Overview
Build a life around what you love with a global recreation leader
In recent years, more people than ever have rediscovered their connection to nature. Hiking, skiing, biking, and finding purpose outdoors.
In 2024, nearly 59% of Americans took part in outdoor recreation, the highest participation rate on record. What started as a way to recharge has become a lifestyle, and for many, a calling.
The Snowsports & Outdoor Adventures Recreation (SOAR) Certificate turns that calling into a career.
Transform your love for skiing, snowboarding, and outdoor adventure into a professional path. The University of Vermont’s SOAR Certificate is a fully online, 15-week outdoor recreation certificate that equips you with the business, marketing, and leadership skills to thrive in the growing outdoor recreation and snow sports industry.
Whether you already work in the industry or are just getting started, you’ll gain the confidence and tools to grow into leadership, management, or entrepreneurial roles.
And, make a solid living doing what you love.
What you’ll learn
The SOAR Certificate gives you the real-world tools to turn your passion for outdoor adventure into a professional path. It goes beyond what you’d learn in a typical snowsports management certificate because it’s globally focused on many types of recreation.
By the end of the program, you’ll be able to:
- Plan and manage operations — from ski areas and trail systems to four-season adventure businesses.
- Develop outdoor recreation marketing strategies that attract guests and grow revenue.
- Apply sustainability in outdoor recreation to protect the places you love.
- Lead and communicate confidently across departments and teams.
- Complete an 80-hour internship with a Vermont-based outdoor business to put your learning into action.
You’ll leave with a portfolio of hands-on experience, new industry connections, and the confidence to move into leadership, management, or entrepreneurship.
What sets UVM apart
Most outdoor and snowsports programs require years in school or on-site training.
The University of Vermont (UVM) Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) SOAR Certificate gives you a faster, flexible way to gain the same real-world skills—taught by people who live and work in Vermont’s world-class outdoor economy.
15 Weeks | 100% Online | $2,768
Finish in under 4 months while keeping your job and your outdoor lifestyle.
Built for Busy Lifestyles
Learn on your schedule in a fully online, flexible format.
Internship Opportunity
Apply what you learn and make connections, with an optional 80-hour internship in Vermont.
Credibility that Travels
Earn a UVM Professional Certificate and digital badge from a nationally recognized university in one of the country’s top New England outdoor leadership destinations.
Taught by Industry Professionals
Learn from experts like Shannon Dunfey Konvicka, who turned her passion for snowboarding into a marketing career spanning the X Games and world-class tourism brands.
Connected Community
Join a network of outdoor professionals and enthusiasts in Vermont and beyond.
Admissions
Who This Program Is For
The Snowsports & Outdoor Adventures Recreation (SOAR) Certificate is designed for people who want to turn a love of the outdoors into a lasting career.
You’ll fit right in if you’re:
- A working professional or career changer ready to move into careers in outdoor recreation and build a life around what you love.
- A current snow sports or resort employee looking to gain the skills and credentials to advance into management or leadership roles.
- An entrepreneur or small business owner planning to launch or grow an outdoor business, recreation program, or tourism venture.
- A recent graduate or student who wants experience-based training and professional connections in outdoor recreation management.
You don’t need a degree or prior experience in business or recreation management, just enthusiasm for the outdoors and a commitment to learning.
Offered through the University of Vermont (UVM) Professional and Continuing Education (PACE), the SOAR Certificate is available in both non-credit and credit formats. The non-credit track is open to working professionals and lifelong learners, while current UVM students can earn academic credit toward their degree.
Both options are 100% online and flexible enough to fit your schedule.
SOAR
Why Outdoor Recreation?
- ≈ 58% of Americans A record 181.1 million people participated in outdoor recreation in 2024, a 3% increase in a single year. Participation grew most among youth, seniors, and Black and Hispanic Americans.
- Job Growth Careers in outdoor recreation are growing. Outdoor recreation employment increased in nearly every state in 2023, ranging from +7.5% in Alaska to +4% in Vermont.
- Top 5 State Vermont outdoor recreation ranks among the top five U.S. states in economic activity, with 4.8% of Vermont’s GDP coming directly from outdoor recreation.
Curriculum
The Snowsports & Outdoor Adventures Recreation (SOAR) Certificate is a 15-week, fully online program made up of five short courses—three required and two electives—plus an optional paid internship. Each course is asynchronous and designed for working professionals or outdoor enthusiasts seeking flexibility and career advancement.
Core Modules (all required)
Instructor: Shannon Dunfey-Konvicka, Tourism and Recreation Marketing and Sales Consultant
Description: Introduces essential marketing and sales strategies within Vermont’s snowsports and outdoor adventure recreation industry. Students learn foundational outdoor recreation marketing and sales concepts, explore career opportunities, and gain exposure to industry professionals through guest speakers and real-world case studies.
Instructor: Mike Snyder, Owner/Consultant, Greenfire Vermont; former Commissioner, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation
Description: Explores environmental responsibility as a core element of any outdoor recreation business. Students examine sustainability in outdoor recreation, the impacts of recreation on the environment, strategies for mitigation, and the effects of climate change on the industry.
