Leisure Services Professionals make a difference in the quality of life for all citizens by encouraging and facilitating the positive use of leisure time. In urban centers, working in community centers or neighborhood parks, they may work with community residents to help them break out of negative life patterns or assist them in enjoying their leisure time. They may work in Public, private, non-profit, commercial and outdoor settings. Recreational activities include dance, nature excursions, sports, arts and crafts, etc. They manage business affairs and the quality of camp activities.
Recreation is big business world-wide.
For most administrative and managerial positions and advancement in the leisure studies and recreation field, the Master's degree is required. The expansion will come about because of increased leisure time and income for the population as a whole combined with a continuing interest in fitness and health and because of a growing population of the elderly in nursing homes, senior centers and retirement communities. The demand for Recreation Therapists will experience faster than average growth through the year 2005 because of anticipated expansion in the need for long term care, physical and psychiatric rehabilitation. In addition, there is a demand for recreation specialists to conduct activity programs for special groups, such as emotionally disturbed. Two areas promising the most favorable opportunities for recreation professionals are the commercial recreation and human services industries.