Career Options with a Leisure and Recreation Management Diploma

Healthy living is directly connected to our overall physical and mental well-being. And this is why everyone around seems to be indulged in therapeutic recreation, lifestyle changes, healthy and conscious eating, and yoga and meditation.

Fitness is the latest mantra. However, it's not restricted to just the physical health; rather it covers mental and emotional health as well. No matter what their age is, people nowadays make informed choices to maintain a healthy lifestyle. They even consult wellness experts on regular basis to implement recreation and leisure programs in their daily routine.

Not only this, even companies hire recreation experts who can help their employees reduce their stress levels and motivate them to maintain active and healthy lifestyles. This has resulted in a significant increase in the demand for recreation and leisure services professionals. Therefore, current is the right time to consider building a career in leisure and recreation management.

Career Options in Leisure and Recreation Management

The field offers numerous career opportunities to professionals who have specialized knowledge, skills and experience in recreation and leisure services. They can be employed with hospitals, long-term care settings, school-aged childcare centres, youth-focused organizations, rehabilitation centres, municipal community recreation centres, long-term care settings, state and municipal parks, fitness centres, community centres, sports organizations and businesses. Some of the most popular career options include:

Fitness Coach: Fitness coaches work with individuals towards achieving their personal fitness goals. They create, plan, implement and evaluate recreation and leisure programs and special events, which suit to their specific needs and requirements. Coaching may involve developing physical fitness and psychological fitness, and helping people maximize their performance. The job also involves assessing the strengths and weaknesses in a participant's performance and identifying areas of improvement.

Recreation Centre Manager: Recreation centre managers are generally associated with sports halls, gyms, sports clubs, fitness centres, community parks and municipal community recreation centres. They are responsible for designing and promoting fitness activities, events and programs and fitness products. They are also responsible for overseeing the operations of the fitness centre and checking budget, purchasing equipment, handling complaints, acquiring clients and recruiting and training staff.

Fitness Counselor: Fitness counselors play a critical role in helping individuals plan and implement changes in their lifestyles, in order to help them achieve their fitness goals. The job not only includes developing programs for physical fitness but also extends to ensuring mental fitness of the mental wellbeing of clients. The list doesn't end here. The professionals may also find employment as fitness event organizer, fitness administrator, outdoor activities manager, theme park managers and fitness advocates.

Building Careers in Leisure and Recreation Management

Centennial College's post-secondary recreation management courses prepare students for careers in this field in just two years. These programs provide them with the ability to establish programs, prepare budgets, market activities and recruit, train, assign and evaluate teams of volunteers, and necessary skills, such as leadership, communication and interpersonal.

These courses prepare them for entry-level jobs in recreation and leisure services. However, for more advanced career opportunities, they may consider enrolling in recreation management degree program.

Careers in Leisure and Recreation Management Employment Prerequisites

Recreation and leisure professionals are responsible for planning, organizing and implementing leisure activities and special programs for individuals and groups, in order to improve their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. They may work in rural, suburban or urban settings with people of varied backgrounds and ages. Major career areas include therapeutic recreation, commercial recreation, community recreation, youth services, and travel and tourism with long-term care settings, rehabilitation centres, hospitals, youth-focused organizations, school-aged childcare centres, parks and recreation centres and corporate sector.

Recreation management is an upcoming field. Thus, the employment prospects are bright. Moreover, the industry is evolving continuously, contributing to the significant growth in career opportunities. Therefore, this is an exciting time to build careers in this field.

Employment Prerequisites

One of the basic employment prerequisite is the ability to work well with people of different ages and motivate them. Good health, physical stamina, excellent interpersonal skills, thorough understanding of human anatomy, emotional stability and a flexible attitude are other important requirements. This is because the leisure and recreation professionals need to deal with the people constantly, boost their morale, motivate them to achieve their health goals and maintain therapeutic relationships with clients.

Apart from this, the professionals are expected to undergo a formal education program in recreation and leisure management before getting into the industry. In fact, this is a mandatory requirement to seek employment in this field. Recreation management courses prepare students for diverse roles, including leaders, teachers, advocates, group facilitators, counsellors, referral workers, coaches or outreach workers, providing them with the knowledge and skills necessary to build careers in this field.

