Pasadena City College Programming for Parks Recreation and Leisure Services Discussion

sa
re
my
Leisure as a Holistic Concept
The holistic penpective sure that leisure has
the potential to be present in many forms of human
dave. This focus of leis on an individual
lity to shape an integrated lifestyle in which appor
is to operate creatively, expressively physically,
and intellectually existe a holte concept
considers all aspects of one’s life
degree of competence equal to the challenges of the
intended lewe experience. If they must freely
choose to “stretch themselves. Generally, people
match the skill levels to their choice of participation
in particular game, activity of experience
Intrinsic Motivation
Beyond having the element of choice in the
ties, participants must choose the wolvement because
they are moved from within and because they are
Influenced by external factors. This means that the
drive for recomes from within each person the
tivity itself motivates an individual to her than
the motivation coming from a desire to lose weight be
with friends, and so forth)
Locus of Control
The concept of locus of control refers to the need
to exert influence within the context of the leisure
As can be seen from these explana, no on definition
of leisure can capture all that represents. We do
Know, however, that are is a scially based phenom-
cond is heavily inced by cure. This means
hat there is no such thing as ene universal definition that
explains what leisure is in every society or in every to
. As can be imagined, this can present a challenge to
those of us who program leisure experiences
Whereas little ones exists in defining the
sem leisure, the term recreation has commonly been
viewed as an activity that is freely chosen and has the
poteratial of many desirable outcomes. Further, most
agree that recreation is an activity that takes place du
ing one’s free time, is enjoyable, freely chosen, and
benefits the individual emotionally, socially, physically,
cognitively, and/or spiritually.
Because these terms are closely related and for
case of reading), we will use the terms leisure and
recreation interchangeably throughout this text. Both
terms will represent experiences that include the five
factors explained in the following section. These fac
tors have been shown to relate to satisfying leisure
experiences (Neulinger, 1974; Samdahl, 1991), and are
often achieved through recreation
Freedom
To be free means to be able to act without interference
or control from another, or to choose or act in accor
dance with one’s own will. If we are free, no one else
forces us do something. We are free to choose to do
anything. In order for a successful leisure experience
to occur, participants must exercise some element of
choice (freedom).
Perceived Competence
The perception of having skills and abilities necessary for
successful participation leads to a satisfying leisure expe.
rience. Thus, in order for a successful leisure experience
to occur, individuals must perceive themselves to have a
Figure 1.3 Freedom is an important component in
exploring leisure interests.
Cir
6. Pro Recreation and use
experience Individuals altro
in with the tre process in order for
surprinde ou. This does not mean
that partnered to be involved in the planning
of every aspect of every weet, but they should feel
some degree of controls the experience unfolds. For
instance, participants might choose the letter
influence the day, time, or place an activity or
decide to my rules
Positive Affect
The meaning factor that relates to a satisfying leisure
experience is that of positive affect. This refers to enjoy
ment-people who have positive affect are happy, up.
beat, and pleasant. Recreation and leisure experiences
offer inherent affect, and if they are truly recreation and
leisure, result in positive affect for the participants.
5. Armed Forces (although these are componen
of government, they constitute a distinct form
of recreation programming Coast Guard
Morale, Welfare and Recreation. Alt Fonec
Development Center)
6. Campus recreation programs serving college
and university students and staff members
(e… University of California – Davis Campus
Recreation and Intramurals, Bose State
University Outdoor Program)
7. Corporate recreation programs serving company
employees (USAA Insurance Employee
Recreation and Fitness Centers, Yellowstone Co
Op Employee Recreation Program)
8. Therapeutic recreation services for people with
special needs – both in clinical and community
settings (e.g., Inclusion Programs, County of
Maui Recreation and Support Division, Cincinnati
Children’s Hospital Therapeutic Recreation
Division)
Understanding these five factors as they relate to satisfy-
ing leisure experiences is very important if leisure ser
vices programmers are going to design and implement
leisure programs and services to meet the needs and
demands of a variety of people. When leisure profession-
als plan programs to help individuals experience these
ciements, they can facilitate a positive leisure experience
Recreation Programs
Recreation programs are found in all areas of work
and life in the poblic, nonprofit, and commercial
ectors, which include the following types of leisure
Services organizations:
The scope and breadth of recreation programs in
all of these settings continue to expand to meet the
needs and demands of a variety of participants. For
example, it is not uncommon to find senior citizens
demanding high-risk activities like alpine skiing.
