Outdoor Leadership

Studying Outdoor Leadership at Weber State

Weber State’s outdoor leadership degree is an experientially-driven degree focused on giving students the technical skills and certifications to acquire jobs in front-line positions including, but not limited to: outdoor education, winter sports industry, outdoor adventure tour guides and adventure and wilderness therapy.

Outdoor Leadership Highlights

This degree provides students the opportunity to acquire multiple industry certifications including: Wilderness First Responder, Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician, Single Pitch Instructor (American Mountain Guide Association), Leave No Trace Trainer, Swift Water Rescue Technician, Avalanche Level 1 (American Institute Avalanche Research Education- AIARE), and ski or snowboard instructor course prep in partnership with area ski resort, Powder Mountain. Many outdoor leadership classes are held in the Reed K. Swenson Building which provides students quick access to the Weber Rocks climbing wall, Swenson Pool, specialized outdoor recreation classroom and more.

You can also learn new skills through Weber State’s 1-credit recreation activity courses, which include, but are not limited to, stand-up paddleboarding, rock climbing and skiing.

The Associate of Applied Science in Outdoor Leadership is new for fall 2021. More information will be coming soon.

Beyond the Classroom

While earning your degree, you’ll build on what you learn in the classroom with hands-on experience at internship sites such as state parks and recreation centers.

What You’ll Learn at Weber

The Outdoor & Community Recreation Education (OCRE) program at Weber State University offers students the opportunity to develop the skills, abilities, and knowledge necessary for a career in the outdoor recreation industry. The expressed goal of the OCRE program is to prepare students to effectively utilize and leverage the recreation industry to promote personal growth, health and wellness, and economic and environmental sustainability.

All majors, regardless of emphasis, gain skills in the following areas:

Issues, trends and foundations of the recreation field
Leadership development
Program design and implementation
Technical skills and professional Certifications in recreational activities
Management skills

What You Can Do After Weber

Graduates go on to a wide range of opportunities in recreation, including careers with:

Outdoor retailers
Outdoor/adventure education centers
Wilderness and adventure therapy programs
Guiding/outfitting companies
Tourism companies
Campus recreation
Not-for-profit and private camps
Resorts and spas
Wellness centers
State and national parks
Youth development programs
Public and private schools
Municipal parks and recreation departments

Career & Salary Outlook

Common careers for outdoor and community recreation education graduates in the U.S. and Utah
Descriptions, job outlook, salary information and more...
(Source: bls.gov)