Are you the type that has a love of the outdoors? Are you happy to be outside no rain or shine, no matter the temperature? So, wouldn’t it be great if you could take your love and passion for the outdoors and turn it into a career choice? Imagine getting paid to work outside, in the environment you love on a daily basis. That is the dream of many people out there, which is why it can be helpful to take a look at the many outdoor-based career options that do exist.
If you’re not satisfied sitting inside at a desk each and every day, then these three outdoor-based careers could be the right path for you.
Landscape Architect
As a landscape architect, it will be up to you to draft plans for homes and buildings that allow clients to address their outdoor needs and wants. This can range from designing backyards to public places like parks and recreational complexes. While there is a great deal of on-the-job training required in order to be successful, you will also want your bachelor’s degree.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for this job is $65,760 and it is set to grow at a rate of 6% between now and 2026.
Recreation Director
As a recreation director, it will be your job to oversee all the programs that are offered by private or public community centers, sports facilities, parks, and other types of institutions. It will be up to you to assess the recreational needs of an organization or community, then create a plan that addresses the needs, implement it, and oversee its operations.
In order to get a job in this field, you’ll want to pursue your outdoor education degree at a school such as New England college. Its Bachelor of Arts in Outdoor Education is unique in that it’s an experiential education degree about the outdoors that is actually taught in the outdoors.
Zoologist Biologist
Here’s a chance to make a career that combines two passions – a love of the outdoors and a love for animals. As a zoologist biologist, your “office” will be the animal’s environment, which is typically outdoors. You will be focusing on the physiology of animals, which means how they are adjusting and reacting in their habitat and with other animals and species. This could mean working out in the open in the animal’s native environment, in a zoo, or perhaps in a laboratory.
The typical salary for this career is about $60,000 per year. It’s also a field that is enjoying 8% growth, which means there are jobs available. In order to excel you’ll need to have your bachelor’s degree for entry-level positions, then a master’s degree and possibly a Ph.D., depending on your career goals.
Plenty of Options
The options for working outdoors don’t stop here. There are also jobs such as farm worker, environmental scientist, camp director, survey technician, wildland firefighter, guide services, adventure therapy, and more. As you can see, there is a little something for everyone.
Photo by Claudio Hirschberger on Unsplash
