Career Opportunities with a Recreation, Park, and Nonprofit Administration degree.

Do you want to reduce stress, restore your piece of mind, and have a job that provides benefits? Pursuing a career in recreation might be the career choice for you. Working in the recreation sector is for people who enjoy working with people in their community.

You will promote health through living an active lifestyle, ensuring equal access to the leisure services, and positively contribute to the development of the youth in the community.  If you value the positive impacts that you can make serving the people of your neighborhood or community, then a career in community recreation and leisure services might be the career choice for you.

• Bowling Green Parks and Recreation
• Warren County Parks and Recreation
• Parker-Bennett Community Center
• Metro Parks and Recreation
• Louisville Parks and Recreation
• Lexington Parks and Recreation
• YMCA
• Special Olympics
• Kummer/Little Recreation Center
• Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce
• O Moxley Community Center

• Teen Services Program Supervisor
• Community Center Coordinator Parks and Recreation Department
• Sports and Aquatics Manager for Park Districts
• Recreation Supervisor
• After-school Provider
• Inclusive Recreation Director
• Facility Supervisor, crew member
• Superintendent of Parks Department
• Seniors Recreation Supervisor
• Landscape Manager
• Outdoor Recreation Coordinator
• Special Populations Coordinator
• Community Center Coordinator

Do you love being outside and being one with nature? Do you want a career that is a new adventure every day? If so, outdoor recreation is a great career choice for you!

From the National Park Service to your state and local parks to outdoor recreation businesses, this career path will give you the thrill of a lifetime and take you to some of the most beautiful places in the country while working and talking to unique people as well.

• National Park Service
• State Parks
• Bureau of Land Management
• U.S. Forest Service
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

• Park Ranger
• Director of Social Media
• Fish and wildlife administrator
• Outdoor Recreation Planner
• Campus Recreation Program Manager
• Whitewater Rafting Guide

This sector of recreation tends to provide services and programing to meet social and environmental justice needs. Nonprofit organizations are mission-focused (e.g. youth, environment, natural resource protection, advocacy, etc.) and invariably assist in building a sense of community while enhancing overall quality of life. People who work in the nonprofit sector are passionate about their causes, are advocates, and strive to make a difference and have a positive impact. 

Key Nonprofit Administration career areas include: recreation, arts, culture, humanities, community development, disability services, disaster relief, education, environment, food, fundraising, healthcare, museums, nature, professional organizations, recreation, science, seniors, sports, wildlife, youth services, and NGO’s (Non-governmental organizations) – international version of nonprofits.

• Scouts BSA
• Girl Scouts of America
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters
• 4-H
• Friends of Yellowstone National Park
• Nature Conservancy
• YMCA 
• Boys & Girls Club of America

• Unit Services Coordinator for the Boys & Girls Club
• Assistant Director of Health, Fitness, and Recreation
• Arts & Culture Coordinator
• Supervisor at a nursing home
• Social Services Specialist
• Volunteer Program Coordinator
• Activities Coordinator for religious congregations
• Community Outreach Supervisor
• Summer Camp Director
• Educational Program Assistant
• Enrollment and Match Specialist
• Director of Community Impact
• Donor or Sponsorship Coordinator
• Director- Learning and Career Child Care
• Youth Development Coordinator

Many students participate in recreation programs and intramurals during their time in college to help balance their stressful life. Campus Recreation professionals are passionate about working around college students and the chance to help them develop interests and skills that last a lifetime!

Campus recreation is always there to help students develop interests in different recreational activities and fitness while being in a college campus atmosphere. A career in this area might include managing intramural sports, outdoor trips, aquatics, or fitness.

• Raymond B. Preston Health & Activities Center
• Indiana University Student Recreation Center
• UK Campus Recreation and Wellness Center
• Vanderbilt Recreation and Wellness Center
• UL Student Recreation Center
• Belmont University Fitness and Recreation
• Lipscomb University Campus Recreation

• Outdoor Recreation Coordinator
• Assistant Director, Facilities
• Director of Intramurals
• Aquatics Director
• Director of Sports Clubs
• Facility Director
• Rock Climbing Coordinator
• Director of Student Service
• Campus Bicycle Program CoordinatorFitness and Wellness Director
• Coordinator of Intramurals and Club Sports

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to put an event together and watch it come to life? Seeing results from all of your efforts that you have put in can be one of the most satisfying feelings. If you can multitask, be creative, and be organized, event management might be the career choice for you.

