These Schools Can Help You Break Into The Outdoor Industry

Colleges across the U.S. are now offering degrees in subjects like gear innovation, guiding, and outdoor-business management. Here’s where to find them.

Thinking about entering the booming outdoor-recreation industry? If you’re a student (or working on a career switch), there’s no better time to jump in. A growing number of colleges across the U.S. are now offering programs for future adventure-industry workers, with the aim of better equipping tomorrow’s gear makers, retailers, and business owners for success. The latest school to join the list: the University of Denver.

DU’s new Leadership in Outdoor Recreation Industry program offers two post-grad certificates—one in Outdoor Recreation Industry Business (ORIB) and another in Outdoor Recreation Industry Leadership (ORIL). The ORIB certificate focuses on core business skills like accounting, finance, and marketing, and is geared toward recent grads with no or limited business experience. The more advanced ORIL is designed for middle managers who already have some business savvy (in outdoor rec or elsewhere). Coursework for the ORIL involves more advanced subjects, like financial models, supply chain challenges, human resources, and growth management.

Both programs begin in the spring, and virtual attendance is an option for those who don’t live in the Mile High City.

“We’re creating specialized, easy-to-access programming that will prepare students for outdoor industry jobs that are available now, and future careers that will change the field,” said DU chancellor Jeremy Haefner.

The new program is funded in part through a $3 million grant from the VF Foundation, the charitable arm of Denver-based VF Corporation, parent company of The North Face and Smartwool.

Read the whole article from Outside Business Journal here.