adolescents wanting opportunities to travel, blended
families who are looking for bonding opportunities,
and singles flocking to wine tasting travel pro-
grams. The common tie between all these groups
and activities is programming.
In addition to these types of organizations we
have seen a continuous increase in partnerships
between organizations to better meet the needs of par-
ticipants. For instance, across the United States new
programs are appearing as a result of collaboration
between therapeutic recreation services and campus
recreation programs. As an example, consider
STRIVE, a nonprofit organization established 2004
with a mission to:
1. Public or governmental agencies at the federal,
stite, and local levels (e.g., National Park Service,
City of Tucson Parks and Recreation Department,
Mecklenberg County Parks and Recreation
Department)
2. Voluntary nonprofit organizations, both nonsectarian
and sectarian (eg., Jewish Community Center, Boys
& Girls Club of America)
3. Private membership associations (eg., The Dunes
Golf and Country Club, Green Valley Recreation,
Inc.)
4. Commercial, profit-oriented recreation businesses
(eg., Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort, Bar W
Guest Ranch)
Enhanc[e] the quality of life for all our
clients through the provision of world-class,
enjoyable, and accessible recreational oppor-
tunities unlike any other available throughout
Michigan. Through our dedication to profes-
sional development and advocacy for
individuals with disabilities and the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA), we strive to
Chamer Concepts
New York were designed in an empt to regain the
rural countryside in the middle of an urban area and
five people who
e who lived in crowded slum tenements
place to relax and way from it all. Purther
the settlement
he movement used recreations
means to ease the transition of immigrants to living
in large urban American cities (see the Programmer
Profile for an Addams in Chapter Two). Sesoma
and Stevenson have written that
Adult education, recreation, and wcial group
work all have a common beritage. Each is
product of the social welfare reforms that
curred in our cities and industries the tum of
the nineteenth century. Their founders shared
belief they were concerned with the quality of
life and believed that through the proper use
of leisure it could be achieved. (1981,p. 2)
offer unique and excellent services the ghout
programs, recreational therapy.com
wervices and the tal, purchase, and cost
tion of captive equipment (STRIVE, 2007)
STRIVE partners with a wide range of individu
als and organizations to provide leur program for
people with disabilities (see Figure 1). They work
with individuals as part of post-accident rehabilitation
and assist in finding accessible recreation opportuni
ties in a community. STRIVE al works with publie
parks and recreation departments to enhance pro
gramming for people with disabilities as well as with
businesses and community organizations. They offer
in service trainings across the state of Michigan
related to the ADA and working with individuals
with disabilities
Recreation programs have long been the life
blood of leisure services organizations in that programs
are the vehicle professionals use to deliver leisure
benefits to both individuals and society. Programs are
where people and parks, recreation, and leisure ser
vices organizations meet. Recreation programs are
purposeful interventions deliberately designed and
constructed to produce certain behavioral outcomes
les having fun with family and friends, meeting
new people, learning new skills, increasing mess
levels) in an individual and/or group. A key element
to remember is that programs are not ends in them-
selves, rather people and the outcomes they desire) are
the true reasons for the existence of leisure services
organizations. This commitment to people through
leisure can be seen throughout the history of the or
ganized parks, recreation, and leisure movement in the
United States, which dates back to the late 1800s. It is
also the reason we call for a servant leadership approach
to programming
Initially, many aspects of the recreation movement
were focused on providing places for leisure-parks
The Beginnings of Leisure
Programming
Formal recreation organizations emerged during the
late 1800s to address the tremendous social, psycho-
Jogical and general welfare needs that grew out of the
Industrial Revolution Social reformers saw the poten
tial of using play and recreation to improve people’s
quality of life. For instance, the Boston Sand Gardens
(considered to be the first playground) were estab
lished to meet the play needs of disadvantaged children
and give them a safe place to play. Also, many of the
first organized camps were designed for and targeted
a “sickly boys.” Large city parks (eg., Central Park in
Photo courtesy of STRIVE RTS
Figure 1.4 A STRIVE program expanding the oppor-
tunities for people with disabilities.
