Mathias Weinzen (’19), Options Unlimited
Mathias Weinzen (RPTM 2019) wants people to know something about the field of recreation, park, and tourism. “RPTM has so many opportunities and can apply to so many different situations. There are so many facets and career paths but it’s all managing recreation.” Mathias’ path to his current role as Park Manager for Black Moshannon State Park in Philipsburg, PA shows how being open to trying new experiences can open doors.
Originally from California, PA in the southwestern part of the state, Mathias said he wasn’t ready for college right after high school. “I explored college but wasn’t ready at the time. I met with the Navy, and they sold me.” Mathias spent four (4) years in the Navy and started taking online courses through World Campus while on active duty. As he was planning his career after his discharge, he applied to University Park and was accepted.
“I always admired Penn State,” said Mathias. “I thought I wanted to work in psychology or health care, so I started out as a PSYCH major. I then switched into Bio-Behavioral Health. I found out that science wasn’t necessarily for me. I met with a career counselor who asked me what I liked to do for fun. I mentioned sports and being in the outdoors. She suggested RPTM and I switched my major right away.”
As an undergraduate student, Mathias took advantage of the many and varied opportunities in RPTM. He selected the commercial recreation option and participated in the Guest Activities practicum courses (RPTM 345) that included embedded trips to Las Vegas and California, as well as a cruise with Carnival Cruise. He opted to participate in the special topics course which partnered students with the Sustainability Institute at Penn State to help with sustainability efforts at the NFL draft. He volunteered for the Saquon Barkley Youth Camp held in partnership with Penn State Athletics and completed an internship with the New York Yankees in conjunction with the Pinstripe Bowl.
In keeping with his interest in both sports and the outdoors, Mathias also served as a counselor for Outdoor School and helped with the Maple Harvest Fest, programs at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center at Penn State’s Affiliate Nature Center.
Mathias was excited to learn that he was accepted for an internship with the Pittsburgh Steelers for Summer 2019. He was eager to take the next step in his journey toward a career in sports. And then COVID hit and shut the world down. His internship was cancelled. Students at that time whose internships were cancelled or delayed were offered the opportunity to use course credits in lieu of the internship to stay on their graduation plan. Mathias found himself graduating but missing that capstone experience.
“I ended up taking a part-time job right after graduation because no sports teams were hiring,” said Mathias. My Dad suggested I look into state jobs.” Mathias looks back on that suggestion and laughs. “I said there aren’t recreation jobs with the state.”
He quickly learned that there in fact are recreation jobs with the state of Pennsylvania through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). He applied for an open position as a park manager trainee with DCNR and was accepted. His experience in the Navy as well as his varied background and experiences, and his RPTM degree, pushed him ahead of other candidates.
“I was the only person in that group of trainees who had no previous DCNR experience,” said Mathias. He spent his first two years in Harrisburg as a trainee and Park Manager Program Specialist. From there, he was assigned to Codorus State Park as Assistant Park Manager. “That park is really busy because it is between Harrisburg and Baltimore.” Although park staff are responsible for all facets of the management of the park, he found himself mostly assigned to law enforcement and support of major events at the Codorus. When Rachel Eckman (RPTM 2016) left the position of Park Manager at Black Moshannon State Park to accept a position as Program Section Chief with DCNR in Harrisburg, Mathias applied for and was hired in her former role.
“When people ask me about my job as a Park Manager, I always say it’s like being the mayor of a small city. We are responsible for law enforcement, safety, education, maintenance, managing visitors, and everything within the park. My favorite part of the job is providing green space to the millions of visitors who come to the park every year. Parks are so beneficial for people for everything from family fun to the mental health benefits from being outside.”
Mathias is thankful that he explored the many opportunities available to RPTM students and that he was able to use those experiences to launch his career. “My advice to RPTM students is keep your options open. Explore different facets of RPTM. The settings may be different, but it is all managing recreation experiences. I hope that students will come out to Black Moshannon. We have 22 miles of hiking trails and swimming, too. It is a great area to explore.”