Learn it. Love it. Live it!

Ever wonder what it would be like to have fun for a living and get paid to play? The Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies makes that possible with majors in outdoor adventure leadership, recreation management, and therapeutic recreation. Do you like hands-on experiences? Then check this out!

Outdoor Adventure Leadership -- Love the outdoors? Get a degree in it! Outdoor adventure leadership majors develop skills to help others appreciate, respect, and enjoy their natural environment while leading safe and enjoyable adventure experiences. This major is designed for individuals who are enthusiastic about activities such as hiking, backpacking, kayaking, rafting, rock climbing, and alpine travel, as well as those who would like to use these skills as a catalyst for growth in those we serve. Students will embark on a semester-long experiential wilderness adventure in the Pacific Northwest. If you are looking for an adventure while developing transferable leadership skills, this major is for you!

Recreation Management -- Get paid to play! Recreation is an important, cultural, and economic force that influences well-being and quality of life. Recreation management majors work in a wide variety of venues such as spas, resorts, and ski areas to promote personal growth, fitness, and wellness through recreation and to provide healthy leisure choices. How about an internship on a cruise line or a ski resort in Vail? With a degree in recreation management, fun is just part of the job.

Therapeutic Recreation -- Want to help people in a fun and unique way? Consider majoring in therapeutic recreation. Ithaca College prepares their therapeutic recreation majors to use recreation as an intervention to promote independence, quality of life, and functioning for individuals with disabilities and other health conditions. Therapeutic recreation specialists assess physical, social, emotional, and cognitive needs and abilities. With this information, they develop individualized treatment plans and intervention strategies to support each individual's goals toward health and wellness. Using the arts, horticulture, animals, sports, outdoor adventure, and almost anything else you can think of, you can help a person improve their quality of life, and have the some fun yourself in the process.