So for Mark Remar, and Leare Sesses
playgrounds, and recreation centers. As the movement
progressed the importance of organized program
acknowled. Curtis (1915) wrote the playground
that has no program achieves in 1631. Boden
and Mitchell (1923) suggested that programare
necessary to make playground more interesting and
emer. 2541.me expansion of leisure services
program has been in the growth
development of pile recreation departments. As the
profession matured and diversified, most public recre
agencies across the country adopted a philosophy
that views Insure as an end in itself. In other words,
public recreation drifted away from a social welfare
model with specifie social service goals) and adopted
a model of providing services to all
Beginning in the last half of the twentieth century
we have seen tremendous growth in all sector of
parks, recreation, leisure services, and other aspects
of what is known as the experience industry.” Publie.
private nonprofit, and commercial leisure services orga-
nizations continue to grow at a rapid rate. In addition,
leisure services organizations have dealt with phenom
enal social and economic changes. On one hand, the
demand for leisure experiences has skyrocketed. People
from all walks of life are seeking and demanding leisure
experiences in their lives. At the same time, the environ
meat in which these experiences can be created has
also been changing. For example, both public and
private bonprofit organizations are being asked to be
more financially accountable and do more with less.
Commercial organizations are being asked to be more
ethically responsible (fuelſenergy conscious) in the
programs they offer (e…ccotourism), All organiza
tions are being asked to respond to greater diversity in
potential customer groups.
In examining the wide range of leisure services
organizations that developed over the last 120 years,
Godbey (1997) noted that three factors have shaped
all forms of leisure services: the desire to help people:
an entrepreneurial spirit, and changes in technology
which facilitate or necessitate such intentions.
The Desire to Help People
Whether it be public agencies responding to the play
needs of children by creating playgrounds, private non-
profit organizations developing summer camps to help
children experience the great outdoors, or Thomas Cook
(a commercial tour operator) creating traveler’s checks to
help people feel secure when they travel, leisure services
professionals have always demonstrated a desire to make
people’s lives better. This is a vital element of the servant
leadership philosophy that is even more important today.
Inclure services organizations being
woda wide range of such
big city, health lifestyles,
preparing young people to be condales
An Entrepreneurial Spirit
The entrepreneurial por may be defined
innovative ideas three in quality products or serv
that will benefit the who the product
those who developed it. It also implies creativity,
will take risks and notion Pa
gired this entrepreneurial spirit in the early
reformen who were instrumental in develop
playgrounds, and community centers. He said:
We desperately need an era of civic inventive.
ness to create a renewed set of institutions
and channels for reinvigorating our civic life
that fits the way we have come to live. Our
challenge now is to reinvent the twenty fine
century equivalent of the Boy Scouts or the
Settlement House or the playground…. What
we create may well look nothing like the in
stitutions Progressives invented a century ago
just as their inventions were not carbon cop
ics of the earlier small town folkways whose
passing they mourned. We need to be as
ready to experiment as the Progressives wete.
