Recreation resume detailing my outdoor, environmental program administration experience and accomplishments

1. VERA J. HURST
VJH2938@GMAIL.COM
RECREATION PROGRAM PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
DEVELOPMENT  Creative, enthusiastic, and experienced professional with a strong
background in youth, outdoor and environmental program development.
PROFESSIONAL  Delivers significant and sustained program attendance improvements.
Career Focus: Recreation program
 Able to build strong community collaborations, successfully manage adult
development and management of a
dynamic outdoor/ environmental program volunteers and ensure customer satisfaction.
which will allow the public to explore the  Expert in identifying program, customer and membership needs.
outdoors in ways which will increase self-  Dedicated to volunteer and community follow-up to keep relationships
awareness and foster a lifelong love for productive.
nature.  Skilled at program budget development and working within corporate yearly
goals.
— Proven program manager with
six years of successful program
management. RELEVANT EXPERIENCE & ACCOMPLISHMENT
— Experienced with volunteer Metro Parks Serving Summit County, Akron, OH (2008)
recruitment and related training Seasonal Interpretive Naturalist
development and HR/risk  Developed and presented nature programs which were tailored to each park’s
management requirements. unique features.
— Cost-effective budget creation  Led curriculum specific hikes at F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm to Kindergarten
and administration which through fourth grade Summit County students, Girl Scout and Boy Scout
resulted in financial growth and groups.
increased program attendance.  Maintained knowledge of environmental education topics, biology and history
— Skilled at start to finish of parks and species specific information and identification.
publication development  Provided front desk support by opening and closing Nature Realm, answering
including strategic contract nature related questions posed by the public and operating cash register.
negotiations and design Key accomplishments:
development — Lead Naturalist for two collaborative educational opportunities offered
— Repeatedly demonstrates to 160 Akron, OH middle school students.
strong communication and — Created and presented over fifty interpretive nature programs and
presentation skills having nature hikes.
achieved Master Trainer — Led nature hikes for school and scout groups with positive
Certification through Girl Scout evaluations.
Organization. Girl Scouts of the United States of America (1986 – 2007)
— Inventive and resourceful, able Outdoor Program Manager, Covered Bridge Girl Scout Council, Terre Haute,
to work independently as well as IN (1995 – 2001)
part of a team  Maintained income and expense budget which was based upon
organizational monetary goals.
EDUCATION  Created yearly department and personal goals, monitored program data and
— PURDUE UNIVERSITY analyzed statistics needed for monthly and end of year reports.
W. Lafayette, IN  Designed, administered, implemented and evaluated outdoor and
Bachelor of Arts environmental education programs in the fourteen county Council
Major: Sociology & Psychology jurisdiction.
 Created newsletters, camp brochures, bi-yearly event brochures as needed
to support recruitment, programming and training efforts.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Key accomplishments:
— AMERICAN RED CROSS — Each year created new programs and activities which consistently
Indianapolis, Terre Haute, IN served over thirty percent of the membership at more than six
Standard First Aid and Adult locations.
CPR — Over six year tenure, increased yearly attendance at volunteer-led
Certification Council event by forty-five percent and increased volunteer
Lifeguard Certification participation by twenty-five percent.
Small Craft Safety Trainer — Developed collaborative effort with two state parks and one local park
— ASSOCIATION OF GIRL which brought environmental education programs to girls far from
SCOUT EXECUTIVE STAFF Council properties.
Professional development — Developed and managed goals and budget for Outdoor Program
classes relating to job duties department ending year under budget and personally evaluated as
meets or exceeds expectations for five consecutive years.

2. Vera Hurst Page 2
Girl Scouts of the United States of America (1986 – 2007)
Camp Administrator, Covered Bridge Girl Scout Council, Terre Haute, IN (1995 – 1998)
 Created programs, implemented, administered and evaluated seven week resident camp which served over one
hundred and fifty girls in summer season.
 Developed and administered resident camp budget and yearly goals.
 Monitored OSHA and American Camping Association Standards compliance.
 Hired, supervised and evaluated thirty-five person resident camp staff.
Key accomplishments:
— Negotiated camp brochure printing contract with local university print facilities lowering print costs by thirty
percent.
— Within first nine months of being hired, successfully managed ACA re-accreditation process receiving a one
hundred percent meets standards rating.
Membership Manager, Girl Scouts of Tulip Trace Council, Bloomington, IN (2005 – 2007), Covered Bridge GSC (1995
- 2001) Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, (1986 – 1991)
 Created and distributed recruitment materials introducing Girl Scout concepts to adults resulting in girl and adult
membership growth.
 Developed, trained, supported volunteers in geographical areas which included the management of personnel
records, evaluations and issues.
 Provided timely support and problem solving assistance as needed to assure smooth delivery of service to girl and
adult members.
 Developed collaborative relationships with area youth serving agencies.
Key accomplishments:
— Consistently evaluated as meets or exceeds expectations in both adult and girl membership growth.
— Developed with local Boys & Girls Club staff, a leadership program for middle school girls using targeted
community leaders as presenters
— Increased adult membership by ten percent in first year at GSC of Tulip Trace
RSVP Volunteer Program of Summit County, Akron, OH (2010 – 2011)
Program Coordinator/Recruiter (part time)
 Recruit and enroll older adults (55+) in the RSVP volunteer program using a variety of approaches while
communicating its purpose and philosophy
 Deliver presentation to community organizations, groups and businesses
for purpose of recruiting new volunteers.
 Meet with community agency staff to secure new volunteer placement sites
and visit existing sites to assure satisfaction with volunteers
 Produce print and electronic publications, marketing materials and website content, manage volunteer opportunities
on web based recruiting and social networking sites.
 Attend networking and community events, fairs and meetings to maintain community presence
Key accomplishments:
— Recruited six new stations in first two months of employment placing four new volunteers in these stations
— Updated Volunteer Match recruiting website and within three days had three new volunteers.
— Produced 4 new flyers and brochures and updated four more in first four months of hire.
— Attended monthly community meetings generating presentation appointments
— Developed content for RSVP Newsletter
— Recruited volunteers and oversaw a three day volunteer fundraising event.
CERTIFICATIONS
Experienced Project Wild, Project Learning Tree, Project WET program presenter
Leave No Trace program presenter
GSUSA Master Trainer
American Red Cross Small Craft Safety Trainer (expired)
American Red Cross First Aid/CPR (expired)
American Red Cross Lifeguard (expired)
SOLO Wilderness First Aid (expired)

3. Vera Hurst Page 3
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Volunteer, Appalachian Long Distance Hiking Association
Volunteer, Metro Parks Serving Summit County and Portage County Parks, Ohio
Girl Scouts of the United States of America, Lifetime Member
Past member of Environmental Education Association of Indiana
Past Executive Committee member Mid States Camping Conference Steering Committee
Past Steering Committee member and Pluralism Chairperson for Section 4, Association of Girl Scout Executive Staff
COMPUTER EXPERIENCE
Competent using Microsoft Word, Publisher, Power Point, Excel and Outlook
Past proficiency using Word Perfect and Corel
Some experience using other Print Publishing programs