Santa Maria is a community built on connection, culture and opportunity.

At the Recreation and Parks Department, we believe the future of our field depends on the next generation of leaders, students who not only study recreation, tourism, and parks management but also live out its values in service to our community.

That is the mission behind Rec Ready, a mentorship and workforce development program designed to prepare young professionals for careers in recreation, tourism, parks and leisure services.

The Need for Mentorship

Recreation and parks are more than events, classes or open spaces; they are people. Our industry thrives when professionals bring creativity, empathy and leadership. But for students, breaking into the field can feel overwhelming.

What does a recreation professio

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