A Career with Meaning - Sagamore Publishing · PDF fileA Career with Meaning Recreation, Parks, Sport Management, Hospitality, and Tourism. Cheryl A. Stevens James F. Murphy. ... Chapter.12

A Career with MeaningRecreation, Parks, Sport Management, Hospitality, and Tourism

Cheryl A. StevensJames F. Murphy

Lawrence R. AllenEmilyn A. Sheffield

©2010 Sagamore Publishing, L.L.C.All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission from the publisher.

Publishers: Joseph J. Bannon/Peter BannonVP of Sales and Marketing: M. Douglas SandersDirector of Development and Production: Susan M. DavisCover and Interior Design: Susan M. Davis

All photos by shutterstock or author collection unless otherwise indicated.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2010932156 ISBN: 978-157167- 526-2 Printed in the United States.

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Sagamore Publishing, L.L.C.www.sagamorepub.com

To Joe Bannon, Sr. ,for his lifetime of dedication to improving the education

of recreation and park professionals

Contents

Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................................vii Preface .......................................................................................................................................................................................ixEditors .......................................................................................................................................................................................xiContributors .......................................................................................................................................................................xiiiChapter.1. Recreation and Leisure in North American Life.................................3

Chapter.2. Understanding Careers in Recreation, Parks, Sport Management, Hospitality, and Tourism................................................27

Chapter.3. Community Recreation and Leisure Services...................................49

Chapter.4. Recreation in Non-Profit Organizations...............................................73

Chapter.5. Morale, Welfare, and Recreation ............................................................. 107

Chapter.6. Outdoor Recreation in Federal, State, and Local Parks............ 131.

Chapter.7. Recreational Therapy and Therapeutic Recreation..................... 173.

Chapter.8. Campus Recreation, Leisure, and Intramurals............................... 195

Chapter.9. Sport Management and Sports Teams................................................. 225

Chapter.10. Special Event Management: Meeting Planning, Conference/Exposition Services, and Entertainment Events..................................................................................... 259

Chapter.11. The Hospitality Industry............................................................................... 285

Chapter.12. Travel and Tourism........................................................................................... 309

Chapter.13. Commercial Recreation and Leisure Businesses.......................... 331

Chapter.14. Preparing for a Career in Recreation.................................................... 361

Chapter.15. Recreation, Parks, Sport Management, Hospitality, and Tourism Careers: Forces Shaping the Future.................................. 385

Index........................................................................................................................................................................... 406.

Acknowledgments

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This complete revision ofKraus’sCareer Perspectives textwould not havebeenpossiblewithoutthecollaborativeeffortsofmanyindividuals.Westartedtheprojectdeterminedtoproduceabookthatwouldintroducestudentstocareersinrecreation,parks,sportsmanagement,hospitality,andtourismbyhelpingthemlinktheirpassions tocareerpossibilities.Likemostmajorprojects, thisonerequiredmoretime,creativity,andcollaborativeeffortthaninitiallyanticipated.

Thanksgofirsttotheeditorialteam:EmilynSheffield,whoignitedmypassionfor theprojectby sharinghercreativevision;LarryAllen,whoprovedadeptatrecruiting qualified authors and getting chapters completed; Jim Murphy, whoprovidednecessary,ongoingmentoring,editorial,andvisionaryguidance.

Second, this book would not be what it is without retired park ranger andcontributingauthorTonySisto’svisionforthepassions,payandperks,preparation,andpossibilitiesmodel,whichhecreatedinhisfirstdraftoftheOutdoorRecreationchapter. It took a practitioner to show us (the academics) how to communicateclearlyandconciselywithourfuturerecreationprofessionals.

Wewerecommittedtoprovidinganeditedbookthatwascurrent,consistentinformat,andalignedwithouraudience’sneeds.Towardthisend,ameetingwasheldatNRPAin2008,duringwhichLarryAllen,BobBarcelona,andDougKennedyprovidedvaluableinputthatshapedthefinalformat.JimMurphycollaboratedwithmetoproducethe“LeisureServiceDeliverySystem:EvolvingStructure”model.Thismodelisimportantbecauseitallowsustoplacerecreation-relatedcareersonacontinuum,whichhonorsanemergingfuturewhereorganizationshaveflexibleboundaries.Inchapter15,Jimgraciouslyshareshisvisionforforcesshapingthefutureofrecreation,parks,sportmanagement,hospitality,andtourism.

SpecialthanksgotoDanDustin,whocameupwiththe“CareerwithMeaning”title concept; Craig Ross, who shared his expertise on career preparation; andRichardWilliams, who allowedme to practicemy editing skills with him.Allof the contributors deserve special recognition for their time and patiencewithmultiplerevisions.Last,butnotleast,A Career with Meaningwouldnotbewhatitiswithoutalloftherecreation,parks,sportmanagement,hospitality,andtourismprofessionalswhotookthetimetoprovideinformationalinterviews,break-outboxmaterial,andquotestomakethebookuseful,informative,andinterestingtoread.Iamgratefultomyfamilyandfriends,especiallyDouglasLamont,whosupportedmethroughoutthisfour-yearproject.

Our hope is that this text will helpmove the recreation-related professionstowardanewstatusamongundergraduatestudents:thatofintendedmajorratherthandiscoverymajor.Toomanyof ourbest alumnididnot discover thismajoruntil theyhadbeenincollegeawhile,changingfrommajor tomajor,searchingfortherightfit.Eventually,someonepointedthemintherightdirection,andthey“discovered”recreation,parks, sportmanagement,hospitality,or tourism.Everydaywehear,“Whydidn’tsomeonetellmesoonerthatIcouldhaveacareerwhereIgetpaidtodothis?”

ManythankstoallwhocontributedtoA Career with Meaning,whichwebelievewillhelpresolvethisproblembyhelpingstudentsmatchtheirpassionstotherightpossibilitiesearlierintheireducationalandcareerplanningprocesses.

—Cheryl Stevens Lead editor and contributing author

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Preface

You are probably interested in this book because you enjoy things like sports, theoutdoors,ortravel,andyouliketheideathatyoucouldhaveacareerdoingsomethingyoulove.Whowouldn’twantajobwheretheygetupeverydaywantingtogotowork?Plus,youprobablyhavequestionslike:WhatkindofajobcouldIget?Howmuchwoulditpay?WhatkindofeducationandexperiencewillIneedtomeetmycareergoals?Perhapsthemostimportantquestionyouhaveis,“WouldIreallyloveitasmuchasIthink?”

Thepurposeof thisbook is to connectyouwith topprofessionals inall aspectsofrecreation,parks,sportmanagement,hospitality,andtourismcareerssotheycanhelpyoufindtheanswersyouneed.Professionalsinrecreation-relatedcareerstendtohavepassionforoneormoreofthefollowing:

• Beingoutdoorsandcaringfortheenvironment• Helpingpeoplehaveahigherqualityoflife• Playinggamesandsports• Creatingexcitingevents• Entrepreneurismandbeingyourownboss

Therearefewthingswecansaythatapplytoallcareersinrecreation,parks,tourism,andleisurebecausetherearesomanydifferentkindsofopportunities.Sincethesecareerscovermanysettings,skillsets,andpopulations,answerswillvaryfrompersontoperson.However,ifyoufindyousome(orall)ofthesequalitiesapplytoyou,keepreading:

• Youthinkrecreationisfunandexciting• Youwanttomakeadifference• Youenjoyworkingwithpeople• Youenjoyachallenge• You’reaproblemsolverandenjoyfindingcreativesolutions• Youlikebeinghands-onandinvolvedintheaction• Sittingatadeskalldaydoesn’tsuityou• Youlikedoingmanydifferentthingsandbeingdifferentplaces• Beingpassionateaboutyourcareerisimportanttoyou• Youareopen-mindedwhenitcomestopeople—theirvariedbackgrounds,likesand

dislikes,andneedsandwants• Youcanthinkonyourfeetwithoutgoingoffthedeepend• Youcanbebothaleaderandateamplayer,dependingonwhatthesituationcallsfor• Youdon’tmindflexibleworkhoursandyou’rewillingworkwhenotherpeoplewant

torecreate,suchasholidaysandvacations•Youbelieveeveryoneinacommunityhastherighttoplayandrecreate• Youliketheideaofhelpingtocreateandimplementsustainable,eco-sensitivesolutions

forcommunitiesandourenvironment

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• You would be thrilled to enter a career in which your knowledge and skills aretransferable acrossmany fields in recreation, parks, sportmanagement, hospitality,andtourism,providingcontinualprospectsforpersonalandprofessionalgrowth

We,theeditorsandcontributingauthors,wouldliketopromiseyouthatawidevarietyofgoodcareeropportunitiesexists—careerswithpayandperkssuchashavingajobyoulove,challengeandpersonalgrowth,highjobsatisfactionandbenefits.Whatittakesisinvestingtimeandefforttodosomeinvestigation.