Willingness to err-and then correct our aim
is the price of success in social reform. (p.401)
Changes in Technology
Successful parks, recreation, and leisure services orga
nizations have always been able to respond to societal
changes that are going on around them as evidenced by
their entrepreneurial spirit. For example, in 1893, Jane
Addams wrote, “the one thing to be dreaded in the settle
ment [house movement is that it lose its flexibility, its
power of quick adaptation, its readiness to change its
methods as its environment may demand.” The envi
ronmental changes we have been experiencing in recent
years include the technology boom. Technology has been
(and is) growing and changing at an astonishing rate, it
has been increasing in usability and accessibility for the
masses, and because of this, it impacts leisure and leisure
programming, Economist Jeremy Rifkin, in his book
The Age of Access (2001), noted that we are headed
for a new economic era where people will shift from a
paradigm of ownership to one of experience. As experi-
ences become more important, implications for leisure
services organizations will become increasingly visible
D
recreatie
Ch.
To be successful lire service pro
must be upon their par — by going forward
mert and create the future. Recreatie
pe price focused
will need to continue to respond to societal changin
y the
followme
Innovative ways to empower individuals and come
pesan forward by ging the
Lies to grow and develop through our program
అల ఉంది కాలం కల వాడుకుంటే ఆ కాంతులు – ce
enim follow
wing on-site participe
Beneficial Outcomes of
to Fores, pe 15 p. 10)
viety of de benefits and potential bongsorm
Leisure Programs
benefits of a couplegor in nature
According to Driver Bremthe funds
Today’s complex world demands that parks, recreation,
metal questioned by be practice
and services providers understand societal chang:
es as well as the specific beneficial outcomes custom-
… Why should spareribe
ens expect from recreational programs and experiences
provided? The answer to this questi
This knowledge is vital when planning and developing
ated in terms of dat de positive
negative consequences of delivering that service
programs to meet constituent needs. In an attempt to
accomplish this task, many leisure services organiza
with the objective being to be
tions (especially public leisure services organizations)
efits-ortoddas mich als poble. Todo
this, leisure policy mays and met
embrace a beneficial outcomes-based approach to
understand what es would be added by each
providing services.
leisure service provided, articulate these values
A beneficial outcomes approach to leisure has
and understand how to capture them. p. 4)
evolved from outcomes focused management theory
(Driver, 2008). This theory encourages recreation Thus, it is important for programmers and managers
providers to consider a broad model for explaining to understand the immediate and potential long-term
outcomes in such a way that funders and managers beneficial outcomes connected to their programs and
understand the positive and negative outcomes of par- work to maximize those outcomes. The National Rec-
ticipating in leisure and recreation programs. Within reation and Park Association (NRPA) has embraced
such a model, benefits are defined as:
the concept of outcomes focused management starting
in the 1990s with The Benefits Are Endless” cam-
an improved change in a condition. Individuals,
paign. Although NRPA has moved on to other market
communities, as well as biophysical and heritage ing campaigns, the message of these new promotions
resources can all experience these types of bene- is consistent with an outcomes focused management
fits. The gains can be psychological, physiological approach to providing services. Consider the recent
efforts of the Florida Recreation and Park Associa
social, economic, and/or environmental
tion, which began the “It Starts in Parks” initiative to
better position park and recreation in the future and to
maintenance of a desired condition prevention of
bring attention to the important beneficial outcomes
an undesired condition, or reduction of an unde
and services provided by the profession. Through this
sired condition. These benefits include maintaining
campaign the following beneficial outcomes have been
facilities, structures, and spaces, preventing social
associated with recreation programs and facilities (see
ills; and decreasing negative impacts on the natural
environment.
.
Figure 1.6, p. 11).
.
the realization of a satisfying recreation experience.
Benefits one can accrue from participating in sat-
isfying recreation experiences include a reduction
a
in stress, increased physical fitness, and spiritual
renewal. (Driver, 2008, p.4-5)
Achievement: Big achievements in life start with
small successes. Like learning how to be part of
a team. Or figuring out that excellence comes
from a daily commitment of time and hard work,
Florida’s parks give children a chance to learn
those life lessons, to experience success early, and
to dream big, Parks build future leaders by giving
youth the opportunity to lead. Personal achievement.
It starts in parks.
