Recreation and Leisure: The Current Scene

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1

• Recreation and Leisure The Current Scene

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Objectives

• Discuss the varied views and perceptions of what
  leisure and recreation are, and what purpose each
  serves.
• Identify primary motives for participation in
  recreation and leisure activity.
• Identify and discuss the dominant social factors
  that are currently influencing the recreation and
  leisure-service professions.
• Articulate the current challenges facing the
  recreation and leisure-service field, including
  the need for a more highly defined professional
  identity.

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Introduction

• Establishing recreation within a cultural context
• Influence of cultural perceptions
• Emerging views of recreation, leisure, and play
• Economic influence
• Recreation and play as a reflection of society
• Recreation in the promotion of health
• Reflection of values and character

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Introduction (contd)

• Roles of recreation and leisure within modern
  society
• Field's conceptual base
• Varied leisure pursuits people engage in
• Social and psychological implications
• Positive and negative outcomes of play
• Network of community organizations
• Development of recreation as professional practice

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Varied Views of Recreation and Leisure

• Diversity in participation
• Broad range of leisure pursuits
• Travel and tourism
• Cultural entertainment
• Hobbies
• Membership in social clubs
• Nature-related activities
• Attendance at parties and/or social events
• Fitness activities

Image courtesy of the Michigan Travel Bureau and
the EPA, Great Lakes National Program Office/U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers.
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Varied Views of Recreation and Leisure (contd)

• Motivations for recreational participation
• Individual needs and interests
• Relaxation and release
• Channel for releasing hostility or aggression
• Community service
• Promotion of health and fitness
• Elite culture
• Exploring new environments
• Self-discovery or personality enrichment
• Religious activity

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Social Factors Promoting the Recreation and Park
Movement

• Social trends
• Increase in discretionary time
• National affluence Growing gap between rich and
  poor
• Commodification of leisure
• Population trends
• Where people live Urbanization and
  Suburbanization
• Influence of technology

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Social Factors Promoting the Recreation and Park
Movement (contd)

• Social trends
• Recreation's contribution to health and fitness
• Environmental concerns
• Therapeutic recreation services
• New leisure roles for girls and women
• Decline of family and community values
• Forms of deterioration

Image courtesy of Bill Johnson/U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers.
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Social Factors Promoting the Recreation and Park
Movement (contd)

• Social Trends
• Growth of organized leisure-service field
• Government agencies
• Voluntary organizations
• Private membership organizations
• Commercial recreation enterprises
• Employee recreation programs
• Armed forces recreation
• Campus recreation
• Therapeutic recreation service
• Sports participation and spectatorship
• Travel, tourism, hospitality management

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Social Factors Promoting the Recreation and Park
Movement (contd)

• Social Trends
• Need for professional leadership
• Emerging professional identity
• Important aspects
• 1. Identification as a specified field of
  service
• 2. Heightened visibility and channels of
  influence
• 3. Higher level of status and acceptance
• Influence of professional specialization

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Challenges Facing the Leisure-Service Field

• Questions to be answered
• How can the recreation movement contribute to the
  public's overall understanding of leisure's role
  in daily life?
• How can public, voluntary, therapeutic and other
  agencies reduce the impact of negative societal
  trends?
• How can recreation integrate cultural
  understanding and acceptance of those with
  disabilities?
• How can organized recreation avoid
  over-commercialization and economic concerns?
• How can the recreation movement reach those less
  fortunate?
• What policies will help protect ecology for the
  future?

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Purposes of this Text

• To provide comprehensive information
• To encourage the development of sound personal
  and professional philosophies
• To develop an understanding of recreation's
  history
• To be aware of recreation's social, economic and
  psychological characteristics in modern society
• To aid in establishing environmental priorities
• To encourage students to establish a balance
  between entrepreneurship and human services