A classic question students are forced to ask themselves once they get into college is, "What do I want to be when I grow up?" The answer to this question is a tough decision for many students. However, looking into majors that are less well known, such as recreation management and youth leadership, might prove beneficial.

The overall goal of the Department of Recreation Management and Youth Leadership is to prepare students to improve the quality of lives through wholesome recreation, especially in building strong youth and families through leisure activities.

"It's all about having fun, helping people while you do it, and improving the quality of life," said Jennifer Luther, a senior from Mesquite, Texas, who is majoring in recreation management and youth leadership.

The University Academic Catalog says the curriculum focuses on issues related to adolescent development, leadership, youth at risk, leisure and family philosophy and theory and strengthening families through wholesome recreation.

"In every area of our major you have to be people oriented," said Professor Stacy Taniguchi of the RMYL department. "This major is definitely getting out and convincing the public that recreation and leisure is important to a person's well being."

Within the program, there are three major emphases: therapeutic recreation, leisure services management and scouting education.

Each emphasis serves a different purpose. Therapeutic recreation usually involves working with individuals that have disabilities within hospitals, camps, therapy programs and various other places.

Leisure services management is a more general emphasis. It is primarily focused on working in management positions for government agencies, non-profit and profit recreational programs.

The last emphasis, scouting education, is the most specific of the three areas. This is specifically designed for people interested in being in management for the Boy Scouts of America. Because this emphasis is so small, almost every graduate has had the opportunity to walk into a leadership position after graduation.

Many students enjoy the excitement involved with some of the classes, which include learning how to rock climb, hike, sail and mountain bike.

If a student is interested in any area of this major, there is no official selection process; however, official acceptance comes when a student has met with a RMYL faculty advisor to plan out the student's course of study for the major, and files this course of study with required signatures to the college's academic advising office.

Furthermore, all emphases in the major are required to participate in two internships. The first should be early on in the major consisting of a minimum of 100 hours and the second internship requires a minimum of 400 hours and usually takes place after students have completed most of their major classes.

Some of the career opportunities associated with recreation management and youth leadership include working in hospitals and clinical settings for those with disabilities, working with youth agencies, working in state and national parks or scouting programs and managing recreation facilities in the community or various other places.

In general, an undergraduate degree is sufficient for most job opportunities within this field. However, if a student is interested in obtaining a higher degree there is a graduate program in youth and family recreation.

"If you like sitting at a desk this major is not for you," Luther said. "Recreational therapists are never in their office. They're always out and it's different everyday."

Copyright Brigham Young University 14 Nov 2006