Recreation and Sport Management Program to Launch New Outdoor Leadership Minor

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The College of Education and Health Professions' Recreation and Sport Management program will launch a new outdoor leadership minor beginning the second eight-week session of the Fall 2022 semester.   

The outdoor leadership minor will prepare students for positions in the outdoor recreation and education industry through hands-on experiential learning with an emphasis on technical skills, professional competencies and leadership development.   

"The new minor is an excellent choice for students already pursuing a recreation and sport management degree who want to pursue jobs in the booming cycling and outdoor recreation industry," said Mike Hoover, Ed.D., clinical instructor in outdoor leadership. "Additionally, this minor is great for students in any major who desire to expand their academic resume with relevant and real-world leadership development experiences.

The new minor is made possible by a gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation supporting outdoor recreation programs on the U of A campus. Program partners include the Walton College's Department of Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Venture Innovation and Executive Education program; the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation; the Division of Economic Development; and University Recreation. 

Courses in the new minor are open for enrollment and include Rock Climbing I, Outdoor Living Skills, and Natural Resources and Outdoor Ethics. For more information about the minor or for students wishing to gain course work in outdoor leadership, please contact Mike Hoover at mdhoover@uark.edu. 

About the College of Education and Health Professions: The College of Education and Health Professions offers advanced academic degrees as well as professional development opportunities and learning communities in service to the education and health systems of Arkansas and beyond. The college provides the education and experiences for a variety of professional roles, ranging from community mental health counselors to school teachers and leaders. Programs in adult and higher education, along with educational technology and sport management, offer a broad range of options. In addition to education-related opportunities, the college prepares nurses, speech-language pathologists, health educators and administrators, recreation professionals, rehabilitation counselors and human performance researchers. 

About the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation: Established in 1987, the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation supports education initiatives and community initiatives in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.