Should I Study Outdoor Education?
An outdoor educator teaches people about environmental science, conservation biology, or other topics related to the natural environment. These professionals often learn on the job, but also may have a bachelor's degree or certificate from a related program. If the following responsibilities look appealing to you, outdoor career options might be a good fit for you:
- Educating youth and adult groups on natural sciences
- Educating professionals on conservation topics
- Maintaining natural and park facilities
- Working in the field in outdoor and natural areas
- Traveling to remote locations for field studies
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Outdoor Education Qualifications
There are outdoor education degree programs that may prepare individuals for careers related to the field of outdoor education. Possible outdoor majors in college may include environmental studies, forestry, life sciences, biology, rangeland management, agricultural studies, or conservation. Although postsecondary degrees are required for some positions, formal training is not necessarily a requirement for all positions related to outdoor education. Many individuals have a love of the outdoors and have acquired specialty knowledge through self-guided education, or they have learned information find jobs with outdoor education degree.
| Career Titles | Outdoor Educator | Park Employee | Conservation Education Forester |
| Education Requirements | Varies; some positions may require a background in teaching or outdoor education; on-the-job training is also typically required | Some postsecondary education or a degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Other Requirements | CPR and safety training typically required; also Wilderness First Responder certification often needed | Must be able to meet physical demands of the job | Mandatory licensing or registration in some states; in addition, voluntary certification is available |
| Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)* | 10% (recreational workers) | (Not available for park rangers) | 5% (conservation scientists and foresters) |
| Median Salary (2019)* | $28,440 (recreational workers) | $69,395.60 (park rangers) | $64,010 (conservation scientist and forester) |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Federal Pay (2018)
Outdoor Education Jobs
Outdoor education career options can lead to many fulfilling career options for those who enjoy working outdoors and educating others. The benefits to working outdoors includes physical activity, not being limited to an office desk, and enjoying the natural environment. If you want to educate other on the environment, natural world, or animal species, going into one of the outdoor education teaching jobs will provide you with the personal fulfillment of education and the additional benefits of working outdoors. Outdoor education career options include jobs such as an outdoor educator, park employee, and conservation scientist and forester.
Outdoor Educator
Outdoor educators can work in a variety of settings. They may lead excursions for adventure crews or get outdoor education jobs in schools. Often they work with a specific demographic, such as elementary students, senior citizens, or at-risk youth. Instructors typically lead groups on excursions or serve as guest speakers for schools. Trips may be day-long or more extensive, sometimes lasting for months over a school semester. Excursions can take place at local venues such as parks or open spaces, or they may involve travel to distant locations.
Instructors in outdoor education help to create the curriculum for their courses. Courses in general often focus on leadership skills and team building. They can also involve a variety of adventurous tasks in remote locations. Adventure courses may feature sailing and kayaking, backpacking, rock climbing, or wilderness medicine. Local courses may center on flora and fauna education.
Educational requirements for outdoor educators vary based on setting. Nearly all positions require some level of on-the-job training. Instructors will be immersed in the settings where they plan to teach and educated on student management, advanced outdoor skills, and more. Instructors working in the field often need CPR and Wilderness First Responder certification. Additional safety training may be required. Some positions may require an educational background in teaching or outdoor education.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) identifies outdoor educators as recreational workers. According to their job growth projections for the 2019-2029 decade, the BLS states that open positions for recreational workers in general would increase by 10%, which is faster than the average of all jobs. As of 2020, salary statistics reported by the BLS indicated that recreational workers earned a median salary of $28,440. Note that many positions in this field are part-time or seasonal, which may explain the salary rate.
Park Employee
Park guides and visitor assistants often have backgrounds in environmental studies, biology, forestry, or other related areas. They are responsible for serving park visitors by providing education and enforcing park guidelines. They may greet visitors and collect fees at the park entrance or carry out tasks throughout the park. At nature centers and campgrounds, employees can give informational talks and provide guidance to visitors.
Park employees are generally required to have some education beyond high school. In national parks, guides and visitor assistants often must have one year of relevant experience, two years of relevant education above a high school diploma or some combination of both. They must also be able to meet the physical demands of the job and work in a variety of settings.
The BLS does not have specific career projections for park employees; however, Federal Pay states that park rangers make $69,395.60 on average a year.
Conservation Education Forester
As foresters, conservation education foresters provide training to other educators about such topics as land management, tree replanting, tree harvesting, and environmentally safe timber removal processes. These professionals may also teach directly to students. Conservation education foresters may dedicate all of their time to teaching educators and students about conservation, but they may also work full-time as foresters and then allocate some of their time to conservation education.
It is fairly common for foresters to hold bachelor's degrees in their field. Individuals who want to become outdoor educators as well as foresters may consider taking coursework related to teaching. Internships at national parks may also provide teaching experience and training. Fewer than 20 states have a mandatory licensing or registration process for foresters. Eligibility for licensure or registration may include having work experience in the industry and meeting the necessary education requirements. Several trade organizations offer certification programs, however certification is not mandatory.
There is no listing specifically for conservation education foresters, however, during the 2019-2029 decade, the BLS predicted that the rate of growth for the larger career title of conservation scientist and foresters would be faster than average at 5%. Forested regions owned by the state or federal government are expected to employ the most workers. Foresters who have received training in fire prevention may have better job prospects, since fire containment and prevention is a major issue for professionals in this industry. In 2020, the median annual salary received by conservation scientist and foresters was $64,010, per BLS data.
To summarize, the salary and job prospects vary quite a bit depending on the field in which an outdoor educator works. Those employed in scientific roles may need to earn a bachelor's degree and meet licensing requirements, while others may learn on the job.
