Simi Valley’s Trails Could Be Your Classroom: The Degree Nobody Knows About
Daniel Jordan 
You Can Actually Earn College Credit for Hiking — Here’s How Simi Valley Trails Are Part of the Classroom
(CLAIR | Simi VAlley, CA) — Most people don’t know this: you can literally earn college credit for hiking, camping, and backpacking. While thousands of Simi Valley residents lace up their boots and head for Chumash Trail, Rocky Peak, or Mount McCoy every weekend, only a handful realize that those same skills can count toward an academic degree. Just up the freeway in Santa Clarita, College of the Canyons offers an Associate in Arts degree in Recreation Management — and its curriculum looks a lot like an outdoor adventure bucket list.
From Trailhead to Transcript
The program combines classroom learning with hands-on outdoor experience. Students take courses such as Hiking, Camping, Backpacking, Wilderness Survival, and soon, Rock Climbing. These aren’t just electives — they’re part of a structured degree that prepares graduates for entry-level jobs in the multi-billion-dollar recreation and leisure industry or for transfer to bachelor programs in recreation, tourism, or hospitality.
An Outdoor Adventure Club That Feels Like Home
The college’s Outdoor Adventure Club gives students a built-in community of like-minded explorers. With Simi Valley’s 4,600 acres of open space as a nearby playground, the club’s excursions mirror the real-world programs that recreation professionals design every day.
Beyond Hiking Boots: Building a Career
Graduates aren’t just learning how to camp or lead hikes. They’re gaining leadership, program planning, resource management, and inclusivity skills that apply to municipal parks, youth camps, corporate retreats, and special events. They leave with the ability to analyze the motives, values, and benefits of recreation and leisure experiences for individuals and society — skills that resonate deeply in communities like Simi Valley, where outdoor recreation is central to daily life.
Meet the Mentors
Behind the program is a team of seasoned faculty:
- Juan Renteria – Adjunct Faculty, Recreation & Photography
- Brittany Applen – Department Chair & Faculty Advisor, Outdoor Adventure Club
- Joe Harris – Recreation Management Faculty
- Garrett Hooper – Recreation Management & Counseling Faculty, Outdoor Adventure Club
Why This Matters for Simi Valley
In today’s screen-dominated world, communities need professionals who can bring people back into nature. With Simi Valley’s vast network of trails, parks, and open spaces, students from the region can translate their love for the outdoors into a real career path — one that supports individual well-being and strengthens community wellness.
Where Passion Meets Profession
If you’ve ever wondered how to turn a weekend passion for hiking into a profession, College of the Canyons’ Recreation Management Program shows it’s possible. In Santa Clarita, just a short drive from Simi Valley, students are proving that the trail to a fulfilling career might begin right at the local trailhead.
