Recreation Management Students Learn By Venturing Out

An epic ski trip.

A buzzer-beating basketball game.

A breathtaking river raft ride.

Dedicated professionals in the recreation industry make experiences like these possible.

At EWU, the next generation of dynamic leaders is being equipped through the Recreation Management program.

“We’re really a business program specializing in the recreation industry, teaching students to manage facilities, people, and programming,” says director Jeremy Jostad.

The U.S. recreation industry is a significant economic powerhouse, generating billions of dollars annually. Career opportunities range from creating city park programs to planning epic outdoor adventures, from organizing sporting events to managing federal lands.

Jostad originally planned to pursue a career as a physical education teacher.

“An outdoor leadership class changed my entire trajectory,” he says.

He brings many years of experience within the outdoor recreation and education sector. He’s worked for outdoor/environmental education programs, commercial outdoor recreation companies, wilderness therapy programs for at-risk youth, and the National Outdoor Leadership School.

Leading the recreation management program at Eastern combines his passion for teaching with his love of nature.

“This is an experiential education program,” says Jostad. “Students don’t just sit in class being lectured to—we engage them with each other and with the professors. We go camping, mountain biking, and river rafting together.”

In addition, students get applied learning opportunities at Epic Adventures, which provides guided outdoor trips, training, events, and gear rentals to the EWU community.

Real-world application is what drew Asher Dutton to the program.

“We had an introduction to recreational management in the morning, then went outside and played croquet and cornhole,” Dutton recalled. “Then we talked about the history and philosophy of leisure.”

The connection between academic learning and firsthand experience energizes the junior.

“We had a whitewater rafting class, then took a 3-day rafting trip,” he says. “We learned the essentials of snow-based travel and avalanche safety and then went backcountry skiing.”

In his job at Epic Adventures, he led a multiday excursion to Jerry Johnson Hot Springs in the Clearwater National Forest.

“We learn how to facilitate an environment where people can grow and have unique experiences,” says Dutton. “I love going to class every day, and how excited everyone is to be here. At EWU, I feel like I found my place.”

Hannah Howard concurs.

“I’ve always had a passion for the outdoors,” the senior says. “I originally thought I’d major in environmental science.”

Though she appreciates the important research environmental science provides, she quickly discovered she wanted a more hands-on career.

The recreation management degree requires 500 hours of relevant practical experience, and Howard reveled in the field opportunities.

“One summer, I worked with the U.S. Forest Service in Cle Elum,” she says. “I got to help the trails crew doing litter pick-up and facilities maintenance. The small staff made me feel welcome and part of the team.”

Closer to home, she’s worked with Spokane Riverkeeper as a water intern.

“A lot of my time was spent on the river removing trash,” says Howard. “This summer we removed 6,000 pounds!”

She also floated a physician to visit homeless camps along the river.

“We took water bottles to the sites and left garbage bags at them.”

Then she returned to collect the trash.

Although her degree has many applications, she is most interested in working in the public sector.

“My concentration is natural resource management,” she says.

Her work at Epic Adventures surprised her. Howard led cross-country ski trips, snowboard adventures, and paddleboarding excursions.

“I’ve never considered myself a leader,” she says. “I’m not the first one to raise my hand in class. But now, I’ve planned events, assessed risk, and determined staffing. The recreation management program has provided me with valuable leadership experience. I’ve had so much fun directly implementing the things I’m learning in the classroom.”