From planning weddings to planning an international conference, event management takes dedication and integrity to be successful in the field and can take you places all around the world.

• Department of Facilities Management
• A La Occasions
• Streamline Event Agency
• Madhouse Management
• Maple Ridge Events
• RPMC
• FSA Management Group

• Event Manager
• Strategic Meetings and Events Manager
• Coordinator of Athletic Events
• Communications and Event Specialist
• Assistant Athletic Director, Facilities and Event Management
• Wedding and Events Planner
• Event Marketing Specialist
• Director of Events

Do you like to travel?  Do you like to share your community with others? If so, travel and tourism might be a great career choice for you.

From visitors’ bureaus and convention centers to amusement parks and cruise ships, the possibilities in the travel and tourism industry are endless! It is one of the world's largest industries.

• Tourist attractions:
  
  • Amusement parks
  • Museums and art galleries
  • Botantical gardens and arboretums
  • Zoos
• Cruise Ships
• Resorts and lodges at vacation destinations
• Tour companies / Travel guides
• Local, state, and national tourism agencies:
  • Bowling Green Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
  • Middle Tennessee Tourism Council
  • KY state tourism office
  • Kentucky Travel Industry Association
  • Visit Kentucky USA
  • American Tourist Travel Agency
  • U.S. Travel association

• Deputy Director for state office tourism
• Marketing and Tourism Coordinator
• Travel Counselor
• Travel Agent
• Corporate travel consultant
• Cruise Ship director
• Curator
• Marine Economic & Tourism Development Resource Coordinator
• Environmental Education Officer
• Eco-tour guides
• Leisure activity Co-ordinator
• Sports Tourism Coordination
• Coordinator of Guest Experiences

If you love recreation activities and want to help people enjoy them as much as you, then commercial recreation and leisure businesses is the place for you. 

If you can imagine it, you could create it. The potential for recreation business opportunities is almost limitless.

• Nat's Outdoor Sports
• Cabela's
• Canoe Kentucky
• Missoula Fly Fishing Outfitters
• Missoulian Angler
• The Legendary Blackwater Rafting Company
• Country clubs
• Fitness centers
• Hi-Five Sports

• Business owner
• Camp Manager
• Recreation Coordinator- Resort Sports
• Lifestyle Assistant
• Events and Activities Coordinator
• Program Coordinator
• Outdoor Adventures Program Manager
• Amusement Park Manager
• Corporate Recreation Director

Armed Forces Recreation includes leisure services which enhances the lives of military personnel, civilian employees, retirees, and their families. A career with Armed Forces Recreation allows the professional to contribute to the strength and readiness of United States military by offering comprehensive services designed to enhance the quality of life and personal physical readiness.  

From sports and fitness to tourism and travel, MWR departments are a valuable service to those who serve around the world for our country.

• Fort Knox
• Fort Campbell
• Fort Carson
• Armed Forces Resort Center
• Single Marine Program
• Navy Fleet Recreation
• Unites States Coast Guard
• U.S. Marine Corps

• Athletic Director for the U.S. Navy, Welfare, and Recreation Program
• Director of Navy Fleet and Family Readiness
• Combat Support and Community Service Director for the Air Force or Marine Corps
• Customer Service Operations
• Recreation Specialist
• Supervisory Recreation Specialist Deployed Forces Support Coordinator

Recreational sport career opportunities normally focus on providing/managing non-professional sports.

From working for community park and recreation departments, running amateur sports tournaments, leading nonprofit youth sport organizations, recreational sport offers a wide variety of careers. 

• Bowling Green Parks and Recreation
• Warren County Parks and Recreation
• Raymond B. Preston Health & Activities Center
• NCYS- National Council of Youth Sports
• Nashville Sports Leagues
• NIRSA- National Intramural- Recreational Sports Association
• Rocky Top Sports World

• Corporate relations and sponsorships
• Community Relations
• Player Development
• Stadium Operations
• Administrator
• Program Director
• Recreation Supervisor
• Assistant Director of Club Sports and Intramural Sports
• Sports and Recreation Coordinator