People spend $887 million annually to shred the slopes in Crested Butte, mountain bike the sandstone trails in Moab, Utah, cast a line in Lake Minnetonka, Minn., and enjoy other outdoor adventures in Colorado and across the U.S.
So it makes sense to train the people who manage the adventure and outdoor recreation industry to provide what’s best for people and the environment, say top tourism and Colorado State University officials.
CSU is doing its part by launching an online graduate certificate in adventure tourism, the first of its kind in the nation.
Luis Benitez, director of the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, said the CSU program, which launches in spring, will help students and those already working in the outdoor recreation industry to adapt to rapid changes in adventure tourism.
“The outdoor recreation industry represents a new economy,” Benitez said. “The leaders of this economy will need to have a deep understanding of our natural resources, and how to integrate the components of innovation, health and wellness into a vision for what comes next.”
The online format will allow students from around the world to complete the coursework — six classes — at their own pace. Courses will include narrated presentations, discussion groups and multimedia content, including video interviews and discussions with industry experts, said Mark Gasta, associate professor of tourism and director of the adventure tourism program in CSU’s Warner Colleges of Natural Resources.
Gasta, former executive vice president of Vail Resorts, said the new certificate program will provide students and budding entrepreneurs with the skills required to successfully develop and manage land-, water- and air-based adventures. The U.S. outdoor recreation industry currently employs 7.6 million people.
The course combines information gleaned from industry leaders and natural resource tourism management theory with on-the-ground practical skills needed to run an outdoor adventure business, Gasta said.
The course will attract people who are not that interested in managing a business from a cubicle, he said.
“This course provides a unique opportunity for individuals to live their passion, while making a lasting positive difference in the world by transforming lives, increasing cultural awareness, and expanding world views,” Gasta said.
CSU offers a ski area management certificate, also offered online through Warner College of Natural Resources. This is an eight-week accelerated program that incorporates industry knowledge and best practices, as provided by CSU faculty and ski area managers.
