GREENFIELD — Office life isn’t for everyone; some crave adventure, jobs on the go, and careers spent in the great outdoors.
To connect students with these opportunities outside the regular 9-5, Greenfield Community College hosted its 45th annual Outdoor Industry Job Fair on Thursday. The fair welcomed over a dozen employers in the outdoor recreation and conservation industry, many of whom were alumni of the college’s Department of Adventure Education & Outdoor Leadership, and said the fair was a good opportunity to share their experiences with today’s students.
“It’s definitely bringing back a lot of memories of walking around this campus,” said Katelyn Green, a GCC alum who now works with Outdoor Perspectives, a nonprofit based in Connecticut that works to provide youth with transformative and educational outdoor experiences. “I’m in a unique position to talk to some of the other folks here. The outdoor industry is not always a straight path of finding work and finding jobs, and I’m glad to offer my experience in that.”
“It’s inspiring, and I love staying up to date with what’s happening at the college,” said Carey Lang, another GCC alum, who now works for Miraval Berkshires Resort and Spa in Lenox, which aims to provide wellness and outdoor programming.
The outdoor industry is not for everyone, Green said, but the job fair provides those with a passion for the outdoors an opportunity to connect and show students how they can turn this love into a fulfilling career.
“It’s hard to pick just one thing, but I like the freedom it gives me. I just feel outside is where I belong the most,” Green said on why she chose a career in the outdoors. “And then instilling that in the youth we work with is empowering.”
“It’s been awesome work, and it’s just fun,” said Jim Sullivan, an instructor with Zoar Outdoor in Charlemont.
Employers added that not only is the fair a good opportunity for them to share their experiences and love of the outdoors with students, but it is also a great place to search for employees, as GCC students leave the Adventure Education & Outdoor Leadership program with certifications and skills valuable in the outdoor industry.
“We’ve gotten a lot of great employees from this career fair,” Lang said. “It’s a good pipeline.”
“They’ve really developed a great set of students,” Sullivan added.
Carla Oleska, interim vice president of academic affairs at GCC, said the Department of Adventure Education & Outdoor Leadership sees an average of 12 students each year. Some of these students opt for just a certificate in outdoor leadership, and others pursue a degree in adventure education, but all learn the skills necessary for their future in the outdoors.
“I’m really impressed with the Outdoor Leadership & Adventure Education Program… I’m just amazed by what they do,” Oleska said.
The program includes a lot of hands-on learning opportunities, Oleska said. Students go on expeditions ranging from “winter mountaineering to ski patrol rescue” and leave the program with the skills to guide back-country expeditions, preserve forests and landscapes, and pursue a variety of careers.
She added that with what they learn at GCC, students can go anywhere to pursue their career, but there are plenty of opportunities to find a job in the outdoors right here in Massachusetts.
“By the time they finish this program they have the certifications and skills to go anywhere, but right here there are over 500 active job openings,” Oleska said.
For more information about the outdoor leadership program, visit www.gcc.mass.edu