Preparetoactivelyengageinself-reflectionanddetectiveworksoyoucanfigureoutwhichaspectsofrecreation,parks,sportmanagement,hospitality,andtourismcouldbeforrightyou.Onceyoufigureoutyourspecificinterests,you’llbeabletousethechapteroncareerpreparationtomakeaplantogettheeducationandworkexperiencesyouneedtobuildyouridealcareer.

Asyou read thisbook,youwilldiscoverpossibilitiesyou’veneverdreamedof,orperhaps,ifyou’vethoughtofthemyouwereunsurehowsomeonecouldgetajobdoing“that.”Eachoftheseauthorsispassionateaboutwhattheydo,andifoneoftheircareerareasisrightforyou,theywouldlovetohaveyoujointheirteam!

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Editors

Cheryl A. Stevens, Ph.D.Associate.ProfessorDepartment.of.Recreation.and.Leisure.StudiesEast.Carolina.University.

Dr. Stevens is a committed recreation educatorwho has been facilitating hands-onlearninginrecreationandoutdoorleadershipforover25years.Sheteachesundergraduateandgraduateclassesinleisurephilosophyandrecreationprogramming.Astherecipientoffiveteachingawards,shecontinuouslylooksforwaystoimproveteachingmaterialsandtechniques.InadditiontoservingasleadeditorforA Career with MeaningshehaswrittenabooktitledService Learning for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation: A Step-by-Step Guide andanumberofotherarticlesrelatedtoteachingandlearning.

Inadditiontoherteachingandresearch,Dr.StevenshasservedasamemberoftheCouncil onAccreditation forRecreation, ParkResources andLeisure Services (COA),co-chairoftheSymposiumofExperientialEducationResearch(SEER),boardmemberoftheSocietyofParkandRecreationEducation(SPRE),andeditoroftheResearchUpdatecolumninParksandRecreationMagazine

James F. Murphy, Ph.D.Interim.Associate.DeanCollege.of.Health.and.Human.ServicesSan.Francisco.State.University.

JimMurphyisInterimAssociateDean,CollegeofHealthandHumanServices,SanFranciscoStateUniversity.Dr.MurphyreceivedhisB.A.inRecreationfromSanFranciscoStateUniversity (1966),M.S.withHonors inRecreationandParkAdministrationfromIndianaUniversity(1967),andPh.D.fromOregonStateUniversity(1972).

Jim has authored, co-authored, edited and co-edited seven textbooks includingConcepts of Leisure, Leisure Service Delivery System, Recreation and Leisure Service for the Disadvantaged,andLeisure Systems.Hehaswrittenmanyprofessionalandjuriedarticlesandconductednumerousworkshopsandmademanypresentationsatstate,regional,nationalandinternationalconferences.HeservedatotalofsixyearsontheSPREBoardofDirectors,includingonetermasPresident.HewasPresidentoftheAcademyofLeisureSciences(2008-09)aswellasaCharterFellowoftheAcademyofLeisureSciences(1980).In2008Dr.MurphyreceivedtheDistinguishedColleagueAwardoftheSocietyofParkandRecreationEducators,NRPA.

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Lawrence R. Allen, Ph.D.DeanCollege.of.Health.,.Education,.and.Human.DevelopmentClemson.University

In May, 2003, Dr. Lawrence R. Allen became Dean of the College of Health,Education,andHumanDevelopmentatClemsonUniversity.FromAugust,2001toMay,2003heservedasInterimDean.HereceivedhisPh.D.fromtheUniversityofMarylandinrecreationwithaspecialtyareaincounselingandhisundergraduatedegreeineducationfromWestChesterUniversityofPennsylvania.

Dr.Allenhasbeenveryactiveprofessionallyforthepast34yearswithmembershipsinseveralprofessionalorganizations.In1987,hewaselectedtotheAcademyofLeisureSciences,andin1995,heservedasthePresidentoftheAcademy.In1996,hewaselectedtotheAmericanAcademyofParkandRecreationAdministration.Hehasaverystrongcommitment to professional practice in leisure and tourism services and has served onvariousboardsofdirectors,andstateandnationalcommittees.

Dr.Allenhaswrittenextensivelywithhisprimaryinterestfocusingontheimpactofrecreationandotheroutofschoolexperiencesonindividualandcommunitywell-being.AlongwithcolleaguesatClemsonUniversity,hehasauthoredseveralarticlesandmanualsrevolving around the development and implementation of an outcome based model(BenefitsBasedProgramming)ofyouthprogramdeliverythatenhancestheyouth’sabilitytoovercomeandcopewiththestressandpressurestheyfaceintoday’ssocialenvironment.HehasbeeninstrumentalinthedevelopmentofaMaster’sdegreeinYouthDevelopmentLeadershipatClemsonUniversityandheisveryinterestedintheintegrationoffree-choicelearningexperienceswiththemoretraditionaleducationalsystemsemployedwithintheUnitedStatesandthroughouttheworld.

Emilyn A. Sheffield, Ph.D.ProfessorDepartment.of.Recreation.and.Parks.ManagementCalifornia.State.University,.Chico

Emilyn Sheffield loves every aspect of parks and recreation! She has workedin and taught about tourism, community recreation, fitness, special events, andconference planning in California, Texas, and Missouri. Working with industrysponsors, she develops service learning field schools around themes of nationalparks, community based stewardship, hospitality, and conference management.Dr.Sheffield’sinterdisciplinaryteamoffaculty,students,andfield-basedprofessionalscompletedestinationprojectsfortrails,heritagetourism,andscenicbyways.TheNationalParkService,theUSDAForestService,theBureauofLandManagement,theU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers, theU.S.FishandWildlifeServiceare recentproject sponsorsandpartners.SheservesontheexecutiveboardsoftheAssociationofPartnersforPublicLandsandtheCaliforniaRoundtableonRecreation,Parks,andTourism.

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Contributors

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Dr. Robert Barcelona is an assistant professor in theYouthDevelopment LeadershipProgramandtheDepartmentofParks,Recreation,andTourismManagementatClemsonUniversity. Dr.BarcelonareceivedhisdoctoratefromIndianaUniversityafterworkingprofessionally in the field of athletics and campus recreation. He has worked withnumerous recreation and sport organizations in both programming and research effortsand is amember of the Society of Park andRecreation Educators’ board of directors.Dr. Barcelona haswon teaching excellence awards at both IndianaUniversity and theUniversity ofNewHampshire, and he received a special citation award from theNewHampshireRecreationandParksAssociationforhisworkwithyouthsportsandcoachingeducation.Hisresearchonsportandrecreationmanagementhasbeenpublishedinrefereedjournals, trade magazines, and textbooks. Dr. Barcelona is also the co-author of thetextbook,Leisure Services Management.

Polly Crabtreehasdirected,orprovidedassistancewith,hundredsofeventsforCaliforniaStateUniversity,ChicoinherroleasassociatedirectorfortheOfficeofAlumniandParentRelations.These events have run the gamut from small, intimate affairs, to events formorethan1,000attendees.Crabtreestartedherpost-collegecareerwith17yearsofretailmanagement,whichprovidedagoodtraininggroundforthefast-pacedandchaoticlifestyleofaneventplanner.Hercurrentpositionprovidesherthecapabilityanduniqueresourcestotrainuniversitystudentswhoareinterestedinbecomingeventplanningprofessionals.

