RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE

MANAGEMENT In dictionaries it is a noun and bears following

(PRELIM) meanings

1. freedom from the demands of work or duty:

She looked forward to retirement and a life of
RECREATION leisure.
2. Time free from the demands of work or duty,
● is an activity of leisure, leisure being when one can rest, enjoy hobbies or sports,
discretionary time. The “need to do something etc.: Most evenings he had the leisure in which
for recreation” is an essential element of human to follow his interests.
biology and psychology. Recreational activities 3. Unhurried ease: a work written with leisure and
are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or grace.
pleasure and are considered to be “fun”.
● Recreation covers broadly any pursuit taken up
during leisure time other than those to which Both Leisure and Recreation are often prerequisites for
people have a high commitment (overtime, tourism.
second job, home study and various
maintenance jobs around the house). Boundaries between recreation and tourism are blur, as
● The term recreation appears to have been used both activities often share the same environments and
in English first in the late 14th century, first in facilities and compete for space and finance:
the sense of “refreshment or curing of a sick ● Steps taken to improve the environment and to
person”, and derived turn from Latin (re: conserve and restore the national heritage
“again”, create: “to create, bring forth, beget.) benefit both recreation and tourism;
● In dictionaries it is categorized as noun and have ● High-quality provision for local recreation (ice
these meanings rinks, yacht moorings, golf courses) will often
● refreshment by means of some pastime, enhance tourism interest in the area and
agreeable exercise, or the like. generate demands for accommodation and
● a pastime, diversion, exercise, or other other services. Tourism products may also be
resource affording relaxation and created by improvements in cultural resources
enjoyment. (museums, concerts halls, theatres);
● Exotic leisure developments such as theme
parks or ski resorts invariably need to attract
LEISURE tourists as well as day users. Hotels and resort
● has been defined as free time., a time in which facilities may partly rely on revenues generated
we have no deadlines to follow, no goals to by local users (functions, club membership,
chase. Leisure is an experience. restaurant usage etc.).
● Free time is time spent away from the business, It is really hard to draw a line where recreation ends and
work, job hunting, domestic chores and tourism starts. When not talking about statistics then it
education. It also excludes time spent on is also not so important. It is important to understand
necessary activities such as eating and sleeping. that both try to save the environment and use it as
From a research perspective, this approach has sustainable as possible. Also, both have two main target
the advantages of being quantifiable and groups – locals and tourists. Both groups can use and
comparable over time and place. Leisure as benefit from facilities developed in the area.
experience usually emphasizes dimensions of
perceived freedom and choice. It is done for “its Tourism, recreation and leisure are overlapping
own sake”, for the quality of experience and concepts and there are difficulties defining the terms.
involvement. But there are certain criteria for all of them. Leisure
includes discretionary time, recreation is activity on similar location. Others are more physical and
leisure time and tourism is temporary visiting. involve service, such as hosting a blood drive.
Regardless of which types of activities you
enjoy, there are plenty of options to keep you
4 TYPES OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES and your family active. You can also do creative
projects or learn something new. No matter
There are many different ways to break down what you enjoy, there’s likely an indoor
recreational activities, but the following list is a good recreational activity that will fit into your
start. They are listed in no particular order, and the list is schedule.
not meant to be ranked. The categories listed below ● Art projects are another excellent way to pass
cover activities for people of all ages as well as people in the time. The creative process of creating a
special populations. Most of us can relate to at least one piece of art can help you express yourself and
or two of these categories. Let’s begin by defining what boost your hand-eye coordination. Several
recreation means to you. health benefits of art include improved
1. Outdoor memory, heightened senses, and positive
● Various outdoor activities are available for memories. As an added bonus, many types of
people of all ages and experience levels. These art are also enjoyable and great for keeping kids
activities take place in natural settings and vary active. Whether you choose to learn a new skill
in physical setting. These activities can range or become more skilled, there’s a great indoor
from watching wildlife to hiking. Some of the activity out there that will keep your kids
most popular types of outdoor recreation are: entertained and engaged all day.
