THE ACADIA RECREATION CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
The Acadia Recreation Certificate Program was developed as a means for those working in the recreation field, who did not hold a recreation degree, to have access to part time learning opportunities in order to gain academic content in key areas of study. The program was run through the Centre, but credits were assigned through the Acadia office of Continuing Education.
The specific goals of the program were as follows:
The specific goals of the program were as follows:
- to offer Recreation and Leisure Service agency personnel in the Atlantic Provinces an opportunity to participate in an educational program directed towards improving their competencies in the practise of leisure service;
- to enable practitioners to improve their educational competencies without having to take extended leaves of absence from their jobs;
- to maximize the instructional expertise available in Atlantic Canada;
- to utilize the experience of instructors and students in solving the problems and concerns of recreation professionals.
Most seminars represent 36 hours of instruction, broken down into sessions of varying lengths. Once 180 hours were completed the Certificate was awarded. If an individual holding such a certificate decided to enrol in the degree program at Acadia, consideration was given to awarding credit hours to certain academic courses. There were three required seminars and 14 optional ones from which a program participant could choose depending upon personal interest. The required seminars included Concepts of Leisure, Leadership for Leisure, and Administration of Leisure Services. The optional seminars were as follows:
|
1. Leisure Education
2. Leisure Counselling 3. Outdoor Recreation 4. Camp Administration 5. Therapeutic Recreation |
6. Cultural Programming
7. Community School Administration 8. Facility Planning and Design 9. Facility Management 10. Marketing Strategies |
11. Public Relations
12. Fund Raising for Leisure Services 13. Landscaping for Recreation Areas 14. Volunteerism |
Format for each seminar included enrollment, acquisition of readings and text books, participation in the seminar, and successful completion of a series of assignments. Initially, most seminars were held on campus during the spring and summer when there was residence and meal hall access, and they were taught by Acadia faculty members. By the mid 80s, interest in the program began to wain as the opportunities increased for professionals to acquire college and university degrees in Leisure Studies and Recreation Management.
By the late 80s, it was becoming apparent that there was a gap in the nature of the professional development offerings available in the field. Those with a degree and some experience, were seeking opportunities to learn beyond conference sessions, and workshops. In order to satisfy the need, the Centre established the Acadia Advanced Recreation Certificate program (AARC). The program was designed to update knowledge in specific areas in an in depth fashion. To complete the certificate, individuals had to participate in 100 hours of instruction, covering a variety of topics at an advanced level. Participants would design their own program of study with the assistance of a mentor who would be assigned to them, and would apply for credit hours, based upon the learning opportunities of their choice. Learning opportunities were made available through universities, the Centre, and various professional organizations. Once the hours were competed, working with their mentor, participants would design and carry out a field-based problem-oriented research study in an area of their interest. Similar to the original Certificate program, individuals would make application to the program stating their areas of interest to ensure that they could be matched with a suitable mentor. One of the most popular means through which credit was earned for the AARC was attendance at the Centre’s annual Spring Symposium.
By the late 80s, it was becoming apparent that there was a gap in the nature of the professional development offerings available in the field. Those with a degree and some experience, were seeking opportunities to learn beyond conference sessions, and workshops. In order to satisfy the need, the Centre established the Acadia Advanced Recreation Certificate program (AARC). The program was designed to update knowledge in specific areas in an in depth fashion. To complete the certificate, individuals had to participate in 100 hours of instruction, covering a variety of topics at an advanced level. Participants would design their own program of study with the assistance of a mentor who would be assigned to them, and would apply for credit hours, based upon the learning opportunities of their choice. Learning opportunities were made available through universities, the Centre, and various professional organizations. Once the hours were competed, working with their mentor, participants would design and carry out a field-based problem-oriented research study in an area of their interest. Similar to the original Certificate program, individuals would make application to the program stating their areas of interest to ensure that they could be matched with a suitable mentor. One of the most popular means through which credit was earned for the AARC was attendance at the Centre’s annual Spring Symposium.