Dr. Yao-Yi Fu isanassociateprofessoroftheDepartmentofTourism,Conventions,andEventManagement at IndianaUniversity-PurdueUniversity-Indianapolis. She receivedherPh.D.fromthePennsylvaniaStateUniversityinHotel,Restaurant,andInstitutionalManagement.PriortohercurrentappointmentwithIUPUI,shetaughtcoursesinresortandlodgingmanagementandhospitalitymanagementatall levelsat thePennsylvaniaStateUniversityandatCaliforniaStateUniversity,Chico.Shehasworkexperienceinhotelandrestaurantbusinesses,specialeventsplanning,andthemeparkplanning.Herteachingandresearchinterestsincludeservicefailureandservicerecoveryinthetourismandhospitalityindustry,measurementofcustomersatisfactionandservicequality,tourists’traveldecision-making,touristbehavior,andtourismdestinationdevelopmentandmarketing.

Dr. Morgan GeddieisaprofessorofResortandLodgingManagementintheDepartmentof Parks andRecreationManagement at California StateUniversity, Chico. ProfessorGeddiereceivedhisdoctoratefromOklahomaStateUniversityinoccupationalandadulteducationwith an emphasis inHumanResourcesDevelopment. He also has anMBAwithanemphasis inmarketing from theUniversityofCentralOklahomaandaB.S. inHotelandRestaurantManagementfromOklahomaStateUniversity.BeforejoiningthefacultyatChicoState,hetaughtattheUniversityofHouston,OklahomaStateUniversity,EasternIllinoisUniversity,andArkansasTechUniversity. HealsohasseveralyearsofhotelexperienceintheNewYorkCity,NewYorkandCharlotte,NorthCarolinamarkets.

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ProfessorGeddiespecializesintheareasoflodgingandcruiselinemanagement.Hehaspublished inmany journals and trademagazinesaswell asbeinga featured speaker atseveralconferences.

Jim Greiner, founder and president of Wildwater Ltd. Rafting and Starfish ExumaAdventureintheBahamas,ispassionateandcommittedtooutdooradventures.Inadditiontohisentrepreneurialventures,Greinerhasover30yearsofexperienceinthreecitiesasaparks and recreationdirector, andhehasbeenhonoredwithnumerous awards in thefieldsofmunicipalparksandrecreation,tourism,andecotourism.HiswroteThe Middle Atlantic Region Campers Guidebook and has been involved in leadership roleswith avarietyofoutdoorrecreationandadventureorganizationssuchastheVirginiaRecreation&ParksAssociation,EasternProfessionalRiverOutfittersAssociation,AmericaOutdoorsAssociation (25years), andCommercialRecreation andLeisureBusinesses.Receivinghis bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation management from North Carolina StateUniversity,andamaster’sinleisureservicesmanagementfromFloridaStateUniversity,Greiner’sreal-worldexperienceandacademicbackgroundprovideauniqueperspective.

Doug Kennedy isaprofessorandcoordinatoroftheDepartmentofRecreationandLeisureStudiesatVirginiaWesleyanCollege.HealsoservesastheassociatedeanforCampusRecreation and oversees aquatics, fitness, recreational sports, and outdoor activities.PriortohisarrivalatVirginiaWesleyanCollege,hegainedexperienceinenvironmentalresources,employeeandcampusrecreation,fitness,andmilitaryrecreationwhileemployedinthepublicandprivatesectors.HehasearneddegreesfromtheUniversityofDelaware,SouthernIllinoisUniversity,andTempleUniversity.HehasalsoservedasthepresidentoftheVirginiaRecreationandParkSocietyandchairoftheCouncilonAccreditation.Asathree-timerecipientoftheSamuelNelsonGrayDistinguishedTeachingAward,VirginiaRecreationandParkSociety’sFellowsAward,andYMCA’sServicetoYouthAward,Dr.Kennedyhasmadeover100presentationsatprofessionaleventsand leddelegations toUzbekistantoassistwithrecreationplanninganddemocracyeducation.

Dr. Craig M. Ross isprofessorintheDepartmentofRecreation,Park,andTourismStudiesatIndianaUniversityandspecializesinsportmanagement.Hehaswritten74professionalarticles,fivebooks,threebookchapters,28technicalreportsandhasdelivered44teachingpresentations,47guestlectures,andover64state,national,andinternationalpresentations.Dr.Ross has received the prestigious IndianaUniversity FACETAward for exemplaryteaching, the President’sAward for Excellence in Teaching at the Indiana University,theExcellence inTeachingAward from theNationalRecreation andParkAssociation-SocietyofParkandRecreationEducators,theIUHPEROutstandingTeacherAward,theIUSchoolofContinuingStudiesOutstandingTeacherAward, theIUBoardofTrusteesTeachingAwardin2004and2005,andtheTeachingExcellenceRecognitionAwardfromtheIUBoardofTrusteesAwardin1997,1998,and2000.

Dr. Vinod Sasidharanservesasvice-presidentoftheGreatWesternTravelandTourismResearch Association. He has also served on the Destination Marketing AssociationInternationalStudentandEducatorAdvisoryCouncil.Hewasaninvitedmemberofthe

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InternationalAdvisoryCommitteefortheWorldLeisureConsensusProject.Currently,heisanassociateprofessorintheSchoolofHospitalityandTourismManagementatSanDiegoStateUniversity.Hisresearchhas includedtheevaluationandimplementationofgrass-rootstourisminitiatives,involvinglocalcommunityparticipationinplanninganddecisionmakingforsustainabletourismdevelopmentintheDominicanRepublic,Finland,Jamaica,Romania, Tanzania, and Turkey. His research specialty is in the area of sustainabilityassessmentandcorporatesocialresponsibilityevaluationintourism.Heholdsamaster’sdegreeinTourismPolicyandManagementfromtheUniversityofBirmingham,UK,andadoctorateinLeisureStudiesfromthePennsylvaniaStateUniversity.

Dr. Paige Schneider isanassistantprofessorintheDepartmentofRecreationandLeisureStudiesatEastCarolinaUniversity.SheisalsoanaffiliatefacultywithECU’sCenterforSustainableTourism.Herprimaryinterestisconsumerbehaviorandtourism,specificallyadventureandecotourism.Shehasover12yearsoftravelindustrymanagementexperience,whichoffershervaluable insightandanunderstandingof the importanceof translatingresearch into practical application for the tourism industry. Schneider hasworkedwithorganizationssuchastheAdventureTravelTradeAssociation(ATTA),SustainableTravelInternational(STI),andConservationInternationalconductingresearchofboththesupplyside(providersoftourismgoodsandservices)anddemandside(consumers/travelers)ofthetourismindustry.Asalong-timeparticipantandadvocateofadventureandecotourism,she believes these types of travel experiences promote cultural understanding, fulfillpersonaldreams,andencourageenvironmentalsustainability.

Dr. Kindal A. ShoresisanassociateprofessoratEastCarolinaUniversityintheDepartmentofRecreationandLeisureStudieswhereshealsoservesasthedirectoroftheRecreationand Park Administration and Recreational TherapyAdministration Master of Sciencedegreeprograms.Dr.Shoresdrawsonher researchexperience inbothexercisescienceandleisurestudiestoinvestigatethecontributionofcommunityparksandrecreationforhealthy,activeliving.Shehasworkedonfundedresearchprojectslinkingparksandhealthfor theRobertWoodJohnsonFoundation, theAssociation forPreventionandTeachingResearch,BeActiveNorthCarolina,theBeActiveAppalachianPartnership,theCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention,andnumerouscountycommissioners.Dr.Shoresisanassociateeditorfor theacademicjournal,Journal of Leisure Research,andhasbeenrecognizedwithmultipleuniversityawardsforteachingandscholarship.

Tony Sisto is a retired park rangerwith over 32years of experience in theNationalParkService. He stays involvedwith park issues in his volunteerworkwith theU.S.AssociationofNationalParkRangers(www.anpr.org)andwiththeInternationalRangerFederation(www.int-ranger.net).Whennottravelingtoworld-protectedareas,helivesinCalifornia.

Dr. Asuncion SurenisanassistantprofessorintheDepartmentofRecreation,Parks,andTourismatSanFranciscoStateUniversity.Shealsodirectsthecampus-wideYouthandHumanServicesNonprofitCertificateprogram.Inthesecapacities,sheteachesmultiplecoursesonrecreationand leisure,andnonprofitadministration. Inaddition toheryears

inhighereducation,Asuncionisconsideredamultifacetedprofessionalwith15yearsofrecreationandconsultingexperiencecombined.Shehasfacilitatednumerouscommunityserviceneedsintheareasofassessmentplanning,programdevelopment,andevaluation.SheattributesgainingthesetransferableskillswhileworkinginArmedForcesRecreation.Asuncionhasservedasadirectorandprogramdirectorforcommunityrecreationcentersbothstatesideandabroad.ShedirectedtheYouthServicesCenterforEdwardsAirForceBaseintheMojaveDesertandthe2-2-0RecreationCenterinKorea.