● Watching the sunrise and sunset is a great 3. Social
outdoor activity. Not only can you enjoy the ● There are many different kinds of recreational
beauty of nature, but you can also do some of activities, and the specific activity performed is
the following activities while enjoying the often less important than the reason for the
outdoors: hiking, mountaineering, cycling, activity or the desired outcome. Recreational
kayaking, rafting, skydiving, canoeing, activities are generally done to relieve stress or
rollerblading, hunting, and more. You can even improve one’s quality of life. These activities can
learn a new sport or activity and then do it with be done by people of all ages and from diverse
your friends. Many cities have designated areas backgrounds, and most of these activities
for outdoor activities. These areas often feature involve some form of social interaction.
playgrounds, sports facilities, and free sea Recreation activities also include physical
access. activities such as hiking, swimming, camping,
● There are many physical and mental benefits to and other outdoor pursuits.
outdoor recreational activities. Besides ● The type of recreational activity depends on the
providing exercise and mental stimulation, age and gender of the individual, the social
these activities are also good ways to spend context of the community, and the
time with friends and family. They also promote socioeconomic status of the individual. Children
team building, socialization, and problem in poverty, for example, are likely to play with
solving. And they’re fun too. Many people find discarded manufactured objects or with natural
that participating in outdoor recreational materials. They are likely to spend their leisure
activities helps them become more productive. time participating in cultural activities,
If you’re looking for something new to do, storytelling, religious celebrations, and visiting
recreational activities are a great way to start! entertainment troupes. Many poor
2. Indoor communities lack leisure facilities for children.
● There are many different types of indoor 4. Sporting
recreational activities. These include sports, ● A sport is an activity involving the body moving
games, and exercise. Some of the most popular through water in coordination with the
types of activities are played at home or in a movements of limbs and muscles. Swimming is
 one of the most popular recreational activities the self-actualization needs. According to Maslow‘s
and can be done by yourself in your own definition of self-actualization, "It may be informally
backyard. You can also sign up for swimming defined as the complete utilization and exploitation of
lessons online or hire a swimming coach. There one's qualities, capacities, potentialities, and so on.
are many benefits to swimming as a Such people appear to be content and to be doing the
recreational activity. Here are a few reasons best that they are capable of accomplishing. They are
why. Listed below are some of the benefits of persons who have reached or are on their way to
swimming. reaching their full potential." Self-actualizing people are
● Sports are one of the four types of recreational self-aware, concerned with personal growth, less
activities. These activities can be any kind of concerned with the opinions of others, and interested in
sport, including basketball, volleyball, cricket, or fulfilling their potential. This is connected to the
baseball. Aside from being fun, they also intellectual motivation factor, which relates to an
provide an outlet for physical exertion. Some individual's mental stimulation, such as cognitive
sports can be played outdoors, such as brisk learning or the chance to utilize one's creativity.
walking or cycling. The outdoors is also the
perfect place for a sports day. Recreational
sports are one of the best forms of recreation
and can help you stay fit and have a good time.

Where do leisure and recreation belong to the

hierarchy of needs?

Ragheb (1983), they linked four out of the five of

Maslow‘s need categories to leisure motivation.
Maslow‘s Hierarchy of Needs Theory refers to the Leisure and recreation are generally considered to be
physiological needs at the bottom of the pyramid as part of the higher-order needs in Maslow's hierarchy of
basic physical requirements including the need for food, needs. Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory in
water, sleep, and warmth. The motivation factor on psychology that proposes that human needs are
stimulus-avoidance refers to the escape and restoration arranged in a pyramid, with the most basic needs at the
an individual seeks in their leisure activities. Love, bottom and the most complex needs at the top. The
acceptance, and belonging are examples of social basic needs, such as physiological needs, safety needs
contact needs in Maslow's hierarchy. At this level, and belongingness and love needs, must be met before
human behavior is driven by the need for emotional a person can focus on higher-order needs such as
connections. This is connected to the social motivation esteem and self-actualization. Leisure and recreation fall
factor, which relates to an individual's demand for into the self-actualization and esteem needs category,
interpersonal relationships. The desire for admiration which is the highest level in the hierarchy. These needs
and respect is at the fourth level of Maslow's hierarchy. are the desires for self-fulfillment, personal growth and
This is honor and privilege and recognition. At this time, the ability to feel a sense of accomplishment.
gaining the respect and appreciation of others becomes
increasingly vital People have a need to complete tasks
and then have their efforts rewarded. Aside from the VENN DIAGRAM
need for feelings of success and prestige, esteem needs
also encompass self-esteem and personal worth.
