A Recreation National Conference

Heads up—this blog is a little longer than usual. Let’s just say I had a few side conversations with myself and had to keep reeling it back in. Hang in there—it’s worth the ride!

So, picture this: my intern buddy Patti and I had just wrapped up an unforgettable summer internship. We were both headed back home—her to Ohio, me to Illinois. Over a couple of beers, we made a spontaneous pact: we’d find short-term jobs, save up, grab Youth Hostel passes, stock up on supplies (can’t forget that AAA flip triptik-map book and a stack of phone cards—this was pre cell phones and GPS), and hit the road.

Destination? Oregon. The big event? The Resort and Commercial Recreation Association’s (RCRA) National Conference.

Since college, I’d heard about RCRA—their legendary conferences, a community of rec professionals, professors, vendors, students…and the holy grail: the job fair. It was time to get my resume in shape, printed on the right paper, clipped just right (do you staple? do you paperclip?), and tucked safely in the car so they wouldn’t get creased. Most important rule back then? Keep it to one page and make it pop.

After a couple of months working and saving, Patti showed up at my place, we packed the car, and off we went. We made a few hostel reservations and arranged to crash with friends before and after the conference. Stops included Nebraska, Colorado, and Idaho (on Halloween!) before arriving at The Inn at the 7th Mountain in Oregon—the RCRA conference site. It was big. It was intimidating. And, spoiler alert…it was life-changing.

Backing up a bit—this was my first real road trip without Mom and Dad in the car. Freaking out in Colorado in my four-speed, no-power, engine-that-couldn’t…white-knuckling it through the mountains. But hey, nothing like spotting a herd of elk (is it herd of elk?) to put things in perspective. We survived, laughed a lot, and made cereal-in-a-bowl stops at random gas stations. Highly recommend.

Now, we didn’t pay for the full conference—just enough for some networking and that all-important job fair. We reconnected with our former Recreation Director from Amelia Island, who introduced us to others and helped us start what would become an incredible network. I still call some of those people my closest friends. Truly—life changing.

The conference itself? A playground of professional fun. Horseback riding, event showcases, vendors with innovative ideas—it was everything. Imagine a space filled with recreation directors, industry professors, eager students, and vendors who make the fun happen. That’s RCRA (now called REC Net: Recreation Experience Community Network – www.rec-network.org). It happens every year, and to this day, it’s still one of my favorite times of the year. I always leave energized.

Now—on to the main event: the job fair. (Yes, I keep wandering. It’s a blog, not a term paper.)

The job fair was set up like a trade show—banners, brochures, packets, and yes, candy to lure you in. Students looking for internships, pros looking for full-time gigs—we were all dressed to impress. Patti and I were ready.

Exhausting? Yes. Exhilarating? Absolutely. I talked with resorts whose programs sparked my imagination. I shared my experiences, kept it professional, and genuinely enjoyed every moment. Then I saw it—the Norwegian Cruise Line table. OMG. (We didn’t actually say “OMG” back then, but I’m inserting it now for dramatic effect.)

I gave it my all—enthusiasm, stories, even a cheesy “I grew up watching The Love Boat” moment. I walked away from that table hoping for an interview slot.

Here’s how it worked: employers got a certain number of 15-minute interview slots and selected candidates from the resumes they received. Patti got 8 out of 9 interviews. I got…1. But it was the one I truly wanted—Norwegian Cruise Line!

Fifteen minutes to shine. Just a couple questions that still stand out to me this day…and a couple that always make me smile!

• “If I asked your previous Recreation Director to describe you in 3 words, what would they say?”
• “You have 30 kids for the next 2 hours in a room with zero supplies. What do you do?”
• “What fruit best represents your personality?”
• “Who’s your favorite cartoon character and why?”
  

That second one? Pure gold. Especially for cruise ship work where you’re constantly improvising. Honestly, it still applies today.

I have more interview questions to share…but I will save those for another blog. And this is where I leave you with a little “stay tuned.” I know I’m running long, and I promised to keep these short and snackable – so, like any good series, I’ll leave you hanging just a bit.”

So here’s my advice…

Join an association. It doesn’t have to be RCRA/REC Net, but get involved with your industry’s professional community. I’ve been with REC Net for over 30 years. The friendships? Priceless. The ideas and support? Endless.

Start small, grow big. I started attending conferences, then became a speaker (a story for another blog), later the Executive Director, served on the board, was president twice, and I’m still volunteering on a committee. Longest commitment I’ve ever had!

Being part of something like this helps you grow professionally and personally. And trust me—every experience, good or bad, is a learning one. Aside from a couple bumps, this one’s been pretty awesome!

More stories to come. But for now, thanks for riding along with me on this memory lane road trip.

Favorite Quote:  

“One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.       -Arthur Ashe

Next Up: A Recreation National Conference part 2 – stay tuned on how the rest of the month fell into place and how fast it went.