Dr. Clifton E. Watts, Jr. is an assistant professor in theDepartment ofRecreation andLeisureStudiesatEastCarolinaUniversity.Dr.Watts’sresearchandscholarlyinterestsaredirectedto:(1)evaluatinghowandtowhatextentcommunitiesenactcollaborative,interdisciplinaryapproachestoaddresstheneedsofyouth;(2)understandingwhatcontextsandtransactionsarelinkedtopositiveyouthdevelopment;and(3)examininghowparksand open spaces promote healthy behavior and environmental awareness in youth.Hehasanextensivebackgroundasanevaluator;assistingwiththedesignandexecutionofstudiesforarangeofpreventionandinterventionprogramsaimedathigh-riskyouth.Hehasworkedwith community-basedprograms emanating frommunicipal recreation andparkdepartments,schools,hospitals,criminaljustice,andothergrassrootsagencies.HeisamemberoftheNationalRecreationandParkAssociation,andalsoservesasanassociateeditorfortheacademicjournal,Leisure Sciences.

Dr. Richard Williams is an associate professor in the Department of Recreation andLeisureStudies atEastCarolinaUniversity inGreenville,NC.He teachesprimarily intheRecreationalTherapycurriculumbutalsoteachesleisuretheoryandphilosophyandresearchmethodscourses.Hisresearchinterestsarevariedbutarecurrentlyfocusedontheinvestigationofeffectivenessofrecreationaltherapyservicesforpeoplewithspinalcordinjuries,stroke,andotherdisabilities.

Dr. Jo An M. Zimmermann,CPRP,hasaBSinRecreationandParkAdministrationfromWestern IllinoisUniversity, anMBA fromOlivetNazareneUniversity, and a Ph.D. inParks,RecreationandTourismManagement fromClemsonUniversity.She iscurrentlyan assistant professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance at TexasStateUniversity–SanMarcos.Her professional experience includes recreation programdevelopment/managementandtraininganddevelopingtrainingmaterialswhileworkingfor and consulting with recreation agencies in both the Non-Profit and Communitysectors.Dr.ZimmermannisaCertifiedParkandRecreationProfessional,wasnamedtheAlHattendorfProfessionaloftheYearbytheIllinoisParkandRecreationAssociationin1999andreceivedaSpecialRecognitionAwardfromtheAmericanCampAssociationin2002.Dr.Zimmermannhastraveledextensively,allowinghertoinvestigatemanydifferentapproachestothedeliveryofrecreationservicesandprograms.

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Recreation improves awareness, deepens understanding, stimulates appreciation, develops one’s powers, and enlarges the sources of enjoyment. It promotes individual fulfillment. It encourages self-discovery. It helps give meaning to life.

“

”—David E. Gray, 1972

”

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Recreation and Leisurein North American Life

Cheryl A. StevensEast Carolina University

Focus Questions

Q: I understand why this book covers careers in recreation, parks, sport management, hospitality, and tourism, but why is leisure important?

A: Ifyouthinkofleisureasbeinglazyoridletime,itwon’tseemimportant,butwhenyouconsiderthatleisureexperiencesarewherepeoplecanfeelfree,present,andintegrated,youstarttounderstandhowitisintegraltoqualityoflife.

Q: I heard someone say that recreation is associated with humanism. What does that mean?

A: Humanism, as a school of thought, attaches great importance to human dignity,concerns, and abilities. Social and environmental justice issues and services forimportant,andsometimesunderserved,populationssuchasyouth,elderly,andpeoplewhoareeconomicallydisadvantagedcontinuetobeoftheutmostimportance.Also,since many North Americans are stressed because they feel rushed and harried,recreationandleisurehavethepotentialtogreatlyenhancequalityoflifeforall.

Q: What motivates a person to enter a recreation-related profession?

A: Recreation-relatedprofessionsprovideagreatopportunity toalignyour life’sworkwithsomethingyoutrulyenjoy.Individualswhoareattractedtocareersinrecreation,parks,sportmanagement,hospitality,andtourismalllovesomeaspectofrecreationactivitiesthemselves,andtheyalsohaveastrongcommitmenttohelpingothers,theoutdoors,play,and/orentrepreneurism.

4 RecreationandLeisureinNorthAmericanLife

Q: Why do people invest significant amounts of time and money in recreation and leisure experiences?

A: Scientificstudieshavedocumentednumeroustangible, importantbenefits to leisureexperiences,includingthingslike:stressmanagement,improvedphysicalandmentalhealth, personal growth, spirituality, reduced crime and social alienation, economicgrowth, and environmental stewardship. Perhaps evenmore importantly, recreationandleisureexperiencesaddtoqualityoflifeandlifesatisfaction.

Key Terms

LeisureTimefreefromworkFreedomfromFreedomtoStateofmindRecreationalactivityPublicrecreationRecreationPublicparkHospitality

Inspirational Experiences

Storiesareagreatwaytobegintoconnectwithreasonswhypeoplearesopassionateaboutrecreation,parks,sportsmanagement,hospitality,andtourismexperiences:

A Senior Leisure Experience:IcurrentlyliveinanursinghomebecauseIhadaseverestrokeaboutayearago.IcanhonestlysaytheonlyreasonIhavenotgoneintoaseveredepressionisourleisureencountergroup.Therecreationaltherapistsare great and they keepme busy. It’s helpedmemake new friends, testedmyendurance,andit’ssomethingIcanlookforwardtoeveryday. —Female, African American, Age 72

What’s Great About Being a Camp Counselor:CampwasalotmorethanIexpectedbecauseIlearnedsomuchaboutmyself.Ilearnedtotakeleadershipforagroupofteensandnotbeafraidofthemandwhattheythinkofme.Igotthechancetomakeconnectionswithpeoplefromdifferentcountriesandfromallwalksoflife.Igottoseethecampersovercometheirgreatestfearsandthatputasmileonmyface.Somewereafraidofhorses,othersdidn’tknowhow toswim,andsomedidn’twant to tryanewactivity. I learned togentlypush themto their limitswithoutmakingthempushbackinthewrongway.SomemorningsIdidn’twanttogetup,butIdid.Thatsaysalotaboutcamplifeandthepositivestateofmindyoudevelopwhileinthecompanyofyourcampfamily. —Female, Caucasian, 4-H Camp Counselor, Age 22

Enjoy Work and It Becomes Leisure:Ilovecomputers.Ihaveadegreeincomputerengineering,andIreally lovespendinghours infrontof thecomputerscreen.IaskedmysisterifIcouldputacomputerinsidehercomputer.ShehadnocluewhatIwastalkingabout,butsheletmedoit.Ittookmehours—uploading,downloading

TourismPlayHumanismRecreation-RelatedProfessionDirectserviceInclusiveserviceSo-importantsBenefitsPurpleRecreation

ACareerwithMeaning 5

differentfilesandapplications—butIhadablast.WhenIfinished,Ipresentedittoherwithasmileonmyface,andthenIshowedherhowtoworkhertwocomputersinone. —Male, African American, Age 27

Competitive Sports:Iplayedwomen’scompetitivesoftballforfouryears.Ihavesomanygreatmemoriesfromthegames.Nothingcomparestosharingtimewithfriends and others with a common interest; we laughed all the time. I’m verycompetitive,sothataspectofthegamegavemebothareleaseandachancetoshowmyskills.Thetougherthegame,thebetterIlikedit.Itwassuchanadrenalinerush.OnethingIreallymissnowisthefitness—Icouldrun,hit,throw,andexerciseinawaythatfeltmorelikefunthanwork. —Female, Caucasian, Age 50

Framing the Discussion

These personal stories illustrate benefits that recreation and leisure experienceshave for individualsand theprofessionals thatprovide them.An important first step inunderstandingthecareeroptionscoveredinthisbookiscarefullyconsideringthemeaningbehindsomeofthetermsusedintheprofession,includingleisure,play,andhumanism.It’salsoimportanttounderstandwhatwemeanbyeachofthewordsinthebook’ssubtitle,“Recreation,Parks,SportManagement,Hospitality,andTourism.”Leisureisthebroadestterm,sowe’llstartthere.