Participation in professional activities and academic
achievements help to meet this need. This can be
related to the motivation factor on
competence/mastery which explains motivation in
terms of the desire for achievement, competition and
challenge. At the very peak of Maslow‘s hierarchy are
 ● A Venn diagram uses overlapping circles or emerging play on our natural surroundings
other shapes to illustrate the logical (forests, mountains, rivers & lakes)
relationships between two or more sets of
items. Often, they serve to graphically organize
things, highlighting how the items are similar ● DIVERSITY IN PARTICIPATION
and different. ● Recreation not only as participation in sports &
● Venn diagrams, also called Set diagrams or Logic games or in social activities & to ignore other
diagrams, are widely used in mathematics, forms of play
statistics, logic, teaching, linguistics, computer ● Recreation actually includes broad range of
science and business. Many people first leisure pursuits including travel & tourism,
encounter them in school as they study math or cultural entertainment or participation in the
logic, since Venn diagrams became part of “new arts, hobbies, membership in social clubs or
math” curricula in the 1960s. These may be interest groups, nature-related activities
simple diagrams involving two or three sets of a (camping or hunting & fishing, attendance at
few elements, or they may become quite parties or other special events, & fitness
sophisticated, including 3D presentations, as activities
they progress to six or seven sets and beyond. ● May be highly tough & physically demanding or
They are used to think through and depict how may be intellectual activity
items relate to each within a particular ● May be represent of interest, involvement &
“universe” or segment. Venn diagrams allow experience
users to visualize data in clear, powerful ways,
and therefore are commonly used in
presentations and reports. They are closely MOTIVATIONS FOR RECREATIONAL PARTICIPATION
related to Euler diagrams, which differ by
omitting sets if no items exist in them. Venn 1. As a form of relaxation & release from work
diagrams show relationships even if a set is pressures or other tensions
empty. 2. May be passive spectators of entertainment
provided by television, movies or other forms of
electronic amusement
3. Based on the need to express creativity, hidden
talents, or pursue excellence in varied forms of
personal expression
VARIED VIEWS OF RECREATION & LEISURE
4. Active & competitive recreation may offer a
RECREATION channel for releasing hostility & aggression or
for struggling against others or the environment
● The network of public agencies that provide
in adventurous, high-risk pursuits
such facilities as parks, playgrounds, aquatic
5. Others enjoy recreation that is highly social &
centers, sports fields & community centers in
provides the opportunity for making new
thousands of cities, towns, countries & park
friends or cooperating with others in group
districts today
settings
● For a growing generation of young people,
6. Leisure activities that involve community service
recreation & leisure have taken on new
or permit them to provide leadership in
meanings of adventure, risk, excitement &
fraternal or religious organizations
fulfillment as they seek to meld technology &
7. Others take part in activities that promote
recreation. Not include any physical activity but
health & physical fitness as a primary goal
focus on internet games, downloading / sharing
8. Growing number of participants enjoy
music, instant messaging & new ventures we
participation in the expanding world of
have yet to see or understand
computer-based entertainment &
● Environmentalists may be concerned about the
communication including CD-ROMs, internet
impact of outdoor forms of traditional &
 games, video games & personal digital ● Growing class of millionaires is able to enjoy a
assistants with games, the internet, etc. host of expensive forms of recreation
9. Others involved in forms of culture such as
music, drama, dance, literature & fine arts
10. New environments through travel & tourism or COMMODIFICATION OF LEISURE
seeking self discovery or personality enrichment
through continuing education or religious ● Giant conglomerates such as Time Warner,
activity represent other important leisure drives Disney & Viacom have been taken over control
of huge corporations that run music, television
& movie businesses
● These conglomerates also own sports stadium &
SOCIAL FACTORS PROMOTING THE RECREATION &
professional teams, cruise ships & theme parks,
PARK MOVEMENT
other leisure operations
1. Increase in Discretionary Time ● New facilities offering varied forms of recreation
2. National Affluence ● E.g. Huge public fitness centers include aquatic
3. Commodification of Leisure areas, aerobics, dance rooms & facilities for
4. Population Trends family play & host of other activities are being
5. Where People Live: Urbanization & built – often with charges for membership that
Suburbanization cost several hundred dollars a year
6. Influence of Technology
7. Recreation’s Contribution to Health & Fitness
8. Environmental Concerns POPULATION TRENDS
9. The changing family
10. Maturation of organized leisure-service field ● Dramatic diversifications in racial & ethical
terms has taken place particularly in the United
States
● Growing of immigrants from Asia, Latin
INCREASE IN DISCRETIONARY TIME
America, some third world regions often
● An increase in workweek hours for many markedly higher birth rates
