Outdoor Recreation

Outdoor landscaping

Turn the outdoors into a career.

Build skills in recreation, trail development and tourism while earning stackable credentials that lead to real-world opportunities. Learn, train and build your future in one of Arkansas’s top outdoor destinations.

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Work where others come to play

Outdoor recreation is one of Arkansas’s fastest-growing industries, with the state aiming to significantly expand its tourism and recreation economy over the next decade. This growth is creating opportunities in parks, tourism, trail systems and recreation services across the region. Located in Hot Springs National Park and the Ouachita Mountains, National Park College offers a unique environment where students learn in the same landscapes that drive this growing industry.

At NPC, this program is designed for students who want to work outdoors, build practical skills and pursue careers that don’t follow a traditional office setting.

 

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

Build skills. Earn credentials. Move forward.

The Outdoor Recreation program is designed with stackable credentials that allow you to gain experience, earn credentials and enter the workforce while continuing your education.

Whether you start with a short-term certificate or complete the full associate degree, each step is connected and built to move you forward.

Outdoor Recreation, AAS

Work-Ready | Transfer Option

The Outdoor Recreation AAS provides a comprehensive, hands-on education designed to prepare you for careers in recreation, tourism and outdoor industries.

This degree brings together all areas of the program, including leadership, maintenance, safety and program management, and prepares you for long-term career opportunities.

View the OUTDOOR RECREATION, AAS

Outdoor Recreation, TC

Expanded Skills

Build on foundational skills with additional coursework that deepens your experience in outdoor recreation, leadership and operations.

The Technical Certificate combines multiple skill areas into a broader credential, helping you expand your opportunities in the field.

View the Outdoor Recreation, TC

Certificates of Proficiency (CP)

Short-Term | Skill-Focused

Choose from a variety of specialized certificates that build real-world skills in outdoor recreation:

Trail Building & Outdoor Maintenance

Learn trail design, construction, equipment use and maintenance skills for outdoor environments.

Recreation & Program Leadership

Focus on planning, leading and managing recreational programs and outdoor experiences.

Safety & Specialized Skills

Develop skills in safety, preparedness and working in outdoor environments.

Tourism & Hospitality

Explore careers supporting Arkansas’s tourism and recreation economy.

These certificates can be completed quickly and are built into the larger Outdoor Recreation pathway, allowing you to gain experience and continue building toward advanced credentials.

mountain range in hot springs national park

WHERE IT CAN TAKE YOU

Outdoor Recreation opens the door to careers across a wide range of industries.

Career paths include:

  • Local, state and national park services
  • Trail maintenance and outdoor construction
  • Recreation and adventure guiding
  • Resorts, marinas and hospitality operations
  • Outdoor equipment and retail
  • Outfitters and guide services

Opportunities are especially strong in regions with growing outdoor recreation and tourism industries.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

Skills for outdoor careers

  • Trail design, construction and maintenance
  • Outdoor leadership and recreation programming
  • Equipment use and safety practices
  • Tourism and hospitality operations
  • Problem-solving and teamwork in outdoor environments
Bike riding on wooded trail

Why NATIONAL PARK COLLEGE

At NPC, you’re not just learning about outdoor recreation—you’re surrounded by it. You will gain hands-on experience in a one-of-a-kind program designed to reflect real-world outdoor environments. With flexible credentials, practical training and strong ties to regional industries, you can build a career that fits your lifestyle and interests.

Some courses may include evening, weekend or overnight field experiences.

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