What Do You Mean by Leisure?

Don’tbetoohastyindismissingleisureasunimportant.Thewordleisurecangetabadrapwhenitisequatedwithbeinglazyoridletimethatisleftoverwheneverythingimportantgetsfinished.However,themeaningofthewordleisureisrichandcomplex,andyoushouldbecomefamiliarwiththesedeepermeaningsinordertounderstandwhat’smeantby“leisureservices.”

AlisonLink,LeisureEducationConsultanttellsusthat:“Leisurehasmanydifferentdefinitions—someinvolvingtime,somerelatingtoanactivitybeingdone,somerelatingtostateofmind.Personally,IammostatleisurewhenIfeelfree,present,andintegrated.Ilikethisdefinitionformyself,becauseitallowsmetoexperienceleisureatanymoment,eveninjustafewminutes”(citedinAlboher,2008).

Leisure and Freedom

Leisurehasbeenassociatedwithtime free from worksinceAncientGreece,whenthebestlifewasseenasonewheremalecitizenswhodidn’thavetolaborhadtimetopursuetruthand self-understanding (Dare,Welton,&Coe,1998).TheGreekscalled this timeschole—note its close associationwith “school”—because learning for theGreekswasconsideredtobeapartofthebestlifeandaprivilege.SinceGreeksthathadschole didnothavetowork(inthesenseofphysicallabor),theywereabletoenjoylearningandthinkingfreelyaboutinterestingquestionssuchas“Howshouldwebestlive?”

Today,however,wetendtoassociateschoolwithwork,oratleastearningourwayto a better paying job. In part, this shift in viewpoints happenedwhen themeaning ofleisure shifted during Roman times to one that viewedwork and leisure as opposites.WhileAncientRomedidspreadmanyoftheclassicalidealsinknowledge,arts,musicandliteratureacrosstheEuropeancontinent,themajorityofRomanauthorsviewedleisureas


otium,whichtranslatesasrestandrecreation(Neulinger,1974).Thisimpliedthatleisurewasatimeofnon-activitythatwasusefulforrecovering/restoringforwork.Leisurewasalsoviewedasawell-earnedrestandrewardforalifetimeofhardwork(negotium).

This work-leisure dichotomy is how modern leisure is viewed today; that is, thatworkandleisureareoppositeconcepts.TheRomansbelievedapersonneededtoearnhisrighttorestandrelaxationbyfirstworkinghard.Today,peoplethinkaboutleisureonlycasually,andcontinuetoviewleisureandworkasopposites,becausethemostcommonlyunderstooddefinitionofleisureistimefreefromwork.However,it’simportanttoconsidermorecomplexunderstandingsofleisureinordertounderstandthevalueofleisureservices.

Bregha (1982) expands our understanding of the connection between leisure andfreedomwhenheurgesustoconsiderthatleisurecanbeboth“freedomfrom”and“freedom“to.”“Freedom from” isassociatedwithtimeseenasfreefromconstraint,oppression,ormanipulation.Forexample,ifapersonviewshisorherjobascontrollingoftimeandchoice,heorshewillnothavealeisureexperiencewhileworking.However,ifapersonhasahigh-autonomyjobandfeelsheorsheisincontrolof,andenjoying,work(whichcanbecreativeandmeaningful),thenheorshemayexperienceleisureandmeaningduringatleastsomeofthework.

JoePavelka(2000),authorofIt’s Not About Time: Rediscovering Leisure in a Changing World,notes that somepeoplegetmoremeaningandsatisfaction from theirwork thanfromtheirnon-worktime.AnnHochschild,authorofThe Time Bind,explains:“today’smanagershavesuccessfullyengineered theworkplace to serveas surrogate family,andwhileworkerswill state theyvalue familymore thanwork, theyoften findworkmorepersonallygratifyingthanhome”(citedinBillitteri,2005).Bearinmindthatmanypeoplefaceconstraintsimposedbymanyouterandinnerforcesotherthanwork.Forexample,apersonmaymakechoicesthatresultinaprisonterm;achildisrequiredtobeinschool;apersonmayfeelguiltyifheisnotdoingsomethingsocietythinksofasproductive;apersonwhoisunemployedmayfeelheorshehasnorighttoenjoytimenotworkingbecauseheorshehasnotearnedthatright.Insum,aperson’sperceptionof“freedomfrom”constraints,whichisnecessaryforleisure,ismuchmorecomplicatedthanjustbeingoffofwork.

Why Do We Stay So Busy?

Americans’ training for a perpetual sense of obligation and productivity starts early, and it doesn’t just affect older adults with mortgages. Consider this narrative written by a soon-to-be college graduate who reflected on leisure, productivity and guilt:

“Work and school consumed so much of my life for many years, so even walking my dog has been done more for exercise than as a leisure activity. When I moved to Florida recently, I bought an annual pass to Disney World, and I have been three times. One Saturday, my boyfriend and I spent the day at Blizzard Beach studying, and then we walked around Magic Kingdom afterwards. I have to admit that I get a sense of guilt when I engage in an activity merely for pleasure, so being productive on my trip to Disney World by doing some homework seemed like the perfect way to spend my time.”

—(H. Chapman, personal communication, June 8. 2009)


Fromadifferentperspective,thinkingaboutleisureas“freedom to” bringsusclosertothedeepermeaningofleisurethatwasimpliedinAncientGreece;thatis,freedomtoengageinsomethingmeaningful,significantandauthentictoself.Dareetal.(1998)statethat,

Tolivelifetoitsfullestistolivecreativelyandtounderstandthefreedomwhichunderlies human existence. To understand and accept this freedom is to beauthentic.Tolivemeaningfulliveswemustunderstandwhoweare—thatis,wemusthavereflectedonourlivesandourprojects(p.243).

Finding meaning in one’s life is central to satisfaction. Victor Frankl (2006),concentrationcampsurvivorandauthorofthebookMan’s Search for Meaning,concludedthat“Lifeisnotprimarilyaquestforpleasure…butaquestformeaning.Thegreatesttaskforanypersonistofindmeaningishisorherlife”(p.x).Andleisurecanbethecontextinwhichpeopleconnectwithwhateverismeaningfultothem.AsPavelka(2000)notes,“leisureisnotsomuchabouttimeasitisthepersonalmeaningoftime”(p.30).

Breghacautionsustorealizethatembracingleisureas“freedomto”canbeourgreatestopportunityaswellasourgreatestchallenge,becauseitrequirestheself-knowledgeandwisdomtoknowwhatwetrulywant.Inordertoembracefreedom,wemustbewillingto consciously choose goals thatwill bring long-termhappiness and affirmour uniquecharacter.Thisisnotalwayseasyinaworldwheremostofusfeelourdiscretionarytimeisscarceandsubjecttorestrictions.Mostpeoplefeeltheyareunderalotoftimestress.

Insum,youmightbetemptedtothinkthatleisureisn’treallyveryimportantinoursociety,butthisisonlytrueifyoucontinuetoequateleisurewithlazinessoridletime.Asyoucontinuetolearnmoreaboutleisure,Iurgeyourememberhowleisureas“freedomto”isassociatedwithqualityoflife.Meaningfulleisurehasthepotentialtoimproveanyone’squalityoflifebecausewearehumanbeings,nothumandoings.AlisonLinkhintsattheimportanceof leisureinone’squalityof lifewhenshetellsherclients,“Leisurecanbeexperiencedeveryday,evenifweonlyhavefiveminutes.Evensmallamountscanturn‘surviving’into‘living.’”JohndeGraaf(n.d.)drivesthispointhomewhenhestatesthatthewell-beingofpeopleinNorthAmericaislinkedtofarmorethanGrossDomesticProduct,andwewoulddowelltoask,“What’stheeconomyfor,anyway?”Thislineofquestioningcanurgepolicymakerstoconsidertheimportanceandvalueofhealth,equality,savings,andsustainability.Thus,one’sattitudetowardleisurecanmakeatremendousdifferenceinqualityoflife,andthisisgoodnews,becausepersonalattitudeissomethingeachpersoncancontrol.

