What to do after the trail? How about a degree in Rec & Tourism?

[Tha Wookie]

Hello fellow thru-hikers,

I know a lot of you are returning from the AT, PCT, or some other trails right now, and are wondering just what the hell you are going to do now? A lot of people ask me this question. I did something that has opened more doors for me than I ever imagined: I went back to school.

Right now I'm in a PhD program at UGA's Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism program in the Warnell School of Forestry. It rocks. But I think we need more hikers!

So, if you are scratching your dirty head wondering what's next, I suggest checking out the program here in Athens, GA. If you are interested in applying, let me know and I might put in a word for you.

Now that you have seen the magic of the trail, how are you going to harness that in your life at home?

http://warnell.forestry.uga.edu/nrrt/index.html

[mts4602]

Thats a good idea. What can you do with such a degree once you graduate?

[mrc237]

Go on another hike?

[FFTorched]

These Rec and Tourism degrees are usually so general in knowedge it's almost like getting a degree in general education. I have seen some very good focused degrees that are more about running an outfitter and guide service. Paul Smith College in New York has an amazing program called Recreation, Adventure, Travel, and Eco-Tourism (R.A.T.E.). Alaska Pacific University has a program they have kept evolving to make it more practically, I first looked at it when it was degree in mountain climbing and now it's actually getting more practical. Check out those places if you'd like.

[taildragger]

Theres always wildlife biology, greatest job I ever had.

[ScottP]

Your two options:
1. Plan another thru-hike (I'd recommend this option)
2. drink heavily

[zelph]

Hello fellow thru-hikers,

I know a lot of you are returning from the AT, PCT, or some other trails right now, and are wondering just what the hell you are going to do now? A lot of people ask me this question. I did something that has opened more doors for me than I ever imagined: I went back to school.

Right now I'm in a PhD program at UGA's Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism program in the Warnell School of Forestry. It rocks. But I think we need more hikers!

So, if you are scratching your dirty head wondering what's next, I suggest checking out the program here in Athens, GA. If you are interested in applying, let me know and I might put in a word for you.

Now that you have seen the magic of the trail, how are you going to harness that in your life at home?

http://warnell.forestry.uga.edu/nrrt/index.html

I agree with the Wookie, Go back to school and get a degree in Parks and Recreation at Western Illinois University (one of the best curriculums in the field) My daughter graduated from there with a degree in Parks and Recreation(emphasis in administration)

I always razz her, Camping 101? Campfire Skills 101????

[Appalachian Tater]

I can think of lots of things to do after a thru-hike but not so many to do after getting a PhD in Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism unless I planned to teach that subject.

[The Solemates]

I can think of lots of things to do after a thru-hike but not so many to do after getting a PhD in Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism unless I planned to teach that subject.

This is why I am in engineering and not Recreation. Saying you have a degree in recreation has always been weird to me.

[Nightwalker]

This is why I am in engineering and not Recreation. Saying you have a degree in recreation has always been weird to me.

I have a Diploma--not Degree--in web design and programming. There are so many folks out there doing that job for almost nothing that it's really only good for bragging rights or some silliness. Never used it for that, but w'ateva, ya know? :)

[Tha Wookie]

Thats a good idea. What can you do with such a degree once you graduate?

Here are a few jobs are graduates have (off the top pf my head):

Forest Rangers
National Park Service Administration
Natural resources jobs with local Departments of Natural Resources
International Ecotourism operators
research scientists in recreation impacts/carrying capacities
GIS specialists
NGO administrators
University faculty
study abroad managers
Kids camp owners/managers/admin
Environmental Educators for museums, schools, NGOs, government org's
Hiker trash
.....etc....

[Tha Wookie]

This is why I am in engineering and not Recreation. Saying you have a degree in recreation has always been weird to me.

Yeah, but now they just see your striped hat and its all clear.

All aboard!!!

[Mags]

The important thing to do is try to work in a field you enjoy. Too many people fall into something because it worked at the time. (Happened to me to be honest! It is also why I at the start of a career change )

Life is too short to do something you don't love.

YMMV. Just my .02 worth. Etc. Etc.

[hiker5]

Yeah, but now they just see your striped hat and its all clear.

All aboard!!!

Reminds me of one of my favorite Michigan Tech hockey cheers when we played against Univ. of Michigan. "Michigan Engineers drive trains! Woo Woo!"

[Mags]

Yeah, but now they just see your striped hat and its all clear.

All aboard!!!

I have an image of Jacob dressing in a THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE (http://trus.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pTRU1-2906796dt.jpg)outfit.