individuals ● Popular culture, sports & other leisure related
● The increase in work hours appears to have areas reflects these population changes
been selective with certain groups in the
population (professionals or business managers)
working longer hours but with other individuals Where People Live: Urbanization & Suburbanization
continuing to have relatively short workweeks
● The increase in holidays, vacations, early ● -Playgrounds for children, sport fields for youths
retirement & the needs of special population & adults, networks of parks throughout country,
groups (disabilities or underemployed) it is civic minded individuals joined together to
apparent that leisure continues to present a establish symphony orchestras, opera
huge opportunities companies, art & natural history museums &
libraries
● Recreation & park development as a key factor
in promoting the revival of many larger cities as
NATIONAL AFFLUENCE
wealthy citizens moved into developed
● Twentieth century, household income continued residential areas
to rise steadily in both nations (United States & ● Waterfront or factory areas transformed into
Canada) with the total amount spend on varied attractive sites for shopping, sightseeing,
forms of recreation increasing from decade to cultural activities & entertainment
decade
 ● Recreation as critical to making cities more ● Participation in activities as walking, aerobics,
livable, attracting tourist & retaining middle swimming, running & jogging, racquet sports &
class & wealthy residents similar energetic pursuits has more than
● Public recreation & park departments physiological effects
constructed new water play parks, tennis ● Also has physiological value for those who
complexes, creative arts centers, marinas & exercise regularly look & feel better
other recreational facilities ● Experts have concluded that fitness is not a
passing phase; the public’s desire to be healthy
& physically attractive is supported by
INFLUENCE OF TECHNOLOGY continuing publicity, social values, personal
pride & solid business sense
● Outdoor recreation for examples, makes use of ● Research showed that most successful fitness
increasingly complex & expensive devices in programs to be those provided an ingredient of
activities (skydiving, hang gliding, scuba diving, recreational interest & satisfaction
boating, hunting, fishing, rollerblading, skiing & ● E.g. Employee fitness program in Canada,
snowboarding) Wankel found that although all enrollees had
● Computer dating provides a new form of social physical fitness as a strong initial motivation,
contact for single adults & video games offer those who continued to be involved had other
interactive competition or exposure to new objectives for joining the program (objectives of
varieties of play settings & virtual realities a non health related nature) as competition,
● Important part of travel & tourism with airlines, curiosity, developing recreational skills & going
cruise ships, resorts & major parks maintaining out with friends
Web pages that provide information & facilitate ● Through the 1990s, there were reports that the
reservations & vacation choices rate of adult participation in regular fitness
● Every aspect of professional recreation, park & activities was declining. Although evidence
leisure service management, computer software showed that regular vigorous activity helped to
has become crucial in program planning, prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer & a
scheduling, public relations, fiscal & personnel number of other serious illnesses, the
management & maintaining agency information percentage of adults taking part in active
systems exercise regimens was sharply lower than at the
● Home based recreation has become increasingly height of the fitness boom. Similarly, there was
dependent on varied forms of electronic strong evidence that children & youth in the
entertainment with television, interactive video United States were increasingly obese & in poor
games, CD-ROMs, cassette players & similar physical condition.
devices. ● Certain recreational sports (youth soccer,
● Home based technological forms of volleyball & ice hockey) have grown in
entertainment & communication being an popularity
important factor ● Sports participation in organized high school
athletic programs is at an all time high for girls &
boys
RECREATION’S CONTRIBUTION TO HEALTH & FITNESS ● Growing number of state school systems have
● 1970s & 1980s trend was the growth of public reduced or eliminated physical education
interest in exercise & physical fitness programs requirements which means that organized
● Realizing that modern life is frequently inactive, recreation programs represent an even more
sedentary, beset by tensions, & subject to a host important means of promoting physical fitness
of unhealthy habits (overeating, smoking & for children & youth
drinking) popular concern developed about
improving one’s health, vitality & appearance
through diet & exercise
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS ● Single parent households
● Expanding problem of alcohol & drug abuse
● Outdoor recreation activities (camping, biking,
among young
backpacking, boating, hunting, fishing, skiing &
● Increase in random & senseless violence - often
mountain climbing depend heavily on parks,
on an individual basis but also linked to gang
forests & water areas operated chiefly by public
generated conflict in cities large & small
recreation & park agencies.