In this regard, outcomes-focused management
has become a major catalyst in helping to dispel a
popular myth: that parks, recreation, and leisure agencies
provide something of value, but only as long as the
Deles
Basic Concepts
1
RENT
WANTED
tonate people
adeo make diference
FOR
Rothovius who have a
dreamstather The
communities for the better word
the systematic way of preparing delivering and
evaluating programs. The purpose of the early part of
this book is to examine the philosophical and see
aspects of programming to provide a strong foundation
on which the initive (tmpect of programming can
be developed, sourished and encouraged (see Figure
1.1 below)
Our goal is to explore both the art and science
of programming, and to integrate servant leadership
perspective throughout the text (see the Programmer
Profile at the beginning of this chapter). The impor
tance of servant leadership is based on the premise that
all parks, recreation, and leisure professionals serve
their constituents through programs. Thus, a servant
QUALITY
Leisure Services
Programming
Why are you interested in pursuing a degree in parks.
recreation and live services? What are you hoping
to get from taking a class in recreation programming?
Why did you choose a career in this field? How do
you see yourself making a difference in this world
through your choice of a major or career in parks, rec
ratica, leisure services, and related fields We begin
this book with these questions because we feel that
Seisure services professionals can make a difference
through the programs they offer. Programs are one of
the primary means by which leisure services profes
sionals provide value to people and make a difference
for individuals, communities, and society at large.
Over 20 years ago, two professionals in our field
defined programming: the definition still stands today,
Carpenter and Howe characterized programming as a
continmal process of planning, implementing and eval
ating leisure experiences for an individual or a group
of individuals (1985). Thus, programming is an impor-
tant concept for all leisure services professionals to grasp
and understand. Whether you are working for a munici
pal recreation department providing sport leagues for
adults, for a nonprofit organization providing day camp
programs for children with disabilities, as a commercial
four operator offering wilderness backpacking trips for
inner-city youth, or an event coordinator planning a
festival. programming is a central part of your job.
Most are well aware that quality leisure program-
ming does not just happen–it is hard work. And, to
complicate things a bit. programming can be viewed
as both an art and a science. The art aspect of pro-
gramming comes from experience and creativity
while the scientific aspect of programming includes
INTUITIVE ASPECTS
and EXPERIENCE
SCIENTIFIC ASPECTS
Planning Marketing
• Leadership
Promotion • Evaluation
PHILOSOPHICAL
ORIENTATION
Figure 1.1 The building blocks of programming
D
recreatie
Ch.
To be successful lire service pro
must be upon their par — by going forward
mert and create the future. Recreatie
pe price focused
will need to continue to respond to societal changin
y the
followme
Innovative ways to empower individuals and come
pesan forward by ging the
Lies to grow and develop through our program
అల ఉంది కాలం కల వాడుకుంటే ఆ కాంతులు – ce
enim follow
wing on-site participe
Beneficial Outcomes of
to Fores, pe 15 p. 10)
viety of de benefits and potential bongsorm
Leisure Programs
benefits of a couplegor in nature
According to Driver Bremthe funds
Today’s complex world demands that parks, recreation,
metal questioned by be practice
and services providers understand societal chang:
es as well as the specific beneficial outcomes custom-
… Why should spareribe
ens expect from recreational programs and experiences
provided? The answer to this questi
This knowledge is vital when planning and developing
ated in terms of dat de positive
negative consequences of delivering that service
programs to meet constituent needs. In an attempt to
accomplish this task, many leisure services organiza
with the objective being to be
tions (especially public leisure services organizations)
efits-ortoddas mich als poble. Todo
this, leisure policy mays and met
embrace a beneficial outcomes-based approach to
understand what es would be added by each
providing services.