Introduction to Snowsports & Outdoor Adventure Recreation Operations, Logistics, and Risk Management
Instructor: Scott Reeves, Senior Operations Manager, Stowe Mountain Resort
Description: Provides a practical overview of operations, logistics, and safety management for snowsports and year-round outdoor activities. Students gain applicable skills in operations planning, facility management, and risk mitigation.
Elective Modules (choose two)
Instructor: Felicia Fowler, Program Director, Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports
Description: Focuses on strategies for making outdoor adventure recreation inclusive for all. Students learn how to design adaptive experiences and expand accessibility for individuals with physical or neurological differences.
Instructor: Kris Cheney-Seymour, Senior Manager, Sports Strategy & Engagement, Olympic Regional Development Authority, Lake Placid, NY
Description: Covers how to attract, plan, and manage events that drive revenue for recreation businesses. Students explore event logistics, partnerships, and post-event evaluation.
Instructor: TBA
Description: Teaches financial management fundamentals for outdoor recreation businesses. Students learn budgeting, accounting, and cash flow strategies tailored to seasonal operations.
Instructor: John Atkinson, Executive Director, Catamount Outdoor Family Center
Description: Examines HR strategies for building and retaining a strong seasonal workforce. Topics include recruitment, training, and multi-season staffing models.
Recommended Capstone Internship
All participants have the option to complete an 80–120 hour paid internship with a Vermont-based outdoor organization.
- Credit-seeking students: Register for PRT 3991 (3 internship credits).
- Professional development learners: Earn a digital badge and practical experience that strengthens your resume and job prospects.
Career Outlook
This program prepares you for careers in outdoor recreation, outdoor leadership, and jobs in snow sports and recreation.
Graduates pursue roles in:
- Resort and mountain operations
- Trail network and recreation program coordination
- Outdoor event management
- Adventure tourism and guiding
- Marketing and communications for outdoor brands or destinations
- Retail, gear, and equipment management
- Community and policy development connected to recreation access
- Entrepreneurship to create a start-up business supporting recreation
“If you’re looking to make a career change, this gives you a little bit more clout. You can have transferable expertise, but you need some industry-specific knowledge.”
— Shannon Dunfey-Konvicka, SOAR Instructor
SOAR
Explore resources and stories in recreation and tourism
- Business
- Leadership
What Is Futures Leadership and How Can It Future-Proof Your Career?
The University of Vermont’s Futures Leadership Professional Certificate is designed to equip you with the forward-thinking tools needed to thrive. This program will help you build resilience, foster innovation, and confidently lead your organization into its next chapter.
- Education
Instructor Q&A: Intro to UAS and Geospatial Applications | GIS Course
This course was developed in response to the growing need for GIS professionals who can leverage drone technology for complex environmental challenges. The UVM team recognized a gap in practical training that bridges traditional GIS skills with real-world drone operations and data analysis. We sat down with the course instructors —Dr. Paige Brochu, Adam Zylka, Lauren Cresanti, and Kelly Schulze from UVM’s Spatial Analysis Laboratory— to get an inside look at the curriculum, the learning experience, and the career outcomes for students.
FAQ
The SOAR Certificate is a 15-weeks online outdoor recreation program from UVM that teaches business, marketing, and leadership skills for careers in the snow sports and outdoor recreation industries.
Yes, the SOAR Certificate is delivered 100% online, offering flexible learning for working adults and professionals.
Graduates pursue roles in resort operations, ski industry jobs, outdoor recreation marketing, tourism management, and sustainability coordination across the snow sports industry.
Yes. Students can complete an optional 80-hour internship with a Vermont-based outdoor business to apply skills in real-world settings.
Working professionals, entrepreneurs, and recent graduates passionate about the outdoors who want to build or advance careers in outdoor recreation management.
Tuition for the non-credit option is $2,768. A credit pathway is also available under standard UVM tuition.
Vermont residents enrolled in non-degree or short-term training can apply for the VSAC Advancement Grant, a state financial aid grant you request through the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation to help cover costs of eligible non-credit programs.
If a student needs to cancel their attendance they must do so at least 10 business days prior to the start date of the course to receive a 75% refund. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made after this 10-business day deadline.
The certificate runs for 15 weeks, with a commitment of about 12-14 hours per week.
No. The program is designed for professionals across sectors, whether you’re working in the industry and want to level up, or are a business owner or career changer.
Yes. You’ll receive a UVM Professional Certificate and a Credly digital badge that can be added to LinkedIn or your resume.
Often, yes. Many employers cover continuing education. We encourage you to share this outdoor business certificate with your HR or professional development office.
Advising and Student Support
You have the goal; we’ll help you achieve it
We are dedicated to helping you access UVM. It is our role to get to know your experience and goals, assist you in choosing courses, guide you through registration, and serve as your resource throughout your time at UVM.
Curious if your past college credits apply at UVM? Want to understand where a program will take you after completion? Looking for resources for financial aid, tutors, or UVM policies? We’re here to help.