Leisure as a State of MindThe leisureasa state of mindperspectiveprovidesausefulway tomovepastour

tendencytoviewleisureandworkasopposites,forifapersonisenjoyingmeaningfulwork,itisleisureforthem.AlisonLinkdescribeshowleisurecanbeviewedsubjectivelyasastateofmind,whenshesays,“Leisurecanhappenwhenweareinvarious[mental]states:artisticorcreative,physical,intellectual,social,spiritual,learningnewthings,volunteering,active,passive,orasaspectatororparticipant.Onecanbeemotionallyconnectedandengagedornot.Andwecanevenhaveleisureatworkandbemoreproductive,healthy,andcreative”(citedbyAlboher,2008).Theessenceofthe“leisureasastateofmind”viewisthatleisureisaspecialattitude;infact,timeandactivityareirrelevant,becauseitispersonalfeelingsthatmatter(Russell,2009).Therefore,ifapersonperceivesherexperienceasleisure,thenitisleisureforher.Viewingleisureasastateofmindisappealingbecauseitgivesvaluetotheindividual’ssubjectivefeelingsaboutanexperience.Ifyourstateofmindtellsyouthat“ThisexperienceismeaningfulandIchoosetodoitbecauseithasvaluetome,”noonecandisagree,becauseleisuredependsonyourperspective.


LEISURE

Time free from work

Freedom from(any sense of obligation)

Freedom to(engage in personally

meaningful experience)

State of mind(values the

individual’s perspective)

Leisure as recreationalactivity

Leisure as Recreational ActivityAthirdviewisthatleisureisarecreational activitythatpeoplechoosebecausethey

expect to enjoy it. Leisure activities may provide personal benefit, reduce stress, andrestorepeaceofmind.Recreationalleisureactivitiescanbevirtuallyanything—goingforadrive,playingcardsorcomputergames,cooking,orbirdwatching.Peoplechoosedifferentactivitiesforvariousreasons,and“expectingtohavefun”isjustone.Otherreasonsmayinvolvesocializingorobligation.Forexample,wemaygotoamoviebecauseourfriendsorfamilyaskusto(i.e.,socialreasons),orsometimeswegotoa“fun”eventbecauseit’sexpectedofus,suchasyourbossinvitingyoutoaChristmasparty(i.e.,roleobligations).Inreality,manypeoplehavemultiplereasonsforchoosingaparticularactivity.Forexample,a trip to thegymmaybemotivatedbymanyreasons,suchas thedesire to loseweightandreducestress,meetingupwithafriend,andtheintrinsicjoyofmovingandfeelingpowerful.

Themainadvantagetoviewingleisureasactivityisthatresearcherscancountitbyasking people to record activities time diaries.Thisway, they can find out howmuchleisuretimepeoplehaveandwhatactivitiestheyprefer.Timediariesareuseful,buttheyarelessthanperfect.Theprimarydownsidetoviewingleisureasrecreationalactivityisthatpeoplehavedifferentperspectivesonthesameactivity.Forexample,somepeoplefindrunningenjoyableandmeaningful,andforothers, it’swork.The leisureasrecreationalactivityviewalsoexcludesnon-activeleisureexperienceswemaychooseforrelaxationsuchastakingnapordaydreaming.

Leisure’s Multiple Dimensions

Recreation

TheNationalRecreationandParkAssociationdefinespublic recreationasactivitiesthattakeplaceatapublicparkorfacility,suchassports,physicalactivities,experiencesinnatureorexposuretoartsandculture,amongotherthings.Recreationalactivitiescanbepassiveor active andcanbe engagedbyvisitorson theirown timeor theymaybeorganized/conductedbyemployeesofarecreationagencyorbusiness.DeGraff,Jordan,andDeGraff(1999)informusthatrecreation canbeviewedasanyactivityapersonfreelychoosesthathasthepotentialforachievingsomedesirableoutcome.DeGraffetal.definerecreationas“anactivitythattakesplaceduringone’sfreetime,isenjoyable,freelychosen,


andbenefitstheindividualemotionally,socially,physically,cognitively,andspiritually”(p.3).Thus,whilerecreationandleisureareoftenusedinterchangeably,recreationismoreeasilylinkedtomeasurablebenefitsbecauseitinvolvespeopleengaginginactivitieswithspecificgoals,oroutcomes,inmind.Wewilldiscussthebenefitsofrecreationalactivitieslateroninthischapter.

Parks

TheNationalRecreationandParkAssociationtellsusthatapublic parkisanyarea,or portions of areas, that are dedicated by any federal, state, or local agency primarilyfor public recreational use. Therefore, parks include: boardwalks, green spaces, andplaygroundsclosetopeople’shomeswheretheyvisitonadailybasis;metropolitanandstateparksneartourbanareaswherepeoplecangoforweekendvisits;andtheyincludelargetractsoflandsuchastheNationalParksthathavebeenreservedforall.Parksareveryimportanttoqualityoflifeevenwhenwearenotvisitingthemonadailybasisbecausewelikeknowingtheparkisthereforourenjoyment,aswellasthepotentialenjoymentoffuturegenerations.Thereissomethingaboutbeingoutdoorsthatbringspeaceofmindandconnectsuswithoursenseofplaceintheuniverse.AsauthorRachelCarsonnoted,“Thosewhocontemplatethebeautyoftheearthfindreservesofstrengththatwillendureaslongaslifelasts.”

Sport Management

According to Dr. Robert Barcelona, Clemson University, sport management is atermthatisincrediblywideinscope,anditreferstoanyoneofanumberofprofessional

Something will have gone out of us as a people if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed; if we permit the last virgin forests to be turned into comic books and plastic cigarette cases; if we drive the few remaining members of the wild species into zoos or to extinction; if we pollute the last clean air and dirty the last clean streams and push our paved roads through the last of the silence, so that never again will Americans be free from noise, the exhausts, the stinks of human and automotive waste. And so that never again can we have the chance to see ourselves single, separate, vertical and individual in the world, part of the environment of trees and rocks and soil, brother to the other animals, part of the natural world and competent to belong in it.

We simply need that wild country available to us, even if we never do more than drive to its edge and look in. For it can be a means of reassuring ourselves of our sanity as creatures, a part of the geography of hope.

—Wallace Stegner

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careersthatinvolveplanning,organizing,leading,andcontrollingsportevents,programs,personnel,andfacilities(seechapter9,“SportManagementandSportsTeams”).McLean,HurdandRogers(2008)tellusthatsportmanagementisnotrestrictedtoanyonesector,soit’simportantforanyindividualinterestedinasportmanagement-relatedcareertothinkoutsidethebox.Therearesomecareerpossibilitiesthatmaycometomindimmediatelysuchascollegiate,semi-professional,professional,andamateursports,butbeawarethatjobsinthesesettingsoftenrequirespecializedskillsetsandarehighlycompetitive.Ifyoulove sports,youshouldalso thinkbroadlyaboutcareerpossibilities to includeareasofsportmanagementsuchas:sportmarketing,guestservicesandsportsclubs(seechapter9, “Sport Management”); sports arenas, coliseums and stadiums (see also chapter 10,“Events”);intramuralsports(seechapter8,“CampusRecreation”);communityrecreationyouth athletics programs (see also chapter 3, “Community Recreation”); youth sportsprograms in non-profit agencies and religious organizations (see also chapter 4, “Non-ProfitRecreation);sportsprogramsinmilitarymorale,recreationandwelfare(seechapter5,“MWR”),andcommercialbusinessesinvolvingsportsfacilitiesandsportinggoods(seechapter13,“CommercialRecreation”).

Hospitality

Simplyput,thetermhospitalityisprovidingfood,beverage,lodgingaccommodations,andentertainment(includingrecreationalactivities)toguests.Thehospitalityindustryiscomprisedofmanybusinessesincludinghotels,resorts,cruiseships,themeparks,clubs,and restaurants. Typically, hospitality is considered to be a component of the tourismindustrysincealltravelerswillneedhospitalityupontheirarrival.Hospitality,however,hasitsownniche,sincedealingwithguestsfacetofacewheretheysleepandeatcomeswithitsownspecialsetofopportunitiesandchallenges.Considerthatlodgingmustbeavailabletomeetthedemandsofalltypesoftravelers,whetheritsfamilies,peoplewithpets,peoplewithspecialneedsandinterests,peoplewhowantluxury,orthosetravelingonabudget.Inadditiontothefood,beverage, lodging,andentertainment,recreationspecialistsalsoprovideactivitiesprogramsforchildrenandfamiliesatdestinationresorts,timeshares,andcampgrounds.Ifyouareinterestedinprovidingqualitycustomerserviceandworkinginafast-pacedindustrythatadvancespeoplemorequicklythanmany,considerhospitality(see chapter 11, “TheHospitality Industry” aswell as chapter 10 “Events,” chapter 11“CommercialRecreationBusinesses,”andchapter12,“Tourism”).

