The National Park Service just announced a new partnership with the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and three local NPS units to train the next generation of leaders in the fields of outdoor recreation and public land management.
“Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Obed Wild and Scenic River and the Manhattan Project National Historical Park offer a wonderful opportunity for students to extend their classroom experiences into the real world of natural and cultural resource protection. Our park units also stand to benefit greatly from the students’ creativity, insight and enthusiasm.” -Superintendent Niki Stephanie Nicholas
The School of Natural Resources and the Herbert College of Agriculture at the university recently created the Outdoor Recreation and Park Management Program. Students in the program complete a rigorous course of academic study that includes a science based curriculum, certification in critical skills such as wilderness medicine and swiftwater rescue and numerous field experiences at protected areas across the East Tennessee region and beyond. Activities such as rock climbing, kayaking, backpacking and camping are all part of the experience.
“We believe that a strong academic background in outdoor recreation and park management is one key component to preparing our students for their profession. Equally important, however, is exposing students to real world experiences which provide context for what they learn in the classroom and which lay the foundations of the skill sets that they will further hone over the course of their careers.” -UT Professor Ryan Sharp
The new partnership will focus on collaboration in five key areas.
- Students will assist with park programs such as Climb with a Ranger at Obed, special events like the Spring Planting and Storytelling festivals at Big South Fork, or other functions such as river cleanups and visitor center operations.
- Park staff will regularly serve as guest speakers in ORPM classes on topics ranging from interpretation and education to resource management.
- Big South Fork NRRA, Obed WSR and Manhattan Project will be regular sites for field trips, allowing students to connect with park employees and experience natural and cultural management resources firsthand.
- The parks will offer expanded internship opportunities to students.
- The parks will communicate closely with UT’s School of Natural Resources regarding areas of needed research and study.
Outdoor Recreation and Park Management (ORPM)
The Outdoor Recreation and Park Management (ORPM) concentration provides the highest level of professional training for students seeking employment in the park management field and those interested in tapping into the growing outdoor recreation economy. Our students have careers as professionals at such organizations as the Tennessee State Parks, Tennessee Department of Conversation and Environment, National Park Service, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, The Nature Conservancy, Knoxville Zoo and municipal parks across the country.
Featured Courses
ORPM 430 – Natural and Cultural Interpretation (3 credit hours)
Outdoor recreation and natural resources provide a unique context for educating adults and children about environmental issues. It provides a learning environment conducive to promoting environmental awareness and interpretation techniques. This course will include philosophies, concepts, and practical techniques of Environmental Interpretation (EI). This course will introduce students to individuals and agencies involved in EI. Prerequisite(s): ORPM 100, ORPM 150.
ORPM 300 – Outdoor Recreation Leadership (3 credit hours)
A philosophical, historical, and practical application of outdoor recreation leadership using various adventure and outdoor recreation-based methods and techniques.
ORPM 440 – Recreation Ecology (3 credit hours)
Physical impacts are an inevitable result of visitor use of outdoor environments. Much of the focus of outdoor recreation management is on reducing the scope of such impacts or mitigating their effects. The literature classifies impacts into two types: those affecting the resource (physical impacts), and those affecting visitors (social impacts). This class focuses primarily on physical impacts on the resource. Effective management must include anticipating and monitoring impacts and modeling potential solutions before implementing policies. Prerequisite(s): ORPM 352.
Career Paths for Students
Graduates are employed as park managers, rangers, conservation officers, planners, naturalists, agency and unit directors, program specialists, outfitter owners/managers, non-profit directors, and small business owners.