leisure service provided, articulate these values
A beneficial outcomes approach to leisure has
and understand how to capture them. p. 4)
evolved from outcomes focused management theory
(Driver, 2008). This theory encourages recreation Thus, it is important for programmers and managers
providers to consider a broad model for explaining to understand the immediate and potential long-term
outcomes in such a way that funders and managers beneficial outcomes connected to their programs and
understand the positive and negative outcomes of par- work to maximize those outcomes. The National Rec-
ticipating in leisure and recreation programs. Within reation and Park Association (NRPA) has embraced
such a model, benefits are defined as:
the concept of outcomes focused management starting
in the 1990s with The Benefits Are Endless” cam-
an improved change in a condition. Individuals,
paign. Although NRPA has moved on to other market
communities, as well as biophysical and heritage ing campaigns, the message of these new promotions
resources can all experience these types of bene- is consistent with an outcomes focused management
fits. The gains can be psychological, physiological approach to providing services. Consider the recent
efforts of the Florida Recreation and Park Associa
social, economic, and/or environmental
tion, which began the “It Starts in Parks” initiative to
better position park and recreation in the future and to
maintenance of a desired condition prevention of
bring attention to the important beneficial outcomes
an undesired condition, or reduction of an unde
and services provided by the profession. Through this
sired condition. These benefits include maintaining
campaign the following beneficial outcomes have been
facilities, structures, and spaces, preventing social
associated with recreation programs and facilities (see
ills; and decreasing negative impacts on the natural
environment.
.
Figure 1.6, p. 11).
.
the realization of a satisfying recreation experience.
Benefits one can accrue from participating in sat-
isfying recreation experiences include a reduction
a
in stress, increased physical fitness, and spiritual
renewal. (Driver, 2008, p.4-5)
Achievement: Big achievements in life start with
small successes. Like learning how to be part of
a team. Or figuring out that excellence comes
from a daily commitment of time and hard work,
Florida’s parks give children a chance to learn
those life lessons, to experience success early, and
to dream big, Parks build future leaders by giving
youth the opportunity to lead. Personal achievement.
It starts in parks.
In this regard, outcomes-focused management
has become a major catalyst in helping to dispel a
popular myth: that parks, recreation, and leisure agencies
provide something of value, but only as long as the
So for Mark Remar, and Leare Sesses
playgrounds, and recreation centers. As the movement
progressed the importance of organized program
acknowled. Curtis (1915) wrote the playground
that has no program achieves in 1631. Boden
and Mitchell (1923) suggested that programare
necessary to make playground more interesting and
emer. 2541.me expansion of leisure services
program has been in the growth
development of pile recreation departments. As the
profession matured and diversified, most public recre
agencies across the country adopted a philosophy
that views Insure as an end in itself. In other words,
public recreation drifted away from a social welfare
model with specifie social service goals) and adopted
a model of providing services to all
Beginning in the last half of the twentieth century
we have seen tremendous growth in all sector of
parks, recreation, leisure services, and other aspects
of what is known as the experience industry.” Publie.
private nonprofit, and commercial leisure services orga-
nizations continue to grow at a rapid rate. In addition,
leisure services organizations have dealt with phenom
enal social and economic changes. On one hand, the
demand for leisure experiences has skyrocketed. People
from all walks of life are seeking and demanding leisure
experiences in their lives. At the same time, the environ
meat in which these experiences can be created has
also been changing. For example, both public and
private bonprofit organizations are being asked to be
more financially accountable and do more with less.
Commercial organizations are being asked to be more
ethically responsible (fuelſenergy conscious) in the
programs they offer (e…ccotourism), All organiza
tions are being asked to respond to greater diversity in
potential customer groups.
In examining the wide range of leisure services
organizations that developed over the last 120 years,
Godbey (1997) noted that three factors have shaped
all forms of leisure services: the desire to help people:
an entrepreneurial spirit, and changes in technology
which facilitate or necessitate such intentions.
The Desire to Help People
Whether it be public agencies responding to the play
needs of children by creating playgrounds, private non-
profit organizations developing summer camps to help
children experience the great outdoors, or Thomas Cook
(a commercial tour operator) creating traveler’s checks to
help people feel secure when they travel, leisure services
professionals have always demonstrated a desire to make
people’s lives better. This is a vital element of the servant
leadership philosophy that is even more important today.
