Recreation & Leisure

The Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies responds to the growing importance of leisure and recreation in personal lives and communities.

COURSE OF STUDY
The faculty prepare you to plan, organize and lead recreation programs in many settings, and challenge you to understand the meaning of leisure in our culture as impacted by sociological, psychological, theological, historical, philosophical and economic influences. You will be encouraged to double major or declare a minor that complements your interests.

The department also has a dynamic internship/cooperative education placement program to help you move from the classroom to the work environment.

Why a major in Recreation and Leisure Studies?
Leisure Studies is the study of the quality of life. "Leisure finds its significance in the total context of a meaningful life. Leisure is a part of human's ultimate concern. It is a crucial part of the very search for meaning in life... Increasingly it is in our leisure time that either the meaningfulness or pointlessness of life will be revealed" (Lee, Religion and Leisure in America). For the Christian, the meaning of life is not found in our leisure activities, rather leisure allows the opportunity for us to celebrate our relationship with God, our Creator. In considering the potential for a more leisure-oriented society, there is a critical need for wise Christian leadership to guide this increasingly important aspect of our lifestyles.

Outdoor Education
The department offers you the opportunity to complete a concentration (or minor for non-majors) in outdoor education. The curriculum is spearheaded by the nationally recognized Christian adventure program La Vida--located at and operated by Gordon.

The program teaches:

• Biblically based philosophy
• Guidance in servant leadership
• Outdoor adventure leadership
• Wilderness expeditionary training

Facilities include:

• A campus surrounded by a vast natural landscape with:
• • A state of the art ropes course
  • Miles of hiking trails
  • Two large ponds for canoeing/kayaking
    
    
• A 74 acre base camp in the Adirondack Mountains (with access to 6 million acres of the Park's wilderness preserve)
• A newly designed indoor climbing wall in the Bennett Athletic and Recreation Center

THE GLOBAL EXPERIENCE
Time to pack your bags and books… You can choose among many semester, year, short-term or summer abroad programs around the globe through the Global Education Office (GEO). Tuition for the programs is the same as a regular semester or year on campus. Check out some of the many opportunities:

• Boston Urban Studies Program
  
• Immersion Semester in Outdoor Education
• Bridgewell Partnership (through Gordon in Lynn)

WHERE GRADS GO
There are many professional opportunities directly related to leisure and recreational services. Graduates have successfully entered the recreation profession and have progressed in their leadership roles as well as pursued graduate degrees. Possibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Community recreation
• YMCA
• After school programs
• Corporate recreation
• Resort / commercial recreation
• Camps
• Parks Administration
• Therapeutic recreation
• Recreation for special populations
• Outdoor adventure programs

CONTACT INFORMATION
Department of Recreation and Leisure
Gordon College
Wenham, MA 01984 USA