Seeking assistance/opinions related to higher education, Outdoor Education

[Lilred]

Have you thought about a forestry degree? Forest rangers do a lot of group teaching. I teach middle school and right now is the worst time to get into education. No Child Left Behind has screwed everything up.

[bamboo bob]

Any four year degree. You MUST get your ticket punched or you will not get a decent chance at doing what you really want except by luck. Appalachian State might be a fit for an undergraduate degree. You might ask Forest Rangers or Park Service people what degree they have. I think we've all heard too much from slackers who just don't want to work very hard in school or in life. Forget math or science its way too hard for the slacker mentality. Its too hot its too cold its too wet its too dry. That's OK the world needs barristers too. And seven-eleven clerks. We do want fries with that and someone has to give them to us. That may be you.

[topshelf]

--2. The thought of a traditional teaching job weighs heavily on my soul. While I love to teach, it's not what I want to do. The confinement, the babysitting, the politics, etc.

American Education is one screwed up mother... Glad you recognized and got out, I will be quitting after this year. I'm tired of working 70-80 hour weeks and still continually falling behind because of all the political red tape. When the non-necessary red tape inhibits your ability to do your job, teaching, something is way wrong. My final straw was when they told me next year my pay will be based on student performances on standardized tests.

I went 3 years under Civil Engineering, then 3 years in Education. Now I'm trapped in education until I go back to grad school again, which I am in the fall. I've applied for other jobs and have never heard anything in return. When I've talked to employers, they basically tell me my degree is too specific. I can't use the education side, and I can't use the Math side because I didn't have the Calculus and other math's not required for education.

I will be going back for a MS in Criminal Justice and hope to become a Conservation Officer here in VA, a state trooper, or even something in the FBI or DEA. I think you're making the wise move to get out of education, even now. You gotta find what makes you happy and puts your mind at ease.

[skinewmexico]

Genius advice Shutterbug. I'm cutting and pasting that into an email to my children, although I've been hammering them for years about getting a degree that actually pays back what it costs.

[Fiddleback]

Too much politics involved with teaching. Too much BS in the military. Got pushed into college. Loves teaching of outdoor skills and running the program. Sounds like you'd fit well in something that would offer a fair amount of independent/self-starting work. But many of the careers offered above; ranger, fire fighter, etc., are some level of government jobs which themselves are replete with politics and BS, depending on your attitude towards authority, discipline, rules, etc. There is some question, however, how much more than that found in private sector jobs. Office politics? Autocratic bosses? Company policy?

I can't offer any help with all that...one either does or does not take direction well. But I think all entry level jobs will have their share of 'direction' unless you're self-employed and have only to respond to self-discipline.

I do however agree with the concept, "any degree." IMO, many jobs require a degree but the major is often secondary. Even in the military. Or, is that, especially in the military?

FB

[4eyedbuzzard]

Honest advice with no sugar coating: Most of life is replete with politics and BS. Get used to it and learn how to handle it.

[pyroman53]

Kevin: I have enjoyed this discussion because it has really made me think. Thanks! Some thoughts since yesterday:

Politics and conflict are in every job...everyone either has a boss or a customer or both. Either one is always right!! If there are two or more people in your work environment, there will be conflict.

The particular college you go to probably doesn't matter as much as the fact that you went...and graduated. As to choosing a particular college because it has some particular reputation, heck, when it comes to the outdoor and natural sciences, this stuff isn't rocket surgery. College teaches you the basics and more importantly teaches you how to learn, think, and understand. The real world teaches you how to apply what you learned and actually "do" things. Most of that is just common sense.

I've met dozens of people working full time in fields you could enter into with an Outdoor Education degree and they were all enjoying their jobs. I began thinking about it and I can't think of anyone who works in or connected to the outdoors in some sort of professional context that doesn't generally enjoy their job and I've met thousands. I've never met an unhappy Park Ranger (not the same as Forester by the way), or an unhappy Wilderness Ranger...or an unhappy Parks and Rec Director. Yeah, there have been a few who were sour pusses, but they'd be sour even after they won the lottery.

Just sayin'

[lutefisk]

I know a lot of people who work in Outdoor Education. College programs they've spoken highly of include Prescott College in Arizona, Johnson State College in Vermont, and the University of New Hampshire.

Most of the people I know in Outdoor Ed. might best be described as migrant workers. They have a BA and their Wilderness First Responder certification, and work seasonal camps and programs, per diem challenge course work, and maybe spend part of the year as a ski instructor. They have no health benefits or stable income, but they can come and go as they please.

I know a few folks who work in residential treatment programs that have a strong wilderness component, and others that have tried going into business on their own. A lucky few work in programs that provide year round outdoor education services where they have benefits and stability. It's a difficult path, and to be successful you need a real passion for what you are doing, not just a desire to be outdoors. Like most of life, their are sacrifices and trade-offs as you figure out what you value the most.

The path I've followed is one of a career in social and youth services, including an outdoor program that has me out 6 - 7 weeks each year on five-to-eight-day trips including backpacking, canoeing, rock climbing, caving, etc. I give up a bit in pay to pursue things I really enjoy, and I give up some freedom and flexibility to have the benefits and security that I value for my family. If I'm ever going to thru-hike it will be after I retire, but I'm not complaining.

One of my former students plans to try the path of a lucrative engineering career with an early retirement to do the things he wants. His biggest challenge will be to keep his lifestyle from growing with his career so that he can retire when he wants.