Studying Recreation Management in Toronto

Although a number of colleges in Toronto offer post-secondary recreation management programs but not all programs meet your specific career goals. Moreover, they may not incorporate industry field placement, which is necessary for development of critical skills.

Centennial College's two-year post-secondary program in recreation and leisure services is an intensive program that provides students with all the above mentioned skills as well as practical hands-on experience to complement their classroom learning.

The program prepares students to work as front-line practitioners, with an ability to establish programs, prepare budgets, recruit, and train and manage team of volunteers, and prepare budgets and market activities, programs and events.

Program Content

The recreation management and leisure services program runs for two years and covers a wide range of subjects. During the first year, the focus is on developing a strong understanding in gerontology and wellness, child and youth development, therapeutic recreation, interpersonal skill development, recreation programming and communication. It also incorporates an industry field placement and hands-on training on advanced computer applications.

In the second year, students study about healthy lifestyle management, festivals and event management, community development, recreation management and marketing, cultural awakening, the business of recreation and report writing.

The program graduates can choose to either pursue their careers or apply their academic rewards towards further study to obtain a recreation management degree.

Enrolment Guide

Interested students can send their applications to the college along with a copy of secondary school diploma certificate and scores in English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent.

Recreation and Leisure Services Students Benefit From Post Graduate Options

It is vital that the post-secondary program you choose not only trains you for your field but also gives you other post-graduate options. At Centennial College's Recreation and Leisure Services program, students are firstly prepared for work in long-term care settings, hospitals, municipal community recreation centres, school-aged childcare centres, rehabilitation centres and youth-focused organizations. Among Toronto-based organizations that have hired grads are: Ajax Recreation and Culture Department, Bridgepoint Health, Centre for Addictions and Mental Health, Markham Recreation and Culture Services and Variety Village.

Qualified grads may also continue their education in articulated programs with selected universities, institutes and professional associations to obtain their recreation management degree. The partnerships that allow graduates to apply academic credit towards further study include: Brock University, Recreation and Leisure Studies degree (degree studies can be completed in just two additional years); and Athabasca University (60 credits can be received toward a 120-credit Bachelor of Professional Arts degree - Human Service major).

Centennial College's program prides itself on being so well rounded that it covers programming, communication and group skills, community development, life span development, diversity and recreation management through assignments, mid-terms and a final test. Among specific courses are: Recreation Programming, Child and Youth Development, Group Dynamics, Therapeutic Recreation - An Inclusive Approach to Wellness, Festival and Event Management, Health Lifestyle Management, Report Writing for Recreation and Leisure Services and more.

Students then get to test out their knowledge in supervised field placements during the second semester (two days a week) and the third and fourth semesters (three days a week).

Among the skills with which students graduate are:

• Creating, planning, implementing and evaluating recreation and leisure programs and special events
• Applying marketing knowledge to the promotion of the benefits of recreation and leisure programs, special events, services and facilities
• Generating revenue for recreation and leisure programs, special events, services and facilities
• Contributing to strategies for effectively managing the performance and development of staff and volunteers in recreation and leisure settings
• Contributing to the safe and effective management of recreation venues
• Educating others about the value and benefits of recreation, leisure and lifestyle enhancement
• Applying community development strategies for advocating and facilitating the personal, social, economic and environmental benefits of recreation
• Applying administration skills to recreation and leisure settings
• Applying principles of lifespan growth and development to individuals and groups in recreation and leisure settings
• Applying the concept of inclusion to the design and delivery of recreation and leisure programs, special events, services, and facilities

Applicants to recreation management courses, are required to have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older; the compulsory English 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent. Although it is not a requirement, volunteer work in a related field is recommended prior to application. Additionally, attending a program admission session is highly recommended.

Building a Career in Recreation and Leisure Services in Canada

A program in recreation and leisure management can be your ticket to the exciting and growing recreation and leisure services industry. You will work with diverse populations in different settings, such as corporate, institutional and community.

