Recreation and Parks (RPK) at Southwest Virginia Community College
Distance Learning
Time of Day
Term
- RPK 100 - Introduction to Recreation, Parks & Leisure Studies
- Includes history and philosophy of the Recreation and Parks movement. Discusses the theory of leisure and play. Analyzes leisure service delivery systems and career opportunities. Emphasizes the commercial, non-profit and public sectors, Armed Forces, therapeutic recreation as well as volunteer service.Lecture 3 hours. Total 3 hours per week.
3 credits - RPK 102 - Outdoor Recreation in the Appalachian Ecosystem
- Highlights the diverse biological environment in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Focuses on the unique geology and geography of the region. Covers protection of the regionals natural resources and the watershed related to outdoor recreation activities and trail projects.2 credits. Lecture 2 hours per week.
2 credits - RPK 103 - Preparation for Wilderness Adventure
- Covers the background knowledge needed to be prepared for a trip in the wilderness. Examines what to do in a planned and an unplanned extended wilderness experience. Focuses on what items to pack and the skills needed to ensure a successful outing.2 credits. Laboratory 2 hours per week.
1 credits - RPK 125 - Resource Interpretation and Education
- Includes overview of the history of the outdoor education movement. Concentrates on the basic knowledge and skills necessary to design, implement and present interpretive programs and develop outdoor educational tools. Includes design and construction of interpretive displays using varied materials and forms of presentation media (print, audio-visual, and computer software). Students will be required to create and present an interpretive program or outdoors education instruction tool.Lecture 2 hours. Laboratory 2 hours. Total 4 hours per week.
Prerequisite: ENG 111 and completion of or concurrent enrollment in a SPD course.3 credits - RPK 131 - Kayaking
- Introduces kayaking techniques, water classification, conditioning, safety and destination planning. Includes field experience involving kayaking in multiple environments; flat water, ocean and whitewater (may require overnight stay).Laboratory 2 hours per week.
Prerequisite: Ability to swim.1 credits - RPK 135 - Program Planning
- Includes principles of program planning in the recreation setting. Analyzes participants' needs and demands, as well as social, physical, and psychological characteristics. Explains how to organize and lead programs. Includes a leadership practicum.Lecture 2 hours. Laboratory 2 hours. Total 4 hours per week.
3 credits - RPK 140 - Land Use Ethics
- Examines the impacts of human activity on the outdoor environment, specifically lands used for backpacking, hiking, and camping. Addresses the history and philosophy of the Leave No Trace movement, regarding sustainable backcountry and "at-home" practices, visitor demands and resource management challenges.Lecture 1 hour per week.
1 credits - RPK 141 - Leadership and Supervision
- Introduces leadership and supervision in the leisure services industry. Assesses leadership styles, traits and leadership theories and provides the opportunity for students to assess their own individual styles. Addresses group dynamics, conflict, and issue relating specifically to leadership of volunteers. Includes a leadership practicum.Lecture 2 hours. Laboratory 2 hours. Total 4 hours per week.
3 credits - RPK 146 - Recreation Facilities Management & Design
- Introduces concepts of facilities planning, site analysis, planning and zoning strategies, landscape design. Emphasizes the creation and maintenance of "people-space". Presents issues regarding community development, needs assessment, facility planning and design, geographic use patterns and demographics. Includes field experience.Lecture 2 hours. Laboratory 2 hours. Total 4 hours per week.
Prerequisite: Advanced standing.3 credits - RPK 150 - Mountain Biking
- Teaches the sport of mountain biking, equipment, techniques, basic bicycle repair, and trail safety and etiquette, trail conflict management, trail development and destination planning.Laboratory 2 hours per week.
1 credits - RPK 151 - Orienteering
- Introduces orienteering, compass and GPS use, topography, and geocaching as a sport. Teaches map reading, using a compass, decision-making and team work.Laboratory 2 hours per week.
1 credits - RPK 160 - Wilderness First Aid
- Examines the role of outdoor professionals in wilderness medicine and the response, care and rescue of outdoor participants in non-urban environments. Provides intensive, in-depth training in the areas of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, patient assessment system, body systems, environmental injuries/ conditions, anaphylaxis, lifting/moving/extrication, patient carries, and backcountry medicine.Lecture 2 hours. Laboratory 2 hours. Total 4 hours per week.
2 credits - RPK 170 - Recreational Backpacking
- Presents backpacking skills including destination selection, route planning, gear selection and preparation (individual and group), trip safety and permitting requirements, packing techniques, wilderness medicine and backcountry protocols, food selection and cooking techniques and clothing selection. Presents land use ethic of Leave No Trace, permitting requirements and outdoor skills.Laboratory 4 hours. Total 4 hours per week.
1 credits - RPK 175 - Rock Climbing
- Covers fundamentals of rock climbing, belay skills, gear and hardware specific to sport climbing. Presents climbing techniques, climbing and climb site safety, knots, and equipment care and maintenance.Laboratory 2 hours. Total 2 hours per week.
1 credits - RPK 190 - Coordinated Internship
- Supervises on-the-job training in selected business, industrial or service firms coordinated by the college.Credit/practice ratio not to exceed 1:5 hours. May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
1-5 credits - RPK 193 - Studies In
- Covers new content not covered in existing courses in the discipline. Allows instructor to explore content and instructional methods to assess the course's viability as a permanent offering.Variable hours per week.
1-5 credits - RPK 195 - Topics In
- Provides an opportunity to explore topical areas of interest to or needed by students.May be used also for special honors courses. May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
1-5 credits - RPK 198 - Seminar and Project
- Requires completion of a project or research report related to the student's occupational objectives and a study of approaches to the selection and pursuit of career opportunities in the field.May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
1-5 credits - RPK 201 - Recreation and Parks Management
- Examines organization and management of recreation and park agencies. Discusses theories and principles of management, organizational behavior, budget preparation, hiring preparation, hiring practices and personnel management, documentation and presentation. Examines software specific to recreation facility and program management.Lecture 3 hours per week.
3 credits - RPK 265 - Risk Management
- Discusses the law and liability as they relate to the delivery of leisure services. Teaches practitioners legal principles necessary to analyze programs and facilities with respect to safety, emergency preparedness, and accident reporting protocols. Review hiring procedures, ADA compliance, national (CPSC, ASTM, OSHA) and professional standards (NRPA, ACA), certification and training standards (CPRP, CTRS), supervision and the role of maintenance and insurance. Uses case law and national compliance standards to illustrate legal principles.Lecture 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite: Advanced standing.3 credits - RPK 295 - Topics In
- Provides an opportunity to explore topical areas of interest to or needed by students.May be used also for special honors courses. May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
1-5 credits
