monitor the impact of participation in the programs. Recreation programs are delivered in different settings and for diverse sets of participants, creating a world of possibilities for your career if this as your field of study. The curriculum for recreation management majors may include fitness principles, anatomy and physiology, facilities management, program development, motivational psychology and basic business principles, some or all of which will prove valuable in these interesting careers.

1. Amusement Park Manager

The only thing better than a lifetime pass to your favorite amusement park is getting paid to be part of the park's operations. This job will require competence at managing people, directing operations of a recreation-related business and delivering exemplary customer service even under unusual circumstances. You should be well-versed in issues related to managing facilities that offer extreme experiences to people who pay substantial fees. You should also be knowledgeable about health and safety regulations, hiring and motivating skilled employees and creating a welcoming space for everyone.

2. Cruise Ship Director

The job of a cruise ship director is one of the more enviable recreation management jobs. You will be traveling to exotic destinations with the ship several times a year. You will enjoy the perks offered to paying guests. However, this can also be stressful because you are expected to make sure that the entire operation, including meal services, recreation schedules, special events and land-based activities proceed smoothly. Be prepared to handle guest grievances whether valid or not. You should also have adequate training to handle health, weather and other emergencies. Some background in international laws may be helpful if you want to work on cruise ships traveling international routes and destinations.

3. Corporate Recreation Director

Businesses recognize the importance of helping employees stay fit, healthy and happy. As corporate recreation director, you will be tasked with developing programs and initiatives that will encourage employees to make healthy choices. Prevention and early intervention are keys to healthy living, and your job involves offering fitness programs and initiating special events to motivate employees to remain fit. These events can be held in conjunction with fundraising efforts to benefit a cause that the business supports.

4. Parks and Recreation Director

There are parks and green spaces just about everywhere. Depending on who owns the land, you may be employed by the city, the state or the federal government. The job involves overseeing facilities maintenance and improvements, ensuring that the park offers appropriate programs to maximize use of its facilities as well as generate income to offset operational expenses. Knowledge of environmentally appropriate practices, budgeting and funds sourcing are useful skills to develop if you want to become parks and recreation manager some day.

5. Recreation Therapist

The recreation therapist is tasked with developing, implementing and assessing programs that aim to address the disorder, disability or deficiency of the patient. Interventions deployed by recreation therapists are activity-based and individualized because no two patients are alike.

Recreation management majors may find job opportunities in the health care sector just as easily as in recreation-focused organizations. These jobs may be physically demanding and mentally challenging. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that recreation management jobs will grow by 10 percent between 2014 and 2024, which is a faster growth rate than jobs that do not provide opportunities to have an adventure at work.

See also: Top 10 Cheap Online Master's in Sports and Recreation Management Degree Programs