Welcome to Recreation
& Outdoor Studies

Home of Adventure Rec. and
Youth Development & Camp Management

This page includes a break down of the Adventure Recreation and Youth Development and Camp Management curriculums along with a general description of the programs. For a more specific description of the majors, please click the "majors and minors" link to the left.


Adventure Recreation Curriculum

Core Courses
REC 1000 Introduction to Recreation & Outdoor Studies
REC 4010 Management of Outdoor Adventure Programs
REC 4051 Outdoor Studies Seminar
REC 4053 Internship in Outdoor Studies

Professional Emphasis Courses
REC 1041 Outdoor Living Skills
REC 2027 Outdoor Program Design & Instruction
REC 2033 Foundations of Adventure Rec. & Education
REC 2062 Outdoor Leadership Practicum
REC 2062 Adventure Group Processing & Facilitation
REC 3062 Human Dimensions of Outdoor Leadership
REC 3064 Ecological Connections in Adventure Prog.
REC 3066 Field Leadership Seminar

The prgram also includes elective outdoor skill base courses including: rock & ice climbing, winter mountain travel, paddling, SCUBA, ropes courses and mountain biking.

Youth Development & Camp Management Curriculum

Coure Courses
REC 1000 Introduction to Recreation and Outdoor Studies
REC 2021 Program Planning & Leadership for Outdoor Recreation
BUS/RHM 1125 Introduction to Marketing -or-
BUS 4051 New Venture Creation & Entrepreneurship
BUS 3050 Business Law
REC 3021 Social Psychological Dimensions of Leisure
REC 4014 Camp & Youth Program Management
NRM 4022 Integrated Resource Management
REC 4051 Recreation Seminar
REC 4053 Internship in Youth Development & Camp Management

Professional Emphasis Courses
2041 Camp Counseling & Youth Leadership
PSY 2017 Developmental Psychology & the Exceptional Child
SOC/PSY Students must choose three courses in sociology and/or psychology

Individuals and communities throughout the world rely on recreation for their physical and mental health, livelihood, and life satisfaction. The Department of Recreation & Outdoor Studies offers two distinct programs: Adventure Recreation and Youth Development & Camp Management. Students in our department receive individualized attention from the dedicated and experienced staff, both in and out of the classroom. Classes are geared towards understanding theories and practices essential for success in leadership positions within the growing recreation industry or additional study in graduate school, while also offering appropriate professional certifications that are often required in preparation for professional careers.

Our idyllic location in western Vermont provides for easy access to excellent ski resorts, national forests, flat- and whitewater river runs, world-class ice and rock climbing in the Adirondacks and White Mountains, and a multitude of other recreation opportunities. Green Mountain College is the perfect place to learn how to improve quality of life through the facilitation of satisfying recreational experiences!

Program goals include:

• To develop superior graduates well-prepared for leadership positions in an expanding Adventure Recreation Leadership, Youth Development and Camp Management industries.

• To enhance critical and accurate self-assessment of leadership abilities so students become exceptional leaders and also insightful human beings that can develop effective working relationships in any professional and personal environment. 

• To provide high quality educational experiences integrating practical and hands-on learning with theoretical knowledge.

• To provide for individualized student development in and out of the classroom through projects, electives, practicum, internship and self-designed opportunities.

• To maintain and exceed the accreditation standards for university and college recreation curricula as established by the National Recreation and Park Association and American Alliance for Leisure and Recreation. Professional recreation core coursework in the Department of Recreation and Outdoor Studies is currently accredited.