Ontario College Diploma in Recreation and Leisure Services

Recreation and Leisure Services is a two-year Ontario College Diploma program designed to develop leadership skills to support the achievement of recreation and leisure outcomes for a broad spectrum of different communities. Students will learn the human relation skills required to successfully plan, organize and facilitate a diverse range of experiences in varied recreation settings.In the Recreation and Leisure Services program, you'll have the opportunity to take your love of people and activity to limitless career heights. You will acquire the knowledge and skills to plan, implement and evaluate quality recreation experiences across all ages and abilities. Over two years, you will study the psychology of becoming an effective leader and working with teams, special event planning, outdoor recreation and experiential education, as well as inclusive programming through therapeutic recreation. Additionally, you’ll learn how parks and recreational facilities are operated.You will also have the opportunity to learn outside of the classroom through exciting field practicums in various organizations including the YMCA, The City of London, St. Joseph Health Care, McCormick Care, The Western Fair District, The London Knights Hockey Club and London Children’s Museum and moreThe Recreation and Leisure Services program is committed to developing the leadership skills of each of its students to support the achievement of recreation and leisure outcomes for individuals, groups and communities. Through concentrated academic and fieldwork over the two years, students acquire the knowledge, skills and competencies to promote community development and involvement and to plan and implement special events and programs in a variety of recreation fields. This is practiced in settings that emphasize planning, implementation and evaluation that can respond to the multi-dimensional needs of all members of the community. The students will be able to develop benefits-based programming that addresses recreation as an essential service; one that can effectively respond to a variety of individual or community needs.