New Partnership Supports Workforce Pathways for Youth in Parks and Recreation

NC State has partnered with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) to collaborate on a new workforce initiative designed to help youth develop skills and explore career opportunities in parks and recreation. It is supported with funding provided by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Workforce Pathways for Youth program.

Through the three-year initiative, NC State and other partner organizations will work with the NRPA to deliver job training and develop summer and year-round workforce pathway opportunities for youth. These opportunities will include soft skills development, career exploration, job readiness and industry-based certifications.

“As the premier home for undergraduate and graduate education in parks, recreation, tourism, and sport management — including a robust internship program — we are excited to be a key partner on the Workforce Pathways for Youth program,” said Aaron Hipp, a professor of parks, recreation and tourism management at NC State.

Hipp added, “We work daily with our over 400 undergraduate students to prepare the next generation of recreation, sport, and tourism professionals. This program provides us a key opportunity to highlight the land grant university pathway for North Carolinian high school students interested in getting and keeping their communities outdoors, active and healthy.”

This post was originally published in College of Natural Resources News.