Why Community Recreation?
You always organize the neighborhood sports and community theater. You like to coordinate special events such as reunions, banquets, fund-raisers and tournaments. Perhaps you should consider a career in community recreation.

As a professional in community recreation and parks, you will be challenged to motivate people to participate in leisure time pursuits which refresh their minds and bodies. Annually, billions of dollars are spent on public recreation programs and facilities with even more being spent by private and nonprofit recreational agencies. This reinforces the need for qualified professionals to lead, supervise and manage programs and facilities in various community environments.

To succeed in this field, you should have strong leadership abilities, good interpersonal skills, creativity, problem-solving abilities, energy and enthusiasm. Central Michigan was the first university to offer a professionally accredited major in the field of recreation, parks and leisure service administration in the state of Michigan. As you explore educational options, consider these key features that distinguish CMU's community recreation program:

• A department that is recognized nationally as offering one of the best curriculums in this field.
• Internships designed to offer practical, hands-on experience
• Help with fieldwork and internship placement through the Center for Leisure Services
• Professional, volunteer and social opportunities through the Student Recreation Association

Career Options in Commercial Recreation
CMU graduates have found successful careers with programming, leadership, supervisory and administrative positions in a variety of community, public, nonprofit, military, youth and religious agencies. Some of these include:

• City and County Parks and Recreation Departments
• Regional Park Districts
• Youth Services Agencies (YMCA, YWCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, Teen Centers, Community Centers)
• Institutional Recreation Agencies
• Armed Forces Recreation and Wellness Departments
• Church Recreation Programs
• Family Entertainment Centers
• Aquatic Centers
• University Activity Centers