Community recreation leadership training focuses on facilitating the physical and developmental growth of leisure participants through recreational activities. This includes team building and group dynamics, outdoor and environmental education, program planning, community building, skill development, leisure services marketing and management-level functions.
Community recreation management training typically offers four areas of emphasis: corporate fitness and wellness, leisure services, outdoor/adventure education and sports management.
Community recreation leaders find employment in venues such as private fitness and YMCA/YWCA programs, park and recreation departments, youth and service agencies, environmental education centers, adventure tourism, youth at risk camps and prison systems recreation.
Community recreation leadership is a complex and demanding field that usually requires a college degree. Among the available programs are Northern Arizona University's Bachelor of Science degree in Parks and Recreation Management and Ferris State University's bachelor's degree program in Recreation Leadership Management. Check your local state or private college for similar programs.
Recreation leaders manage many constituencies and enter into partnerships with both private and volunteer sectors. Budget cuts in public services require recreation managers to find ways to reduce operating costs.