4 January 2004 Recreation Management Degree a Passport to Many Career Options

With a 30-year track record behind it, Lincoln University's Bachelor of Recreation Management degree is soundly based in meeting the needs of students and employers.

Today's BRM degree, first offered in 1999, grew out of the University's pioneering parks, recreation and tourism qualification and has quickly established itself as a well-recognised passport to a wide range of careers in the public, commercial and voluntary sectors.

A choice of a five vocational "streams" – parks, outdoor leadership, tourism, community recreation and sport – offers plenty of scope for specialisation.

"Park management continues to be critical to ensuring that New Zealand's natural and historic heritage is protected for future generations," says Senior Lecturer Kay Booth.

"The Parks stream of the Bachelor of Recreation Management degree leads graduates into conservation work and outdoor recreation management within New Zealand's extensive network of parks and reserves.

Parks graduates can work for bodies such as the Department of Conservation and city and regional councils.

"In the Parks stream of the degree, students study ecology and nature conservation as well as learning about people's motivations for visiting parks and how to manage parks to enhance recreation and minimise impacts on the natural environment.

"New Zealand is a world leader in park management and Lincoln continues to be a key provider of new park managers," says Kay.

Heading the Outdoor Leadership stream is Dr Pip Lynch who points out that 'outdoor leadership' involves a lot more than taking people kayaking, rafting, tramping and the like.

"Outdoor leadership involves programming outdoor recreation experiences, managing resources such as specialised equipment and accommodation facilities, and ensuring that outdoor activities are conducted safely while still maintaining elements of adventure.

"Outdoor leaders need to understand the reasons people need adventure in their lives," she says, "they need to understand the psychology of individuals and groups; they need to understand the educational and developmental benefits of adventurous outdoor activities.

"The degree's Outdoor Leadership stream prepares students for work as leaders of outdoor activity programmes and facilities. In addition, students who choose their subjects carefully can go on to teacher training."

Dr David Fisher who heads the Tourism stream says that graduates with this specialisation can look forward to being part of a buoyant industry.

"Tourism is the fastest growing industry in New Zealand and worldwide," he says. "The Government estimates that by 2010 one in eight jobs in New Zealand will be in tourism.

"By starting degree studies now, those looking to work in this area will be well qualified and have several years of experience behind them by that year," he says.

The Community Recreation stream prepares people for the planning and management of recreation programmes, events, and recreation for specific groups.

Public festivities associated with Christmas, New Year, and summer in general provide many examples of the work graduates do. Recreation planners work with other planners to ensure access to waterways and beaches, and to see that there are facilities such as changing sheds and showers at some locations. They also advocate for bylaws which regulate water sports and make everything more enjoyable for everyone.

Community Recreation specialists learn the knowledge and skills for creating events that strengthen communities, help us celebrate special occasions and provide important opportunities for social engagement," says Dr Lynch.

The Sport stream is meeting a growing demand for graduates skilled in sport management as sporting codes of all sorts are becoming more professionally managed. Recent Lincoln graduates are working in positions with Netball New Zealand, Sport Canterbury, and the Sport, Fitness and Recreation Industry Training Organisation.

As with the Outdoor Leadership stream, a careful selection of subjects can allow graduates to go on to teacher training.

Exercise science comes under this stream but all BRM students can take exercise science subjects as a minor specialisation and combined with the Sport stream these subjects provide a good background for later work in the fitness industry and in health promotion.

Lecturer Dr Mike Hamlin has been doing significant research on children's diets and exercise patterns and Associate Professor Jenny Ross has been closely involved with Maori and Polynesian health concerns and how these can be assisted through appropriate exercise programmes.

All in all, the Bachelor of Recreation Management is very much a degree for the age we live in, says Dr Fisher. It encompasses numerous contemporary issues and concerns and activities from national parks and tourism to sport and leadership to diet, exercise and human performance.