Nov. 2, 2026
Information supplied by Blue Ridge Community College
Blue Ridge Community College has announced it will offer an outdoor leadership program next year aimed at preparing participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to pursue careers in outdoor recreation.
Students enrolled in the initial January-May program will receive classroom instruction and hands-on training in outdoor leadership, risk management, wilderness safety, and navigation skills while also learning about marketing, contracts, and entrepreneurship issues unique to the area’s growing outdoor industry.
Participants in the initial January-May program will explore career pathways through a 16-hour job shadowing experience that connects them with regional nature and recreation professionals. Potential career settings for those completing the program include outdoor guide services, outfitters, recreation businesses, and organizations offering hiking, fishing, paddling, cycling, and other outdoor experiences.
All who complete this new 119-hour program will earn an outdoor leadership training certificate. Some participants may also earn additional credentials through the American Safety & Health Institute and the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.
The program is designed for individuals 16 and older, including recent high school graduates, college students, career changers, outdoor enthusiasts, and current recreation professionals seeking to develop their skills.
The new program comes at a time when the business of outdoor recreation is growing across North Carolina and the surrounding region. In 2024, North Carolina ranked eighth among all states in outdoor recreation employment with 155,462 jobs in the sector. In western North Carolina, outdoor recreation generates approximately $4.9 billion in economic output.
Blue Ridge Community College will host a free information session on its outdoor leadership program Tuesday, Nov. 17, from 6 to 7 p.m. in room 160 on the Transylvania County Campus to give prospective participants an opportunity to meet local guides and employers, learn about the program, and ask questions about careers in outdoor recreation.
For more information about the outdoor leadership program, visit www.blueridge.edu/outdoor-leadership.