● Presence of homeless people in increasing
● The concern of many people regarding the
number – on the streets, in parks & under
health of the nation’s outdoor resources stems
highways & viaducts
from more than the need for outdoor recreation
● Acceptance of communities in gambling as a
spaces
solution to the economic problems of states &
● The environmental has received strong support
cities
from many recreation advocates &
● Growing tolerance of prostitution & other
organizations
commercially linked forms of sexual
● Recognized activities as fishing & hunting are
entertainment
just part of a bigger scene that requires clean &
● Patterns of civility & human decency that should
safe air and water & wise use of the land
prevail in everyday life have been widely
● Following two decades, there was a wave of
abandoned
federal & state legislative action & funding
support in the US that was designed to acquire
open space, to protect imperiled forests,
● What to do these trends have to do with recreation
wetlands, & scenic areas to help endangered
& leisure?
species flourish & to reclaim the nation’s wild
● Many of the popular but morally questionable
rivers & trails
pursuits just described represent a search for
● 1980 – national administration in the US sought
pleasure, novelty & excitement
to reduce park & open space funding, eliminate
● Tend to displace more traditional & constructive
conservation programs & environmental
forms of play
regulations & to renewed economic exploitation
● Represent a major challenge to recreation
● 1990- The effort to open up protected
managers, leaders & program planners in public
wilderness areas to increased oil drilling, cattle
& nonprofit community leisure service agencies
grazing, lumbering & other commercial uses
– who must compete with them for the
gained strong political support
attention of participants & must struggle against
● Organizations have been in the forefront of the
their demoralizing effects on community life
continuing battle to protect the nation’s natural
resources
● Earth day 2000 – It was clear that North
America air was cleaner & its water purer than The changing family
for many past decades ● The creators & distributors of popular motion
● There was more protected open space in pictures & television shows, video games,
national parks, wildlife, refuges & wilderness books, magazines & even toys - are being
areas blamed for having created a climate that
tolerates immorality, crime, sexual & physical
abuse of children & random violence
THE CHANGING FAMILY ● 1992 – Attacks were revealed at the producers
of television shows for undermining the nation’s
● The deterioration in several forms:
traditional codes of sexual behavior & parental
● Fragmentation of family life
responsibility
● Increase in the number of children born out of
● After 1992 – Major political figures have blamed
wedlock
the “cultural elite”- particularly executives &
● Divorces & separations
 creative leaders in the communications & nightclubs, movie houses or theaters, health
entertainment media for deliberately promoting spas/fitness centers, dancing schools,
sensational themes or publicizing events, amusement / theme parks & other
personalities, shocking crimes & distorted enterprises that provide leisure services
relationships which has resulted in a decline of 5. Employee recreation programs (formerly called
family values & civic morality industrial recreation)
● Late 1990 – growing number of public & ● Who work for given companies / other
nonprofit leisure service organizations have employers by providing recreation as part of
initiated innovative, comprehensive programs a total personnel benefits package linked to
designed to serve “at risk” youth other services concerned with employee
● Leisure service agencies along with religious health & fitness
organizations, the schools & parents’ groups will 6. Armed forces recreation
need to more intensive & focused efforts to ● Form of government sponsored
promote family stability in American life & to activity-tends to operate an extensive
overcome the effects of poverty, intergroup network of recreation facilities & programs
conflicts & negative impact of destructive forms worldwide
of play 7. Campus recreation
● Sports clubs, social activities, trip & travel
programs, performing arts groups,
MATURATION OF THE ORGANIZED LEISURE-SERVICE entertainment, lounges, film series & other
FIELD forms of recreation on college & university
campuses
● 10 Categories of Recreation & Leisure service: 8. Therapeutic recreation services
1. Government agencies ● Meet the needs of persons with physical or
● Federal, state & provincial agencies & local mental disabilities, individuals with poor
departments of recreation & parks that health, dependent aging persons, socially
provide leisure services as primary function, deviant persons in correctional facilities or