Inclure services organizations being
woda wide range of such
big city, health lifestyles,
preparing young people to be condales
An Entrepreneurial Spirit
The entrepreneurial por may be defined
innovative ideas three in quality products or serv
that will benefit the who the product
those who developed it. It also implies creativity,
will take risks and notion Pa
gired this entrepreneurial spirit in the early
reformen who were instrumental in develop
playgrounds, and community centers. He said:
We desperately need an era of civic inventive.
ness to create a renewed set of institutions
and channels for reinvigorating our civic life
that fits the way we have come to live. Our
challenge now is to reinvent the twenty fine
century equivalent of the Boy Scouts or the
Settlement House or the playground…. What
we create may well look nothing like the in
stitutions Progressives invented a century ago
just as their inventions were not carbon cop
ics of the earlier small town folkways whose
passing they mourned. We need to be as
ready to experiment as the Progressives wete.
Willingness to err-and then correct our aim
is the price of success in social reform. (p.401)
Changes in Technology
Successful parks, recreation, and leisure services orga
nizations have always been able to respond to societal
changes that are going on around them as evidenced by
their entrepreneurial spirit. For example, in 1893, Jane
Addams wrote, “the one thing to be dreaded in the settle
ment [house movement is that it lose its flexibility, its
power of quick adaptation, its readiness to change its
methods as its environment may demand.” The envi
ronmental changes we have been experiencing in recent
years include the technology boom. Technology has been
(and is) growing and changing at an astonishing rate, it
has been increasing in usability and accessibility for the
masses, and because of this, it impacts leisure and leisure
programming, Economist Jeremy Rifkin, in his book
The Age of Access (2001), noted that we are headed
for a new economic era where people will shift from a
paradigm of ownership to one of experience. As experi-
ences become more important, implications for leisure
services organizations will become increasingly visible
Chamer Concepts
New York were designed in an empt to regain the
rural countryside in the middle of an urban area and
five people who
e who lived in crowded slum tenements
place to relax and way from it all. Purther
the settlement
he movement used recreations
means to ease the transition of immigrants to living
in large urban American cities (see the Programmer
Profile for an Addams in Chapter Two). Sesoma
and Stevenson have written that
Adult education, recreation, and wcial group
work all have a common beritage. Each is
product of the social welfare reforms that
curred in our cities and industries the tum of
the nineteenth century. Their founders shared
belief they were concerned with the quality of
life and believed that through the proper use
of leisure it could be achieved. (1981,p. 2)
offer unique and excellent services the ghout
programs, recreational therapy.com
wervices and the tal, purchase, and cost
tion of captive equipment (STRIVE, 2007)
STRIVE partners with a wide range of individu
als and organizations to provide leur program for
people with disabilities (see Figure 1). They work
with individuals as part of post-accident rehabilitation
and assist in finding accessible recreation opportuni
ties in a community. STRIVE al works with publie
parks and recreation departments to enhance pro
gramming for people with disabilities as well as with
businesses and community organizations. They offer
in service trainings across the state of Michigan
related to the ADA and working with individuals
with disabilities
Recreation programs have long been the life
blood of leisure services organizations in that programs
are the vehicle professionals use to deliver leisure
benefits to both individuals and society. Programs are
where people and parks, recreation, and leisure ser
vices organizations meet. Recreation programs are
purposeful interventions deliberately designed and
constructed to produce certain behavioral outcomes
les having fun with family and friends, meeting
new people, learning new skills, increasing mess
levels) in an individual and/or group. A key element
to remember is that programs are not ends in them-
selves, rather people and the outcomes they desire) are
the true reasons for the existence of leisure services
organizations. This commitment to people through
leisure can be seen throughout the history of the or
ganized parks, recreation, and leisure movement in the
United States, which dates back to the late 1800s. It is
also the reason we call for a servant leadership approach
to programming
Initially, many aspects of the recreation movement
were focused on providing places for leisure-parks
The Beginnings of Leisure
Programming
Formal recreation organizations emerged during the
late 1800s to address the tremendous social, psycho-
Jogical and general welfare needs that grew out of the
Industrial Revolution Social reformers saw the poten
tial of using play and recreation to improve people’s
quality of life. For instance, the Boston Sand Gardens
(considered to be the first playground) were estab
lished to meet the play needs of disadvantaged children
and give them a safe place to play. Also, many of the
first organized camps were designed for and targeted
a “sickly boys.” Large city parks (eg., Central Park in
Photo courtesy of STRIVE RTS
Figure 1.4 A STRIVE program expanding the oppor-
tunities for people with disabilities.
