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Recreation Planner
Industry: Energy
Area: Hydropower
Hydro power plant operators develop and maintain a wide range of recreational areas as part of their efforts to balance energy needs with the preservation of the natural environment. Working dams and power stations contain both natural and man-made hazards. Recreation planners develop, manage and implement the programs offered to the public. They may be involved with off-road vehicle areas, white-water boating locations, wild caves, National Trails, Wilderness Areas, or developed campgrounds. They might be responsible for long-range plan development, maintenance, or visitor use monitoring in any or all of these types of settings.
Work Settings
These occupations are for people who enjoy working outdoors.
Education
Generally, a specialist in recreation should have a background (a bachelor's degree is preferable) in a resource-related field. Some common fields of study are: outdoor recreation, forest recreation, park management, recreation planning, or landscape architecture. Other related fields are: sociology, forestry, economics, biological science, park administration, earth science, natural resource management, engineering, or recreation. Specialized study in archaeology, geology, interpretation, law enforcement, sociology or history would also be helpful.
Job Outlook
Jobs for recreation planners are expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014. Competition for top jobs is fierce due to the number of baccalaureate programs in recreation and environmental studies and reductions in government funding for parks and recreation.
Salary
Salaries range widely from $35,000 - $70,000 depending on the position.