other agencies (social service, education, other treatment settings & similar special
special populations & armed forces) offer or groups
assist recreation programs as a secondary 9. Sports participation & spectatorship
responsibility ● Professional sports, collegiate sports, public
2. Voluntary organizations parks & recreation, private sport
● Nongovernmental, nonprofit agencies, enterprises, youth sports, sports for
sectarian & nonsectarian, serving the public individuals with disabilities & more
at large/selected elements of it with 10. Travel, tourism & hospitality management
multiservice programs (E.g. YMCA, Boy ● Involves all of the travel & tourism industry
Scouts & Girl Scouts) (airlines, cruise ships, destination resorts,
3. Private membership organizations conference & resort centers, amusement
● As golf, tennis, yacht, athletic & country parks, festival & the like
clubs, service clubs & fraternal bodies that
provide recreational & social activities for
their own members, assist community
recreation needs as well (swimming pools,
sports / fitness complexes or clubs attached
NEED FOR PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP
to leisure villages, apartment or
condominium units or retirement ● Need for qualified professional leadership
Communities ● People always assume that the task of
4. Commercial recreation enterprises organizing & conducting recreation programs is
● Great variety of privately owned for profit simple one & anyone can do it without
businesses (ski centers, bowling alleys, specialized training – because they see that
 many youths & adults in our society do provide
recreational leadership without training
INFLUENCE OF PROFESSIONAL SPECIALIZATION
● Community needs, wants & capabilities while
balancing demands & resources requires a ● Specialists began to form their own professional
trained recreation & park professional societies in armed forces recreation,
● Professional management involves tasks as therapeutic, therapeutic recreation, campus
planning & building recreation facilities from recreation & employee services
golf courses, swimming complex, supervising ● Developed specialized missions & operational
leadership & maintenance personnel, strategies suited to their unique service areas
campaigns & assessing public needs & demands ● Joining together in partnerships that share
● Therapeutic program - Need intensive human, fiscal & other agency resources to
knowledge of illness & effects, medical achieve the goal
terminology, anatomy, kinesiology & ● Must meet high standards of specialized
psychopathology training, be affiliated with appropriate
● Recreation professionals should familiar with professional societies & understand public
the skills needed for direct leadership & leisure needs & social challenges that face this
supervision, understanding & controlling group field
dynamics, assessing patients or clients, ability to
carry out basic evaluation or research, write
literate report CHALLENGES FACING THE LEISURE SERVICE FIELD
● Recreation professionals must fully aware of the
meaning of recreation & leisure in human 1. How can the organized recreation movement
society & history of this field contribute to public understanding of leisure’s
● Recreation professionals should familiar with role in daily life & to upgrading the level of the
the skills needed for direct leadership & public’s choices of leisure pursuits?
supervision, understanding & controlling group 2. What role can public, voluntary, therapeutic &
dynamics, assessing patients or clients, ability to other community based agencies play in helping
carry out basic evaluation or research, write to improve family life & to reduce crime,
literate report violence, abuse & other serious societal
● Recreation professionals must fully aware of the problems?
meaning of recreation & leisure in human 3. How can recreation contribute to promoting
society & history of this field positive intercultural understanding &
relationships & to enriching the lives of persons
with disabilities?
EMERGING PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY 4. How can the organized recreation movement
play a meaningful role in a society that has
● Gained public recognition as a flourishing career increasingly become dominated by commercial
field interests – conglomerates in the mass media of
● Millions of men & women become employed in communication & entertainment that place
various specialized sectors of leisure service dollar profits at a higher priority than important
with hundreds thousands holding professional human values?
level jobs as recreation leaders, supervisors, 5. How can recreation, park & sport organizations
planners, managers & resource specialists help build communities that create a quality of
● Requiring unique competencies & skills and life that positively affects all community
higher level of status for those working in the members?