Being a part of this industry that promotes health, fun and an active lifestyle among the people of all ages and backgrounds requires you to have attained critical practical skills and a thorough understanding about wellness, culture and heritage and recreation. You must be aware of and make use of various approaches to wellness, in order to promote good health, emotional wellbeing and an active lifestyle.

The recreation and leisure services industry has evolved to a great extent in the past few years and so have expanded the role and responsibilities of the professionals employed in this industry. While on the job, you may also be expected to develop, plan and establish programs, market activities, prepare budgets, recruit and train volunteers, generate revenue for special events and services, design and implement planning strategies and apply administration skills.

You may also have to deal with the people and encourage them to enroll themselves into recreation and leisure activities. You are expected to play multiple roles, including counsellors, group facilitators, teachers, leaders, referral workers, coaches, outreach workers and advocates.

A recreation and leisure management course can help you gain the knowledge and skills required to become a part of this industry. In fact, it is now considered as the minimum qualification that is required to seek entry level jobs in recreation and leisure services industry. As people are becoming more health conscious and look forward to expert advice in order to bring positive changes in their lifestyles, it's important for professionals to have a well rounded knowledge and critical practical skills to guide them in the right direction.

Recreation Management Courses in Canada

Numerous Canadian colleges offer post-secondary recreation management courses in Canada. However, it's important for students to carefully choose their college and program. Not all programs incorporate industry field placements, which are essential to gain practical experience and later on seek employment in this field. Centennial College's two-year program incorporates four field placements, one in each semester, along with classroom lectures, two assignments and supplemental training in CPR "C" Standard First Aid, AED, Snoezelen, Food Handlers, and High Five (Principles of Healthy Child Development). The college also allows program graduates to apply their academic rewards towards obtaining a recreation management degree at the university.

Program Content

The students of this program are provided with a strong foundation in theories of recreation, gerontology and wellness, group dynamics, child and youth development, therapeutic recreation, healthy lifestyle management, community development, festivals and event management, and recreation management and marketing. A strong emphasis is laid on computer education, report writing for leisure and recreation services, and career development skills. In each semester, the students are provided with field placements, where they can put their classroom learning into practice.

Interested students can directly send their applications to the college along with a copy of secondary school diploma certificate, and scores in English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent.

Career Outlook for Leisure and Recreation Management

Employment opportunities for leisure and recreation management professionals exist in hospitals, long-term care settings, municipal community recreation centres, school-aged childcare centres, rehabilitation centres and youth-focused organizations.

Nowadays, the career opportunities are also available in corporate settings where employers provide their employees with leisure and recreation facilities at the worksite, in order to keep them physically active and manage their mental stress. As employee health is directly related to productivity, employers are keen on introducing leisure and recreation programs for their people.

This has given rise to the demand for professionals who can create, implement and evaluate recreation and leisure programs and special events, responding to the specific needs of people. Another reason for their increased demand is general population's awareness on fitness, wellness and lifestyle management.

The individuals with a formal education and training in recreation and leisure management stand better chance of finding suitable employment opportunities. Not only this, recreation and leisure could be one of the most handsomely paying industries in future.

Work Life

The recreation and leisure workers have to perform a myriad of activities including:

• Creating and implementing leisure and recreation programs
• Identifying the individual needs of clients to maximize the delivery of recreation benefits
• Promoting leisure programs, social events and recreational programs
• Ensuring safety at recreation venues
• Making research and planning strategies
• Developing plans for personal and professional growth and development
• Designing and delivering recreational programs and special events
• Raising funds for special events

The leisure and recreation professionals may require working in variety of weather conditions. They may work indoors as well as outdoors, depending upon their employment, type of industry they work in and their individual qualification and experience.

Leisure and Recreation Management Education

Centennial College's leisure and recreation management course prepares students for assuming many roles including first-line practitioners, leaders, teachers, group facilitators, referral workers, counsellors, advocates, coaches and outreach workers in the field of recreation and leisure. It features classroom learning, complemented with an extensive supervised field placement program, allowing students to gain critical practical skills by putting their classroom learning into real life situations.

