The Natural Resource Recreation and Sports curriculum provides students the opportunity to obtain a general background in leisure studies and to focus their studies on one of five concentrations: Recreation and Sports Management, Adventure Recreation, Park and Outdoor Recreation, Environmental Science and Forestry (2+2 Transfer Program), or Forest Technology (1+1 Transfer Program). The program is designed to prepare students for post-graduation careers while at the same time offering the flexibility for students to transfer to four-year colleges or universities.

Each of the program concentrations offers students a number of opportunities. In addition to the theoretical background associated with each of the concentrations, students in the Natural Resource Recreation and Sports (NRRS) program gain a tremendous amount of practical experience that is applicable to numerous leisure-oriented jobs. Graduates of the program find opportunities as park managers, recreation leaders, aquatics specialists, campground managers, sports specialists, outdoor adventure guides, park rangers, fitness or sport center directors, social directors, activity directors in therapeutic and resort settings, outdoor educators, recreation therapy aides, conservation officers, and many more. Program concentrations are also designed to assist students in obtaining various certifications relative to the field, including NYS guiding license, kayaking instructor, wilderness first aid, and adventure program facilitator, among others.

Students who successfully complete the program receive either an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) or an Associate in Science (A.S.) degree, with the exception of the Forest Technology concentration. For those students wishing to continue on for a bachelor's degree, the NRRS program has developed tremendous rapport with many four-year colleges and universities, both in and out of New York State. Graduates of the NRRS program are prepared to be certified as Recreation Associates by the National Recreation and Park Association, provided they have completed the necessary work experience requirement.

To learn more about the Adventure Recreation program, visit the NRRS program website at http://www.delhi.edu/academics/parks.

The Instructional Program

The core courses of the NRRS program emphasize theoretical and practical application of park, recreation, leisure, physical education, and natural resource management. Small class sizes allow for considerable individual contact between instructors and students. This one-on-one, hands-on atmosphere is the cornerstone of the program.

The NRRS program faculty view student advisement as one of their most important responsibilities. Students can fully develop the coursework necessary for their concentration while at the same time addressing individual interests and needs through consultation with their faculty advisor.

Educational Resources

The main campus at SUNY Delhi has excellent recreational facilities. The Clark Field House, which opened in the spring of 2004, houses the Floyd L. Maines Arena, the College's gymnasium, and the CADI Fitness Center. Adjacent to the Clark Field House is a mini-dome air structure that houses tennis and basketball courts, an indoor track, and an indoor driving range. Kunsela Hall is home to the College's indoor pool and two racquetball courts. Also located on the main campus are outdoor tennis and basketball courts as well as various athletic fields used for academics, athletics, and intramurals alike.

The lower campus includes an 18-hole golf course with practice putting green and driving range, two fishing streams, picnic area, and hiking and horseback-riding trails. Adjacent to the lower campus is the Catskill Outdoor Education Center, a 50-acre interpretive center that includes two miles of trails, a small amphitheater, an outdoor classroom, and various sitting and picnic areas.

Other educational resources at the program's disposal are a 100-acre arboretum that acts as a natural laboratory, featuring special woodland interpretive trails and wildlife planting trails, and the 185-acre John Lennox Demonstration Forest, the oldest conifer plantation of its type in New York State.

Adventure Recreation

The first degree (Associate in Applied Science--A.A.S.) of its kind in the SUNY system, the Adventure Recreation concentration offers students the opportunity to enter a dynamic and ever-expanding field. This concentration is designed to incorporate all of the programming skills necessary to develop and operate a challenging and inviting adventure program. From a weekend backpacking excursion to a high-ropes course, students experience a plethora of adventure activities firsthand. From these experiences they develop a working encyclopedia of the tools necessary for success in the field.

Transfer Options

SUNY ESF/Syracuse Connection

The Environmental Science and Forestry articulation program is designed for those students who ultimately desire a Bachelor of Science degree in the environmental sciences and/or forestry.