field 6. In an era marked by striking economic
● Efforts of national, state & provincial societies prosperity, how can recreation & leisure service
higher standards for practice were developed & professionals develop programs designed to
the first steps of certification & accreditation serve the less fortunate in society?
were set in motion
 7. Practitioners in park agencies that sponsor level jobs as recreation leaders, supervisors,
outdoor recreation services or manage planners, managers & resource specialists
extensive natural resources, what policies will ● Requiring unique competencies & skills and
serve important ecological needs in the years higher level of status for those working in the
ahead? field
● Efforts of national, state & provincial societies
higher standards for practice were developed &
the first steps of certification & accreditation
were set in motion

NEED FOR PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP INFLUENCE OF PROFESSIONAL SPECIALIZATION

● Need for qualified professional leadership ● Specialists began to form their own professional
● People always assume that the task of societies in armed forces recreation,
organizing & conducting recreation programs is therapeutic, therapeutic recreation, campus
simple one & anyone can do it without recreation & employee services
specialized training – because they see that ● Developed specialized missions & operational
many youths & adults in our society do provide strategies suited to their unique service areas
recreational leadership without training ● Joining together in partnerships that share
● Community needs, wants & capabilities while human, fiscal & other agency resources to
balancing demands & resources requires a achieve the goal
trained recreation & park professional ● Must meet high standards of specialized
● Professional management involves tasks as training, be affiliated with appropriate
planning & building recreation facilities from professional societies & understand public
golf courses, swimming complex, supervising leisure needs & social challenges that face this
leadership & maintenance personnel, field
campaigns & assessing public needs & demands
● Therapeutic program - Need intensive
knowledge of illness & effects, medical CHALLENGES FACING THE LEISURE SERVICE FIELD
terminology, anatomy, kinesiology &
1. How can the organized recreation movement
psychopathology
contribute to public understanding of leisure’s
● Recreation professionals should familiar with
role in daily life & to upgrading the level of the
the skills needed for direct leadership &
public’s choices of leisure pursuits?
supervision, understanding & controlling group
2. What role can public, voluntary, therapeutic &
dynamics, assessing patients or clients, ability to
other community based agencies play in helping
carry out basic evaluation or research, write
to improve family life & to reduce crime,
literate report
violence, abuse & other serious societal
● Recreation professionals must fully aware of the
problems?
meaning of recreation & leisure in human
3. How can recreation contribute to promoting
society & history of this field
positive intercultural understanding &
relationships & to enriching the lives of persons
with disabilities?
EMERGING PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY 4. How can the organized recreation movement
● Gained public recognition as a flourishing career play a meaningful role in a society that has
field increasingly become dominated by commercial
● Millions of men & women become employed in interests – conglomerates in the mass media of
various specialized sectors of leisure service communication & entertainment that place
with hundreds thousands holding professional
 dollar profits at a higher priority than important microwave oven, and vacuum cleaners have
human values? greatly simplified the demands of life.
5. How can recreation, park & sport organizations 2. INFLUENCES OF TECHNOLOGY
help build communities that create a quality of ● Sophisticated technology has provided new
life that positively affects all community forms of recreation for the people. Outdoor
members? recreation uses complex and expressive devices
6. In an era marked by striking economic in activities such as skydiving, hang gliding,
prosperity, how can recreation & leisure service scuba diving, boating, roller blading, skiing and
professionals develop programs designed to now boarding
serve the less fortunate in society? ● Computer dating provides a new form of social
7. Practitioners in park agencies that sponsor contacts for single adults. Video games offer
outdoor recreation services or manage interactive competition or exposure to new
extensive natural resources, what policies will varieties of play settings and “virtual realities”
serve important ecological needs in the years ● The internet has become an important part of
ahead? travel and tourism by providing information and
facilities reservations and vacation choices.
Home-based recreation has become dependent
on varied forms of electric entertainment
3. PUBLIC INTEREST IN HEALTH AND FITNESS
● A key trend in the 20th century is the growth of
public interest in exercise and physical fitness
programs.