Tourism

Tourismcanbedefinedastravelthattakesplaceforrecreational,leisure,orbusinesspurposes.TheWorldTourismOrganization(1995)definestouristsaspeoplewho“traveltoandstayinplacesoutsidetheirusualenvironmentformorethantwenty-four(24)hoursandnotmorethanoneconsecutiveyearforleisure,business,andotherpurposesnotrelatedtotheexerciseofanyactivityremuneratedfromwithintheplacevisited”(p.14).

Today,tourismisbigbusinessandisrecognizedasanexpandingfieldwithinrecreationand leisure services, andmany argue that it should be seen as a profession in its ownright.However,most agree that it is a growth industry, and it ismotivationally tied toourrecreationbehaviorsandleisureinterests(Sessoms&Henderson,1994).TheWorldTourismOrganization(UNWTO)(n.d.)informsusthatin2008,internationaltourismgrewby2%toreach922million.This isup18millionover2007,and international tourismgenerated944billionU.S.dollarsandaccountedfor30%oftheworld’sserviceexports.Further,UNWTOforecaststhattherewillbe1.6billiontouristarrivalsworldwidebythe


year2020.Becausetourismisaverysignificantbusiness today,andduetoitsobvioustietorecreationactivitiesandleisureexperiences,tourismisaddressedalongwithmoretraditionalrecreationandleisureservicesinthisbookoncareers(seechapter12,“TravelandTourism”aswellaschapter10,“Events,”andchapter11,“Hospitality.”

Play

Play issointegrallyconnectedwithhavingfunthatourdiscussionaboutthemeaningofrecreationandleisurewouldbeincompletewithoutit.Allpeopleknowwhatplayisfrompersonalexperience,andplayoccurswhereverpeoplefindit—playcanhappenedanytime,anywhere.As theNon-SequiturcartoonbyWileyMiller illustrates,children’splaytodayinvolvesbothvirtualandin-natureexperiences,butbothtypesofactivityareplay.

JohanHuizinga,authorofoneoftheoriginalstudiesofplayandculturetellsusthatplayhassevendefiningelements:

1. Allplayisvoluntaryactivity,andhence,playislinkedtofreedom,2. Playisnotordinary,orreallife—itisonlypretendingforfun,3. Playislimitedwithintimeandspaceinthatithasabeginningandanending,4. Playcreatesorderbybringingatemporaryandlimitedperfection,5. Thereisanelementoftensionanduncertaintyinplay,6. Allplayhasrulesthatdeterminewhat“goes”inthetemporaryworldofplay,and7. Playsurroundsitselfwithanairofsecrecy; that is,“wearedifferentanddothings

differentlywhenweplay(p.12).”

Playcaninvolveparticipatinginagameofpretend,playingsoccer,orplayingWorldofWarcraft, and it canoccuranywhere—athome,atwork,onvacation,andeven inaprison,becauseitoccursinatemporaryworldconstructedbytheplayers.

Questionsaboutplayhavefascinatedpeopleforcenturies.Whydopeopleplay?Whatbenefitisthereinplay?Ellis(1977),arecognizedplayexpert,explainsthatpeopleplayfortworeasons:(1)tohaveoptimalexperiences,and(2)togainasenseofcompetenceandcontrol.Consider,forexample,agirl“playing”teacherwithherdolls—shecreatestherulesofthepretendclassroomandhasfunhandingoutrewardsandpunishmentstoher“students”Shehasplacedherselfincontrol(aroleshecannottakeinreallife),andherplayworldaffordshertheopportunityfeelcompetentandeffective,justassheperceivesherteachertobe.

As to how people benefit from play,many people think of play as the activity ofchildhood.Bregha(1982)confirmsthat’showitstarts:“Itisagenerallyacceptedbelief


that,aschildren,wefirstdiscoverfreedom, itsdelightsanddangers, inplaying”(p.1).However,researchersandmanagersareincreasinglydiscoveringthatplayisveryimportanttoadultstoo.Adultpartnerswhoseeknoveltyandplaytogether,staytogether.Playalsofosterscreativityduringworkbyfacilitatingthecognitiveandaffectivedimensions,aswellasthemotivationalandskillconditions,ofthecreativeprocess(Mainemelis&Ronson,2006).Forexample,Googleerasessomeoftheartificialdichotomizationsbetweenwork,leisure,andplaybyexpectingemployeestospend20%oftheirtimeonnon-coreprojects,which they are expected to explore without allowing considerations of profitability ormarketability to hinder their efforts.Why sanction play at work? Because companiesarefindingthatbuildingplayintoworkcultureaddstothebottomlinebycreatingmoreinnovativeproductsandemployeesatisfaction.

Clearly, play adds to one’s life at any age.As playwright George Bernard Shawoncestated,“Wedon’tstopplayingbecausewegrowold;wegrowoldbecausewestopplaying.”So,playisimportanttoqualityoflifeatanyage,becauseallhumansgainjoyfromhavingpeak(optimal)experiencesandfeelingcompetentandeffective,evenifonlyinthemoment.

Leisure,recreationandplayareclearlylinkedtooptimalhumanexperience.Thenextsectionwillexplain,fromaphilosophicalperspective,whathumanismmeanstorecreation.

Leisure, Recreation, and Humanism

Humanism can be described as a philosophical perspective that attaches greatimportancetohumandignity,concerns,andabilities.Humanistsbelievethat,onadeeplevel,everypersonhasgoodinsideof themintheformofhumanspirit,orconscience.Whetherornotapersonisintouchwith,oruses,hisorherconscienceisanothermatter(whichwewillnotdebatehere),butsuffice it tosay that recreationand leisureserviceprovidershavealonghistoryofstrivingtohelppeopledeveloptheirmosthumanqualities.

Ahumanisticapproachtorecreationandleisureservicesisofparamountimportancein today’s increasingly stressful and troubled world. As de Graff (n.d.) points out,economicsuccesscannolongerbemeasuredinjusteconomictermslikeGrossDomesticProduct.Wemuststarttakingintoaccountothervaluesthatconstitutethegreatestgood—health, happiness, knowledge, kindness—for the greatest number—equality, access toopportunity—over the long run—in a healthy democracy and sustainable environment(p.1).Parksand recreationvisionaryDavidGraynotedback in1972 that“America isturninginward.Wearereexaminingourthoughts,ourideas,ourmotives.Ourmethodisintrospectionandourgoalisself-discovery…themotiveisadeeperparticipationinlife”(p.18).BeforeyoudismissDr.Gray’scommentaryaspotentiallyoutdated,consideritskeenrelevancetotoday’sissues:

• MostNorthAmericansbelievetheyfacetoomanydemandsontheirtimeonanygivendayandtheyfeelrushedandoverwhelmed(Pavelka,2000)

• Formostofthefinalquarterofthe20thcentury,EuropeansgainedrelativetoAmericansinalmosteveryqualityoflifemeasure(deGraaf,n.d.,p.2)

• Many people face days filled with tension, boredom, feelings of powerlessness,monotony, and frustration and have increasing problems related to physical health(i.e.,heartdisease,obesity,diabetes)andemotionalhealth(i.e.,anxiety,depression,addiction,andalientation).

• Whiletechnologyandconnectivityhaveincreasedworkefficiencies,theyaremerelytoolsandtheywillnotsolveproblemswiththehumancondition.