After the first two years of study at SUNY Delhi, students may transfer to a four-year college or university to major in any one of a number of programs. Delhi has a special cooperative program with the College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) at Syracuse for transfer. Graduates of Delhi's Environmental Science and Forestry option receive an A.A.S. in Individual Studies and generally gain admission with full junior-class status to ESF as well as other four-year colleges.

Delhi also offers a one-plus-one concentration for students who desire an A.A.S. degree in Forest Technology through ESF's School of Forest Technology at Wanakena. Students receive a liberal arts background with an emphasis in mathematics and science during the first year of study at Delhi. The second year is spent at ESF's Wanakena Campus, located on the western edge of the Adirondack Mountains. Courses at Wanakena are almost totally technical in nature, and 50 percent of students' studies are devoted to field exercises.

Curriculum

SUNY Curriculum Code: 1563

First Semester

Course No.	Course	Cr. Hrs.
PRKM 100	Orientation to Recreation and Physical Education	1
PRKM 110	Introduction to Recreation and Physical Education	3
PRKM 128	Adventure Recreation I	1
PRKM 130	Program Planning and Leadership for Recreation and Physical Education	3
BIOL ___	Laboratory Science Elective	4
ENGL 100	Freshman Composition	3
PEDH 164	Lifeguard Training
	or	3
PEDH 210	Health and Wellness
	Total	18

Second Semester

Course No.	Course	Cr. Hrs.
PRKM 129	Adventure Recreation II	1
PRKM 131	Adventure Recreation III	1
PRKM 145	Adventure Recreation Programming and Leadership	3
LARC 120	Landscape Graphics	2
PEDH 220	First Aid: Responding to Emergencies	2
____ ___	Laboratory Science Elective	4
____ ___	Concentration Electives	3
	Total	16

Third Semester

Course No.	Course	Cr. Hrs.
PRKM 210	Outdoor Education and Camping	4
PRKM 230	Park and Recreation Internship I	3
COMM 100	Public Speaking	3
TRVL 170	Tourism	3
____ ___	Concentration Electives	4
	Total	17

Fourth Semester

Course No.	Course	Cr. Hrs.
PRKM 132	Adventure Recreation IV	1
PRKM 200	Design and Development of Park and Recreation Facilities	3
PRKM 220	Park and Recreation Management	3
MATH ___	Mathematics (by placement)	3-4
PEDH ___	Physical Education Activity Elective	1
____ ___	Humanities/Social Science Elective	3
____ ___	Social Science Elective	3
	Total	17-18

Degree Requirement: 68 credit hours

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must have a high school diploma and have completed Mathematics Course A and one year of biology (preferably Regents level or equivalent).

Program Objectives

A graduate of the Natural Resource Recreation and Sports: Adventure Recreation A.A.S. program should be able to:

1. Discuss the academic and career opportunities available in the field of park and outdoor recreation and have a working knowledge of how to utilize these opportunities.
2. Discuss the philosophy, history, scope, and significance of the park and outdoor recreation movement.
3. Select the appropriate sport, game, or outdoor activity for various situations in a park and/or recreational setting.
4. Plan and supervise recreation programs for governmental, non-profit, and commercial agencies.
5. Understand and apply fundamental concepts, principles, and procedures for the planning, development, and design of recreational resources, areas, and facilities.
6. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of park and recreation administration.
7. Understand the relationships between organisms and their physical and biological environments and the structure and function of ecosystems, communities, and populations.
8. Demonstrate a thorough grounding in the theory and application of at least one specific area of the physical education discipline, such as cross-country skiing, swimming, golf, tennis, fitness for life, team sports, volleyball, weight training, or badminton.
9. Demonstrate practical experience in the field of parks and outdoor recreation management.
10. Develop and lead a recreation activity.
11. Satisfy the educational requirements to be certified as a Recreational Associate with the National Recreation and Park Association.

12. Recognize and respond to emergencies by making appropriate decisions regarding first-aid care.