Ithaca College Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies

Are you interested in learning about a career that helps make a difference in the lives of others? If so, join the Recreation and Leisure Studies Department on Tuesday 12/8 at 6pm to talk about the Therapeutic Recreation & Outdoor Adventure Leadership majors at Ithaca College. Prospective students should register online at https://connect.ithaca.edu/register/

OAL alumni, Tim Hansen, just finished a rafting expedition through the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River. Here’s what his experience was like. Since I was 18, I had a dream of rafting the Grand Canyon, but never really saw a direction for where to start. Luck should have it, a co-worker of mine in the Florida Keys, had a friend with a permit, and needed people with White Water experience (which I had rafting in Browns Canyon, on the Arkansas river, in Colorado) to join him.... On October 27th 2020, we launched into the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River. We had very little idea what lay ahead. With a crew of 12 people, none of which I knew before, and 5 fully loaded 18’ rafts, we covered over 280 miles on the Colorado river, filled with classes of white water rapids that I have only heard about, but never seen before. I wasn’t quite ready to run Lava, Granite, Crystal, and a few others, however there were many other rapids I ran at the helm, some better than others, and was able to row over 100 miles. We also did some side hikes deep in the canyon, which left me speechless. People often say that the Canyon changes you but, I didn’t feel any sort of changes in myself until the walls of the Canyon lowered down to silt, and we saw our first vehicle in 20 days. After participating in ISP and rafting the Grand Canyon, I feel I can confidently say that no one goes on a multi-week adventure and comes back 100% as they were. The wilderness changes you for better or for worse, but usually/hopefully for the better. Looking forward, I am continuing my journey into the wilderness by looking for work that will help me get back outside. In short, It all starts with a dream-Anonymous. See more

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Empire, MI is recruiting student park rangers and park guides for an interpretation project in the spring and summer of 2021! They will be hiring two students to assist with programming, outreach, and developing partnerships with the local Anishinaabek community. This will be done both virtually and in-person. The applications will be accepted on www.usajobs.gov opening December 1 and closing after the first 100 people apply. See their website for more information. https://www.nps.gov//anishinaabek-stories-and-lifeways-int

Check out this wonderful student lead program! Join us today at 4 pm... Zoom link forthcoming! #naturerx

On this Thanksgiving, we would like to acknowledge ways in which to recognize and incorporate the stories and lives of Native Americans into your Thanksgiving feast. Take a look at this article for more information about the history of Thanksgiving and some indigenous recipes to include on your menu. We hope you have a happy and healthy holiday!

Last week, IC Alumni, Harmony Malone spoke in the Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation class about her work in the Ithaca community at the Greater Ithaca Activities Center and with her dance studio, United. Through the many different roles that she plays, Ms. Harmony is providing opportunities for mentorship and safe spaces for her students to see different perspectives in order to be more informed in their everyday lives. She is using her life experiences and the skills she learned at IC to connect the dots between people and resources in the Ithaca Community. Check out her website for more information: https://sites.google.com/view/uniteddancetroupe/the-work

Earl B. Hunter, Jr. is the founder of Black Folks Camp Too. He says that when people can connect around the our love for the outdoors, "We begin to have this harmony, where people can talk around the campfire. You're invited to one of those campfire conversations discussing why there's not more diversity in the outdoors, what we can do to change that, and why that will make conservation better and stronger.

Tired of Zoom? Looking for a space to hang out with fellow outdoor enthusiasts for casual no-stakes conversation and sharing of information? Then gather around the fire TONIGHT at 5pm on YouTube, with Michael Orlow for a live video podcast on back-country cooking and miscellaneous outdoor recreation topics. Interact with an experienced RLS senior and fellow students to chat about outdoor skills, equipment, and activities, or hang out and listen while you study. Join us here: ...https://youtube.com/channel/UCR9CnqRXmOV-rAyWxPYWImA If you'd like to follow along with cooking, please refer to the recipe here: https://www.freshoffthegrid.com/red-curry-rice/

Prioritize your mental health! Recreation and the outdoors can help!

Hey all - sign up for the winter session of Understanding Disabilities with Jessie and Joanie! The Recreation and Leisure Studies Department is offering the UNDERSTANDING DISABILITY course (RLS 12500) during Winter session! This is a great opportunity to get your ICC Diversity elective covered!

This is an awesome story!

Shake up your approach to learning and spend your spring 2021 semester in the wilderness and earn your Outdoor Pursuits minor! The Immersion Semester Program employs adventure pursuits - like backpacking, rock climbing, and whitewater rafting - to engage you in topics ranging from wilderness ethics, wilderness leadership and risk management. To learn how to apply, visit the Immersion Semester Application website by clicking on the link in the comments section below!

This takes courage! So proud of Scotty! Congrats to you both!

"The founder of HBCUs Outside discusses mindfulness, advice for adventure newcomers, and how he's helping increase representation outdoors."

So proud of our very own Scott Meggitt '21 - dual major in Anthropology and Outdoor Adventure Leadership at IC. A summer full of catching waves and saving lives! Congrats, Scottie!

To the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies community - We, the faculty and staff of the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, wanted to recognize the difficult and challenging times and take the opportunity to state: we condemn racism and stand with anti-racists actions that address systemic racism and inequality. We are upset with the recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery and the lesser known names whose deaths are no le...ss tragic or sad. As an RLS community, we honor and value diversity and inclusion and we strive to live, teach, and advocate for these values in our classrooms, our curriculum, our homes and communities. Yet, we must do better. Leisure spaces are deeply personal and essential spaces to the quality of our lives and health of our communities, but access to these spaces are often privileged and the realization of benefits inequitable. We need and support action and change. Black Lives Matter. See more

Thank you all for attending and learning how to make tea from eastern white pine needles! Thank you to Angelique for being an awesome instructor!