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What To Learn

High School

What high school courses should you take if you're interested in this career? Get your answers from the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources cluster Natural Resource Systems pathway.

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Additional Information

A bachelor of science degree is the minimum requirement for a permanent position. It's preferable that the degree be in one of the natural sciences. A background in geography, forestry or park and recreation management combined with studies in life, earth, social and natural sciences, is ideal.

Dozens of colleges and universities offer bachelor's or higher degrees in forestry. Programs stress science, mathematics, communications skills and computer science, as well as technical forestry subjects.

Associate's or bachelor's degree programs in parks and recreation are offered at several hundred colleges and universities. Many also offer master's or doctoral degrees in this field.

There are approximately 90 bachelor's degree, parks and recreation programs that are accredited by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). Accredited programs provide broad exposure to the history, theory and philosophy of park and recreation management.

The Wilderness Education Association offers training programs throughout the United States. Its goal is to promote professionalism in the field of outdoor leadership and thereby improve the safety of outdoor trips and enhance the conservation of the wild outdoors.