Cir
6. Pro Recreation and use
experience Individuals altro
in with the tre process in order for
surprinde ou. This does not mean
that partnered to be involved in the planning
of every aspect of every weet, but they should feel
some degree of controls the experience unfolds. For
instance, participants might choose the letter
influence the day, time, or place an activity or
decide to my rules
Positive Affect
The meaning factor that relates to a satisfying leisure
experience is that of positive affect. This refers to enjoy
ment-people who have positive affect are happy, up.
beat, and pleasant. Recreation and leisure experiences
offer inherent affect, and if they are truly recreation and
leisure, result in positive affect for the participants.
5. Armed Forces (although these are componen
of government, they constitute a distinct form
of recreation programming Coast Guard
Morale, Welfare and Recreation. Alt Fonec
Development Center)
6. Campus recreation programs serving college
and university students and staff members
(e… University of California – Davis Campus
Recreation and Intramurals, Bose State
University Outdoor Program)
7. Corporate recreation programs serving company
employees (USAA Insurance Employee
Recreation and Fitness Centers, Yellowstone Co
Op Employee Recreation Program)
8. Therapeutic recreation services for people with
special needs – both in clinical and community
settings (e.g., Inclusion Programs, County of
Maui Recreation and Support Division, Cincinnati
Children’s Hospital Therapeutic Recreation
Division)
Understanding these five factors as they relate to satisfy-
ing leisure experiences is very important if leisure ser
vices programmers are going to design and implement
leisure programs and services to meet the needs and
demands of a variety of people. When leisure profession-
als plan programs to help individuals experience these
ciements, they can facilitate a positive leisure experience
Recreation Programs
Recreation programs are found in all areas of work
and life in the poblic, nonprofit, and commercial
ectors, which include the following types of leisure
Services organizations:
The scope and breadth of recreation programs in
all of these settings continue to expand to meet the
needs and demands of a variety of participants. For
example, it is not uncommon to find senior citizens
demanding high-risk activities like alpine skiing.
adolescents wanting opportunities to travel, blended
families who are looking for bonding opportunities,
and singles flocking to wine tasting travel pro-
grams. The common tie between all these groups
and activities is programming.
In addition to these types of organizations we
have seen a continuous increase in partnerships
between organizations to better meet the needs of par-
ticipants. For instance, across the United States new
programs are appearing as a result of collaboration
between therapeutic recreation services and campus
recreation programs. As an example, consider
STRIVE, a nonprofit organization established 2004
with a mission to:
1. Public or governmental agencies at the federal,
stite, and local levels (e.g., National Park Service,
City of Tucson Parks and Recreation Department,
Mecklenberg County Parks and Recreation
Department)
2. Voluntary nonprofit organizations, both nonsectarian
and sectarian (eg., Jewish Community Center, Boys
& Girls Club of America)
3. Private membership associations (eg., The Dunes
Golf and Country Club, Green Valley Recreation,
Inc.)
4. Commercial, profit-oriented recreation businesses
(eg., Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort, Bar W
Guest Ranch)
Enhanc[e] the quality of life for all our
clients through the provision of world-class,
enjoyable, and accessible recreational oppor-
tunities unlike any other available throughout
Michigan. Through our dedication to profes-
sional development and advocacy for
individuals with disabilities and the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA), we strive to

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