My Internship Experience at JOC

To complete my degree in Outdoor Recreation from the State University of New York (SUNY) College at Cortland, I needed to complete a 14-week full semester internship.  I have always been very involved in the world of aquatics and have loved all outdoor recreation activities from hiking to biking.  While searching for the perfect internship site I came across the Jupiter Outdoor Center, where they primarily rent out kayaks and stand up paddleboards, along with tours, lessons, and kids camps.  After talking to Ryan Sullivan I believe I found the perfect place where I was able to combine my love for the water with my lust for adventure.  My internship experience was crucial providing me with a practical learning experience.  At the Jupiter Outdoor Center I was able to integrate outdoor recreation theory in a real world application.

Throughout my 14-week experience I acquired skills needed in both outdoor recreation activities along with managerial practices that could be applied to any business. I was given the chance to shadow guides and instructors that had a vast amount of knowledge of local wildlife.  A couple of highlights from my time in Jupiter were a trip down the Loxahatchee River, the chance to build my own bouldering wall, and an unbelievable paddling trip through the everglades.

From the moment I started the Jupiter Outdoor Center made me feel like a crucial part to their team.  The staff’s love and stewardship of the outdoors along the amazing waterways of Palm Beach created an amazing atmosphere to be a part of.  My experience at the Jupiter Outdoor Center from February to May of 2014 gave me countless of opportunities to lead tours and teach lessons for kayaking and standup paddleboarding. While working in Jupiter, Florida I was able to get an opportunity to apply my previous knowledge of outdoor recreation and learn new skills in my pursuit of becoming a future professional in the field of recreation and leisure services.