Alumni:

Jason Hemmens
Recreation Program Manager
County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation

I have over 9 years experience developing innovative recreation programs and facilities for a broad base of constituents. Currently, I serve as a Recreation Program Manager for the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation, where I manage recreation programs for youth and adults. I oversee the operations, facility and contract management, budget, and program development of a youth and adult outdoor adventure program, 2 teen centers, 2 sports complexes, and gymnasium. Additionally, I am a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) and serve as the California Parks and Recreation Society’s District XII President Elect.

I hold a master's degree in recreation administration from Aurora University and bachelor's degree in recreation administration with an outdoor recreation emphasis from San Diego State University (SDSU). I moved to San Diego from Illinois to pursue my degree from SDSU and the esteemed Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism. I firmly believe that the Recreation Administration Major at SDSU enables students to develop personally and professionally and to gain knowledge and skills needed for administrative leadership positions in recreation agencies and organizations such as city and county parks and recreation departments, campus recreation centers, outdoor experiential education centers, state and national parks, youth organizations, private clubs, and resorts.

Developing, implementing, and evaluating safe, quality programs that meet the needs of all participants is a key responsibility of every park and recreation professional. Parks and recreation programs and facilities establish a positive community identity. They promote family-friendly recreation, reduce crime, and instill a sense of civic responsibility. Furthermore, they foster healthy lifestyles, build self-esteem, reduce stress, and provide positive alternatives for at-risk youth. Recreation professionals need to be dedication towards celebrating and embracing diversity as a way of maximizing participation in a recreation setting and attempt to go beyond the professional standard of care when instituting best management practices. Additionally, park and recreation professionals must have a commitment and passion for providing programs and services at the highest level of excellence possible and strive to be visionaries so as to keep ahead of trends and changes in the profession. Lastly, park and recreation professionals should possess the clear understanding that in order to exceed the needs and expectations of their customers; they must first exceed the needs and expectations of their employees and volunteers.

Eric Blehm
Author, The Last Season
Photographer
Former Editor: TransWorld SNOWboarding Magazine
More background info: www.ericblehm.com

My name is Eric Blehm, and I graduated from SDSU in 1994 with a Major in Journalism and a minor in Outdoor Recreation... I still, however, consider my “Rec Minor” as more of a second “major” because the things I learned have so influenced my life.

I learned at a young age (my mother was diagnosed with Cancer when I was 13 and she passed away when I was 17) about the importance of leisure in our lives. My mother was a hard-working entrepreneur who never got to experience many of the pursuits she dreamed off, such as traveling, seeing the world, and taking long vactions. Her life was cut short, and to make a long story less long, I vowed to make sure I lived my life along the way. I wanted a profession that mixed business with pleasure... I chose journalism as a way to see the world on somebody elses dime, and have focused on topics having to do with the outdoors.

The outdoor recreation emphasis offered me the opportunity to learn, in general, about the importance of leisure in our lives. It helped me, in particular, to learn more about the benefits of outdoor recreation for our health and well-being. Among other things I learned about the historical aspects of the State and National Parks and the importance of having these places protected for future generations. I was also struck, and deeply influenced, by the readings which were assigned that gave me an appreciation for wilderness-related literature. These writers include Aldo Leopold, Edward Abbey, John Muir, John McPhee, Bill McKibben, and also the writings of my instructors at SDSU including Dan Dustin and Larry Beck, whose personal experiences in the fields of education and recreation inspired me to write about my own wilderness and outdoor adventures.

The professors in the program, as a whole, were equally helpful and inspirational. Above all, they were passionate. The faculty at SDSU, then and now, includes experts on natural resources management, environmental interpretation, and outdoor leadership and adventure programming. The courses were meaningful and fueled my passion for the outdoors.

All of this, along with a strong background in journalism, helped me as I researched and wrote "The Last Season," published in April of 2006. [Go to: www.thelastseason.com] by HarperCollins—it was recently nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction and has been widely, and favorably reviewed by outdoor publications including Outside, Men’s Journal, National Geographic Adventure, Audubon, Backpacker, and “E” The Environmental Magazine. I highly recommend this program as offering opportunities and insight about the management and interpretation of our natural resources and toward appreciating the beauty and wonder of nature. My “double major” of Recreation and Journalism could not have been more helpful as I grew in my profession, and most importantly, nurtured a lifestyle that blends recreation with work.

One of my professors in the REC Department told my class that “Your job is what pays the rent, but your work is what brings you happiness.”

I highly recommend SDSU’s Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism as you strive to find yourselves and meaningful “work” in your lives.