;)

[Tha Wookie]

There has been some criticism of the job potential after a Rec&Tourism degree, but before you take the bait, consider this fact:

Tourism, according to the World Trade Organization, has emerged in the past ten years as the #1 industry in the world. The oil industry pales in comparison. In fact, the WTO estimates that tourism now accounts for more than 10% of the Global Domestic Product. This is largely contributed to an unprecendented mobility of conventional society, dissolving trade barriers, and increased leisure time of the working class.

Within the tourism economy, the fastest growing sector is nature-based tourism. Also, cutural and heritage tourism are expaning at incredible rates.

With concerns about environmental impacts, cultural degradation, and a diversity in tourism opportunities, careers for people with an insight on the experience of tourism (like thru-hiking) is in hot demand.

Our school is a professional school. We train students to push the edge in the most vibrant sectors of job growth and natural resource managment issues.

There's nothing wrong with traditional careers, but society is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Once fail-safe jobs, like auto-industry, human resources, and mainframe operators are becoming obsolete. Think of all the layoffs from the big industries. They don't need people as much, at least not people working on American wages.

The beautiful thing about it is to be able to lead cutting-edge fields and also enjoy the proximity to the beauty in nature.

It's all part of a larger social evolution. It's up to the individual to decide where they fit into the picture.

[Tha Wookie]

Oh, here are some other careers from the NRT website.

http://warnell.forestry.uga.edu/nrrt/careers.html

Notice one of them is the ATC.

[SGT Rock]

Theres always wildlife biology, greatest job I ever had.
That is the one I want to do.

[shelterbuilder]

There has been some criticism of the job potential after a Rec&Tourism degree, but before you take the bait, consider this fact:

Tourism, according to the World Trade Organization, has emerged in the past ten years as the #1 industry in the world. The oil industry pales in comparison. In fact, the WTO estimates that tourism now accounts for more than 10% of the Global Domestic Product. This is largely contributed to an unprecendented mobility of conventional society, dissolving trade barriers, and increased leisure time of the working class.

Within the tourism economy, the fastest growing sector is nature-based tourism. Also, cutural and heritage tourism are expaning at incredible rates.

With concerns about environmental impacts, cultural degradation, and a diversity in tourism opportunities, careers for people with an insight on the experience of tourism (like thru-hiking) is in hot demand.

Our school is a professional school. We train students to push the edge in the most vibrant sectors of job growth and natural resource managment issues.

There's nothing wrong with traditional careers, but society is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Once fail-safe jobs, like auto-industry, human resources, and mainframe operators are becoming obsolete. Think of all the layoffs from the big industries. They don't need people as much, at least not people working on American wages.

The beautiful thing about it is to be able to lead cutting-edge fields and also enjoy the proximity to the beauty in nature.

It's all part of a larger social evolution. It's up to the individual to decide where they fit into the picture.

Cool! It sounds like "see the world and get paid for it, too.":D

[rockrat]

You all could come down here to Brevard and get a degree in Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education. Its a great major, half my classes are in Kayaking, Biking, and Backpacking.

[Appalachian Tater]

You all could come down here to Brevard and get a degree in Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education. Its a great major, half my classes are in Kayaking, Biking, and Backpacking.

University education certainly has changed a bit in the last 25 years. Half of my classes were calculus, physics, advanced geometry, statics, structures, and the like. The other half were easy courses like English, French, Artchitectural History, History of Science and Technology, and Drownproofing. I have a friend whose kid has dinner with a Mexican family once a week and gets credit for that. Expensive school, too.

[Nightwalker]

The important thing to do is try to work in a field you enjoy. Too many people fall into something because it worked at the time. (Happened to me to be honest! It is also why I at the start of a career change )

Life is too short to do something you don't love.

YMMV. Just my .02 worth. Etc. Etc.

I'm trying my best to get it to where I can work full time making maps for recreational trails. Considering the ones that I've been paid for, and what I've charged, I guess that I'm up to about 1.00 an hour.

I must be doing something right, though. One of my first customers, Table Rock State Park, in Pickens County SC, just asked me to re-map their trail system after the most recent re-lo. No bids or anything. Just do the job and tell them what they owe me. Cool, eh? :)

[Lone Wolf]

You all could come down here to Brevard and get a degree in Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education. Its a great major, half my classes are in Kayaking, Biking, and Backpacking.

don't need no degree to do that stuff. just do it. school costs big bucks

[Tha Wookie]

don't need no degree to do that stuff. just do it. school costs big bucks

not when they pay you to go there;)