| This study explored how undergraduate college curricula can better support students' long-term career success in the adventure education and recreation industry. The author surveyed alumni from five college adventure programs in Canada and the United States. The sub purposes of this study were to determine: (1) Are the respondents working in the adventure industry, (2) How do the respondents define success and do they believe they are successful, (3) What skills they felt competent at after they finished their adventure program, and (4) What skills they believed they were lacking from their program that if present may have contributed to their career success. Twelve core components of adventure education curricula were identified in the literature as: leadership, business and marketing skills, critical thinking, communication, decision making and judgment, educational skills, environmental ethics, facilitation and group processing, risk management, social justice issues and awareness and technical skills. This study used a mixed method approach in the form of an online. Importantly, respondents indicated that it would be beneficial to incorporate certifications into adventure education curricula and place greater academic emphasis on business and marketing skills. Decision-making, leadership, teamwork and self-awareness were the skills in which respondents believed they were the most competent after completing their college programs. Respondents indicated that success is based on financial independence and money, a balance of lifestyle and happiness and passion. |
