The Department of Recreation and Park Administration at Indiana University strives to provide its graduate students with the academic knowledge and skills necessary for successful careers in this field. In addition, we also realize the importance of other professional development opportunities as they impact the quality and success of our graduates as practitioners. One of the most unique opportunities afforded to our graduate students is the Departments affiliation with and management of a number of diverse centers, institutes, and programs involved with the delivery of leisure services.

• Bradford Woods Outdoor Education and Camping Center -- A 2300 acre leadership development center that provides residential outdoor education, challenge education, and camping programs. Also conducts professional development courses, conferences, and retreats.
• Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands -- Serving as a center in park management, public resource policy, and environmental ethics.
• Executive Development Program -- A source of advanced education, providing recreation and park professionals with increased management, administrative, and leadership skills through workshops and seminars.
• Great Lakes Park Training Institute --Held annually, the Institute offers continuing education opportunities for park and recreation professionals through a variety of training sessions.
• Hilltop Garden and Nature Center -- A civic garden center offering classes and workshops to all age groups, a nature center, and a laboratory for University students to work with younger gardeners and put into practice theories learned in the classroom.
• Leisure Research Institute -- Conducts and promotes scholarly research in leisure behavior; provides research and education for Indianas tourist industry.
• National Center on Accessibility -- National resource center for training public and natural resource and recreation agencies and organizations in implementing and facilitating the legislative mandates of Congress and in meeting other recreation service needs of public agencies through research and technical assistance.
• National Center for Recreation Resources -- Provides assistance to public agencies enabling them to enhance and expand recreation services to their customers through the development of partnerships formed with the Department of Recreation and Park Administration.
• Philanthropy and Americans Outdoors -- Provides special programs, such as workshops, strategic planning, consultations, research and curricula to assist not-for-profit foundations and public benefit organizations in the parks, natural resources, and recreation and leisure service fields.
• Underwater Science and Educational Resources Program -- Promotes and facilitates interdisciplinary research and education concerning underwater resources.

There are opportunities within all of these centers, institutes, and programs for graduate student involvement. Additionally, because of the Departments excellent relationship and reputation with various local, county, state, and federal park and recreation organizations and facilities in the area, both volunteer and paid opportunities are available for students with these agencies as well.

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