The two-year, post-secondary program covers a wide range of subjects including:

• Recreation programming
• Gerontology and wellness
• Child and youth development
• Group dynamics
• Therapeutic recreation
• Healthy lifestyle management
• Cultural awakening
• The business of recreation
• Community development
• Communications
• Recreation management

The curriculum also focuses on wellness, culture and heritage and diversity management. Besides, supervised field placements take place for two days a week in the second semester and three days a week in third and fourth semesters.

Qualified graduates can choose to either pursue their careers or opt for an advanced leisure and recreation management degree at a university by applying their academic credits towards further study.

Admission Requirements

In order to apply for this program, students will need:

• Secondary school diploma or equivalent
• English Grade 12 C or University of equivalent

After admission, you will be required to submit:

• A clear police check with vulnerable sector screening
• A proof of immunization
• Minimum C grade in each English course

Volunteer work in a related field is recommended prior to application; however, it’s not mandatory. Applicants will also need to attend program admission session.

Healthy lifestyles start with proper leisure and recreational programs

If you have a passion for helping others and a flair for organizing activities, there is a career fit for you. Working in the recreation and leisure services requires professionals to have knowledge of recreational programming methods, health and wellness tactics, and community development. You can learn more about this profession while obtaining a recreation management degree in a community college.

The School of Community and Health Studies at Centennial College offers the two-year Recreation and Leisure Services (1202) program to students who wish to pursue a career in community-building and healthcare areas. It is filled with classroom lecture put into practice involving child and youth development, group dynamics, therapeutic recreation, healthy lifestyle management, and community planning. Classes are filled with interactive discussions, role-playing, and relevant assignments that reflect a real professional’s day of work.

Furthermore, students gain on-the-job training with three field placements. Students are equipped with the knowledge from classes and prepared to work through field placement seminars. A faculty advisorregularly visits the students to monitor their progress, while a field supervisor oversees the operations at the site at work. Students gain a very hands-on experience working with real clients and facing workplace issues, where they are challenged to make recommendations and find solutions for problems.

Career outlook for graduates in the program look good, as the population grow older and need more assistance in their day-to-day lives. Additionally, parents of young children understand the importance of proper programming in daycare settings, so graduates also cater to the kids programming at learning centres. Let’s take a look at what the students can expect at the workplace upon graduation:

• Students may work in various healthcare settings such as in hospitals, long-term care centres, retirement homes, childcare centres, youth-focused not-for-profit organizations, rehabilitation centres, and recreational community centres.
• Job titles that graduates can pursue include Leisure Specialty Instructor, Community Recreation Programmer, Camp Counsellor, Lifestyle/Recreation Co-ordinator, and Recreation Facilitator.
• Job responsibilities include the planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs that will benefit the well-being of clients and promote a positive lifestyle.
• Graduates have been hired at the following organizations: Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Centre for Addictions and Mental Health, Leisureworld, Variety Village, and Bridgepoint Health.
• Good starting pay, depending on work settings, with some graduates earning a $15 hourly rate.
• Career development opportunities are available, with promotions on the same type of jobs at different levels or moving into managerial positions.

Centennial's Recreation and Leisure Services program is an ideal environment for nurturing a student's communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills required in the workplace. Its recreation management courses are filled with theoretical learning in conjunction with practical training, which ensures that students can connect their schooling with workplace responsibilities. Graduates have successfully transitioned to healthcare and community development settings, where they can put their knowledge and skills to good use.

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 at Centennial College 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.

Recreation Management Courses With Specific Focus Benefit Grads

Recreation management degree within the Recreation and Leisure Services program are all designed to ensure that after two years of study students are ready to take on the roles of leisure service professionals who, as front-line practitioners, are in direct contact with program participants. The titles of these professionals include outreach workers, group facilitators, teachers, coaches, advocates, referral workers and counselors who work in long-term care settings, hospitals, municipal community recreation centres, school-aged childcare centres, rehabilitation centres and, youth-focused organizations.

Additionally, the focused structure that includes 26 recreation management courses prepares students to participate in articulated programs with selected universities, institutes and professional associations by applying academic credit towards further study. The partnerships include Brock University's Recreation and Leisure Studies degree (degree studies can be completed in just two additional years) and Athabasca University (60 credits can be received toward a 120-credit Bachelor of Professional Arts degree - Human Service major).