FACTORS PROMOTING THE GROWTH OF RECREATION ● Many people are now concerned about
1. Increase in discretionary time. improving their health, vitality, and appearance
2. Influences of technology. through diet and exercise. Those who exercise
3. Public interest in health and fitness. regularly look and better. Research showed that
4. Co-modification of leisure. the most successful fitness programs were
5. Therapeutic recreation service. those that provided recreational interest and
6. New leisure roles for women. satisfaction.
4. COMMODIFICATION OF LEISURE
1. INCREASE IN DISCRETIONARY TIME ● various forms of recreation are being developed
● A key factor underlying the growth of recreation by profit seeking business. Giant corporations
has been the growth of free or discretionary have taken control of music, television, movie
time in 20th century. Due to advanced business, sports stadiums, cruise ships, theme
mechanical equipment and automated parks and other leisure operations
processes in factories, agriculture and service ● Many elaborate new facilities which offer varied
fields, productive capacity increased remarkably forms of recreation are being developed as part
during the second half of 19th century and the of the trend toward commodification. In big
first half of the 20th century. cities, huge public fitness centers which includes
● In addition, more holidays and longer vacations pools, aerobics, dance rooms, and facilities for
are now enjoyed by more employees, because family play are being built and often charge
of improved Social Security benefits and membership fees that cost several hundred
pension plan as well as medical advances which dollars a year
lead to longer life, many employees can now 5. THERAPEUTIC RECREATION SERVICE
avail of fifteen or more years of full time leisure ● An important aspect of the growth of recreation
after retirement. has been the increased awareness of the
● Another reason is that labor saving devices such recreation needs of persons with physical,
as automatic washing machines, lawn movers, mental or social disabilities. In recent years
there has been an increased recognition of the
 need to provided recreational programs for
special populations such as the mentally
EMERGING PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY
retarded, mentally ill, and physically challenged.
these programs use therapeutic recreation as ● As employment in recreation agencies grew
form of treatment. over the past several decades, recreation gained
● One of the sports programs for people with public as a flourishing career field.
disabilities that has received much attention in ● Millions of men and women became employed
recent years is the Special Olympics, an in various specialized sectors of recreation and
international program of physical fitness, sports leisure service.
training, and athletic competition for children, ● Many hold professional-level jobs as recreation
and adults with mental retarded leaders, supervisors, planners, managers and
6. NEW LEISURE ROLES FOR WOMEN resource specialists. Through the efforts o
● At present, there is a strong drive for women to national, state and provincial societies, higher
play a more equal role in recreational standards for practice were developed and first
opportunities. steps of certification and accreditation were
● In the past, women are barred from a variety of undertaken.
athletic outdoor recreation, cultural and social
involvements
● Women were treated as second-class citizens in CHALLENGES FACING THE RECREATION AND LEISURE
leisure opportunities with the emergence of a SERVICE FIELD
strong feminist movement, this inequality was
corrected Recreational professional must be able to deal creatively
● There is now a growing interest in women's with following challenges.
tennis, gold gymnastics, track and field, and 1. Serve diverse society L (race, age, gender)
similar events in every level of competition. 2. Emphasize key social purposes of recreation in
Outstanding women athletes have helped working with at risk youth, serving persons with
create a new image of feminine strength, disabilities, and promoting community
determination, and self-confidence. development.
3. Achieve fuller public understanding of the value
of recreation and parks, and of the
THE NEED FOR PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIPS leisure-service profession;
● At present, there is a growing need for qualified 4. Upgrade recreation and park programs and
professional leadership in the recreation field. facilities particularly in inner cities and for
● Very often, people assume that the task of minority populations;
organizing and conducting recreation programs 5. Adopt a benefits-based management approach,
is relatively simple and that anyone can do it researching, providing and publicizing outcomes
without specialized training. of recreation;
● However, the professional's assignment in the 6. Promote recreation's identity as health-related
organized recreation filed tends to be more field;
complex and difficult than that of the volunteer 7. Develop partnerships with environmental
leader or coach. organizations to protect and restore wildlands,
● It must involve carefully studied goals and waterways;
objectives and sophisticated planning 8. Employ marketing approach to achieve fiscal
techniques. sufficiency and gain public respect and support;
● Recreation professionals should possess the 9. Expand and improve family-centered programs
skills needed for direct leadership and and facilities;
supervision, group dynamics and client 10. Promote higher values and ethical practices in
assessment. They must have the ability to carry youth sports competition.
out basic research and write meaningful reports
11. Strive for fuller mainstreaming of persons with
disabilities in community recreation programs;