Whitewater rafting, traveling the world, getting paid to climb; it sounds like a dream come true. Well for Lydia Heydlauff, it’s her job here with Rec Services. Lydia works both as a student marketing employee and as a trip leader for Outdoor Recreation. We caught up with her this past week to discover her favorite playlist, what her job entails, what she loves about it, and how you too can get involved with Rec Services.
What is your major?
I am going into my Junior Year with a triple major in Biology, Psychology, and Advertising with minors in Chemistry and Spanish Language.
What do you do with Rec Services and how long have you been working with us?
I have been working here for about a year now. I work for the Outdoor Recreation Program (ORP) and Marketing. In ORP I lead trips all across the U.S. to go climbing, backpacking, whitewater rafting, surfing, skiing, among other things. I also teach workshops and work in the office. In the ORP office, we rent out equipment and do bike maintenance.
For marketing, I do a lot in social media management, photography, and videography. There is also a lot of crossover between the two jobs which is really fun for me.
Where have you traveled with Outdoor Rec?
Horseshoe Canyon Ranch, Arkansas; Moab, Utah; Arches National Park, Utah; St. George, Utah; Ouray, Colorado; Ledges State Park, Iowa.
In a few weeks, I’ll be going back to Utah for a whitewater rafting, backpacking, and climbing trip.
What do you love about your job?
Between my two jobs, I love that I get the opportunity to do everything I love – in marketing I can be creative and bounce my ideas off other people. In ORP, I get to be outside; I’m paid to travel and to climb. Climbing is my number one hobby when I’m not working.
What made you create this playlist?
I drive out West often – both with ORP and in my free time. Once you get out of Nebraska and hit see the first mountains in Colorado, it’s an amazing feeling. Driving through windy roads in the mountains can be so exciting, especially for someone who’s lived in the Midwest their entire life. It makes you feel tiny.
I like to listen to this playlist because it reminds me of that feeling. It’s also nice to have a playlist like this, so you have a reason not to talk to anyone while you’re driving on spooky mountain roads.
What is your favorite song on this playlist?
“Sleep On The Floor” by The Lumineers
How will your time with Rec Services and OR help prepare you for the future?
Those two jobs go hand-in-hand with what I really want to do. I would love to take my passion for the outdoors and my skills in marketing and work for a big outdoor company. Either that or an international nonprofit, so I’d be able to travel and get the chance to do some photojournalism and writing.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Umm, right now probably Vietnam or Thailand. But I’m planning on WWOOFing in one of those two countries next summer, so hopefully, I can check it off my bucket list soon!
Any closing remarks?
I think Rec Services is a really good place for people to find their niche no matter what their interests are. For me, I would never have pictured myself working for Rec Services; however, I have made so many amazing friends here, and it’s a really nice environment to work in.
Below is Lydia’s Roadtrip Through the Mountains playlist. Find great songs of genres on the ISU Rec Services Spotify Account.
If these blogs about working for Rec Services are making you want to find a job, look no further than right here. For more information about working with our marketing team with both Lydia and me, check out this blog post. And I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to sign up for the next ORP trip right now. Check out our website for a list of trips you can join this upcoming year. Rumor has it that ORP is taking a group of people to Costa Rica this January! Check out this post for more information and for ways you can get signed up!