Here are five of the most beneficial recreation management courses that students in this program attend.
 

Recreation Programming 1 & 2: Presented in the first and second semesters, these recreation management courses first expose students to the purpose of programming, the different types of programming and the leadership required for programming to a variety of populations. They then concentrate on the understanding and creation of needs assessments, leadership concepts and practices, and practical experience in programming.

Recreation Management and Marketing: On the marketing end, this recreation management course covers topics such as the creation of a marketing plan and the generation of revenue including the aspects of grant and proposal writing. Meanwhile, on the management side, students learn employee/employer responsibilities including human rights issues, the development of a staffing process, staff supervision, labour relations, organizational structures and budgets and contracts.
 

The Business of Recreation: Going hand-in-hand with recreation management courses such as Recreation Management and Marketing is this class. Topics include the framework of contemporary business, legalities and factors in business success or failure. Various industry opportunities are reviewed with public and commercial recreation industries.

Field Placements: Centennial is the only college in Ontario that features extensive supervised field placements. These recreation management courses are facilitated in semesters two, three and four. They see students working off-campus at organizations that offer recreation and leisure services where they carry out activities required to implement programs offered. The field placements are also an opportunity to demonstrate a range of leadership styles, prepare promotional materials, develop and evaluate programs for individuals and/or groups in the community.
 

Launching Your Career: Centennial College prides itself on ensuring that students are successful upon graduation. Following the field placements, this recreation management familiarizes them with professional organizations, job preparation, including the development of a portfolio, networking and identification of trends and issues in the sector.

To attend these recreation management courses, students must apply with: at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older; the compulsory English 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent. Although it is not a requirement, volunteer work in a related field is recommended prior to application. Additionally, attending a program admission session is highly recommended.

Recreation Management Courses Lead to Various Careers

Did you know that attending the recreation management degree within Centennial College’s Recreation and Leisure Services gives students the know-how to pursue careers as leaders, teachers, group facilitators, advocates, referral workers, counsellors, outreach workers or coaches in settings such as long-term care settings, hospitals, municipal community recreation centres, school-aged childcare centres rehabilitation centres and youth-focused organizations? That’s because in the two years spent in the program, students graduate with the abilities to create, plan, implement and evaluate recreation and leisure programs and special events, which respond to identified needs and maximize the delivery of the benefits of recreation; apply the principles of marketing to the promotion of the benefits of recreation and leisure programs, special events, services and facilities; generate revenue for recreation and leisure programs, special events, services and facilities by applying sound business principles; educate others regarding the value and benefits of recreation, leisure and lifestyle enhancement; and apply administration skills to recreation and leisure settings; and much more. 

But how do Centennial College’s recreation and leisure courses, which take two years to complete, take students from novices to experts? First and foremost, course themes include: programming, communication and group skills, community development, life span development, diversity and recreation management. As such, students become familiar with the most important aspects of the field. Secondly, all courses have a combination of theoretical and practical aspects so that students can apply what they have learned, while also reflecting current recreational focus on wellness, culture and heritage. This is especially vital in Canada’s multicultural society. Among specific recreation management courses are: Gerontology and Wellness, Child and Youth Development, Group Dynamics, Recreation Programming, Advanced Computer Applications, Healthy Lifestyle Management, Festivals and Event Management, The Business of Recreation, and more.

Thirdly, aside from their recreation management courses, students attend four field placements, during which they can apply their skills to the real world and develop and practice the knowledge, skills and attitudes essential to the recreation and leisure practitioners’ role of facilitating leisure for others. In order to partake in this aspect of the offering, students are required to: obtain a clear police check with vulnerable sector screening, provide proof of immunization requirements, and achieve a minimum C grade in each English course. All of these requirements must be in effect for the entire duration of each placement.

Applicants to Centennial College’s recreation management courses in Canada are expected to present at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. They must also have completed the compulsory English 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent. Lastly, a program admission session is required and English proficiency will be considered. Although it is not a requirement, volunteer work is recommended prior to application. Attending a program admission session is also highly recommended.