A Quick Guide to Postsecondary Recreation Management Courses in Canada
Recreation and leisure services programs often incorporate fitness, wellness, child and youth development, lifestyle management and recreation management and marketing. Students gain understanding, knowledge and skills necessary to establish and promote recreation and leisure programs, prepare budgets, conduct market activities, recruit and train the team of volunteers and delegate them responsibilities.
Recreation and leisure industry in Canada and rest of the world is continually evolving. With no signs of slowing down, it's opening a wide range of career opportunities for individuals who have qualifications, skills and experience in any of the fitness or amusement facets. This could be one of the most handsomely paying industries in future.
Educational Prerequisites
In order to build a rewarding career in recreation and leisure industry, a postsecondary diploma or equivalent is typically required. Some jobs may also require additional requirements or a recreation management degree, but they are either managerial level or therapeutic level jobs.
However, for entry level jobs, a two-year diploma in recreation and leisure services is required. The program typically includes classroom theory sessions and extensive supervised field placement allowing students to gain much required practical skills.
Admission Requirements To apply for a postsecondary recreation management diploma program, you need:
- Secondary School Diploma or equivalent
- English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent
- Volunteer work in related field - recommended not mandatory
After admission, you need to submit :-
- Clear police check with vulnerable sector screening
- Proof of immunization
What Do Recreation Management Courses Cover?
Recreation management courses typically run for four semesters, focusing on theory, practical training and current trends in recreation industry. During the first semester, the focus is on developing interpersonal skills while exposing them to principles and concepts of recreation programming, gerontology and wellness and child and youth development.
During the second semester, the aim is to teach students about group dynamics, therapeutic recreation and advanced computer applications both theoretically and practically. Field seminars and placements are important features during this semester.
Students learn about healthy lifestyle management, festivals and event management, community development, recreation management and marketing during the third semester. Practical training is also carried out through filed seminars and placements.
The focus during the fourth semester shifts to cultural awakening, business of recreation, report writing for leisure and recreation services. Students also undergo extensive field training and learn to contribute to the safe and effective management of recreation venues. They get to apply administration skills to manage the venues and marketing skills to promote recreation and leisure services.
Popular Career Options
A diploma in recreation and leisure services qualifies graduates for entry level positions with
- Municipal community recreation centres
- Youth focused organizations
- Hospitals
- School-aged childcare centres
- Rehabilitation centres
- Long term care settings
- Sporting organizations
- Community centres
- Outdoor leisure companies
- Fitness centres
Continuing Education
After the course completion, the graduates can choose to either work or continue further education. The colleges allow students to use the credits earned during the diploma program to secure admission in a degree program in recreation management with the associated or partner universities.