Ahumanisticethicisofcentralimportancetothedeliveryofrecreation,parks,sportmanagement,hospitality, and tourism in today’sworld.What thismeans, in apracticalsense,isre-conceptualizingrecreationfromahumanisticperspective.Thismeansmakingit our business to promote health andwell-being. Itmeans keepingpeoplewell versuscuringthemaftertheyaresick.Itmeanshelpingpeoplewhogetsickbacktoapathwherequalityoflifeisofthehighestpriority.Itmeansviewingrecreationasapsycho-emotional-physicalresponsethatisindependentoftheactivity.Theactivitybecomesthemedium,butfromahumanisticperspectiverecreationistheindividual’sinternal,pleasurableresponsetotheactivity.AsDr.Grayaptlyputit:

Recreationisanemotionalconditionwithinanindividualhumanbeingthatflowsfromafeelingofwell-beingandself-satisfaction.Itischaracterizedbyfeelingsofmastery, achievement, exhilaration, acceptance, success,personalworth, andpleasure.Itreinforcesapositiveself-image.Recreationisaresponsetoestheticexperience,achievementofpersonalgoals,orpositivefeedbackfromothers.Itisindependentofactivity,leisure,orsocialacceptance(p.19).

AgrowingnumberofpeopleinNorthAmericaareseekingnewwaystoexperiencethe fullestofwhat lifehas tooffer.Grass-rootsmovementsand theself-help industriesareburgeoningwithadvicetohelppeopleimprovethequalityoftheirlivesbyslowingdown,focusingonhealthandwell-being,establishinggreaterintimacywithothers,andcreatingsustainablelifestyles.Theseapproachestothegoodlifeembracethefulfillmentofindividuals’innerexperiencesratherthantheacquisitionofthings.Thisisultimatelytheworkofrecreation,parks,sportmanagement,hospitality,andtourismprofessionals.Humanisticvaluesarenotnewtorecreation;infact,theyhavebeenwiththeprofessionsincethebeginning.

Next,wearegoingtotakeabriefhistoricaltoursoyoucanunderstand,inageneralway,wheretheprofessioncamefromandwhereit’sgoing.ThisoverviewillustrateshowrecreationandleisureservicesinAmericahaditsbeginningsinsocialservicesandhowtheprofessionhasexpanded,overtime,tomeettheneedsofmany,variedclientgroups.Thegoodnewsisthisexpansionhasopenedthedoorformanydiversecareeroptionswithintherecreation,parks,sportmanagement,hospitality,andtourismprofessionsandmeetinghumanisticneedsismoreimportantnowthanever!Notethatwewillexplorethedetailedhistoryofeachcareerareainchapters3through13,becausewebelievehistoryismoreinterestingandrelevantwhenstudiedincontext.

A Brief History of Recreation, Parks, Sport Management, Hospitality, and Tourism

ThenotionofprovidingrecreationalactivitiesandparksinAmericahasitsrootsinsocialservicesandhumanneeds.Theprofessionwasestablishedaround the late1800sastheurbanpopulationdoubledandtheIndustrialRevolutionandimmigrationresultedgrowing social welfare concerns. Early social reformers, who were mainly privatephilanthropists,sawplayandrecreationasanecdotestoallnatureofills—physicalhealthcouldbeimprovedbyfreshairandphysicalactivity,andmoralcharacterandsocialskillscouldbelearnedthroughorganizedrecreationandplay.Asyoucanseefromthebreak-outbox,“OurRadicalRoots,”theneedwasgreat.Considerthatin1890,therewere350,000children living inNewYorkCity, and therewerenoorganizedplaces for them toplay(McLean,etal.,2008).


JaneAddamsandJosephLeearetwoexamplesoftheprofession’sprominentfounders.JaneAddams,thedaughterofawealthyman,helpedorganizesupportforimmigrantsettlersandpoorlaborers.Asettlementhouse,calledtheHullHouse,openedin1889inChicagoslumsasaneighborhoodcentertoprovidemultiplesocial,educational,andrecreationalservices.According to Duncan (1991),Ms.Addams channeled her life’s energies intoprogramsliketheHullHouseinordertocreateamorehumanisticsociety.Shetouchedthelivesofmany,includingJosephLee,thefatheroftheAmericanplaygroundmovement.LikeAddams,Leecamefromawealthyfamily.Hewas“appalledbythejailingofchildrenforplayinginthestreets,[and]heestablished,athisownexpense,anexperimentalplaygroundinBoston”(Duncan,1991,p.335).Philosophically,Leebelievedrecreationshouldbeanintegralpartofeveryone’s life (bothadultsandchildren).Hewrotean influentialbookcalledPlay and Education,whichdescribedtherelationshipsbetweenplay,recreation,andthesocialproblemsfacingourcities(Duncan).LeeandAddamsbothservedasofficersin thePlaygroundAssociationofAmerica, founded in1906,which is the forerunner totoday’sNationalRecreationandParkandAssociation(NRPA).

Othereventsthatdramaticallyshapedthenatureoftheemergingrecreationandparksmovementhappenedconcurrently.CentralParkwasestablishedin1857asthefirstmajorcitypark,Yellowstonewassetasideasthefirstnationalparkin1872,andmorethan80citiesinitiatedtheirownparksandplaygroundsbetween1880and1900.Thus,thestage

In many ways, [our founders] were the radical counterparts of Eldridge Cleaver, Jane Fonda, Caesar Chavez, Gloria Steinem, and Ralph Nader. They continually fought city hall, organized labor strikes, marched in the streets, gave public speeches, and wrote award-winning articles deploring the living conditions of the poor. The issues and problems they faced were well defined: slavery, the aftermath of the Civil War, thousands of new immigrants, slums, child labor, disease, the suffrage movement, World War I, and a rapidly industrializing nation. America was striving to develop its abundant natural resources and was also enjoying a booming economy. The work ethic and the free-enterprise system flourished, thus creating a paradox of strong economic growth at the expense of human suffering and exploitation.

Our founders faced these issues. They were not meek and mild, easily intimidated or swayed by local politicians. They worked in, around, and with the political system. The political battles they fought gave them the skills needed in order to establish the park, playground, and recreation services we enjoy today (p. 331).

— Mary Duncan excerpted from Our Radical Roots (1991)

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wassetinAmericaforapeculiaranduniquelydemocraticvisionthatsanctionedtheuseofpublicfundingtoprovideforrecreationalactivities,facilities(likeplaygrounds),andparksonalocalandnationalscale.Onanationalscale,itwasdeemedthattheseactivities,facilities,andparksshouldbeasavailableandaccessibletotheaveragecitizen,notjustthewealthy,because theyweregood.That is, theyweregoodfor individuals,goodforsociety,andgoodforthecountryasawhole.Accordingly,recreationagencies,facilities,andparkstookonanacceptedsocialroleacrossthecountryaspeoplecametograduallyacceptrecreation,parks,andleisureservicesasavalidsocialgoodinademocraticsociety.

Astherecreationandparksprofessionsmaturedanddiversified,itbecameacceptedthatleisurewasanendinitselftobeenjoyedbyall.Publicrecreationdriftedawayfromasocialwelfaremodel(withspecificgoalstohelpthoseinneed)towardamodelwhereserviceswere provided for everyonewhowanted them (DeGraaf, Jordan,&DeGraaf,1999).Hence,newkindsofrecreationandleisureserviceproviders,whichtargetedthehealthandwellnessbenefits,emerged.Thesemorespecializedareasincluded:armedforcesrecreation,therapeuticrecreation,campusrecreation,andemployeerecreation.Inaddition,commercialrecreationandleisurebusinessessuchasretailsalesofrecreationalvehicles,boats, and equipment and destinations likeDisneyland became increasingly popular inpost-WWIIprosperityandbeyond.Ofcourse,non-profitagenciesandpublicrecreationandparkscontinuedtooperateaswell.

As America and other developed countries moved from manufacturing toward aserviceeconomyinthelatterhalfofthe20thcentury,amorespecializedclassofrecreation,parks,andleisureservicesbegantoemergeinresponsetocontinuingsocialserviceneedsandpeople’sgrowingabilityanddesiretopayforrecreationandleisure.Thehospitalityindustryaddedvaluewithorganizedrecreationandleisureprogramstoattractandholdrepeatvisitorinterest.Sportsmanagementevolvedoutofagrowinginterestinrecreationand management opportunities in youth and professional sports. Meeting planning,conferenceservices,andtheentertainmentindustryprovidedaconvergenceforbusinessandpleasure.Travelandtourismcontinuedtogrowonanationalandinternationalscale.Manyofthesespecializedareasareconsideredprofessionsintheirownright,buttheyarealsoconsideredpartoftherecreation-related professions.

In the 21st century, our recreation and leisure-related professions face tremendouschallenges and opportunities. The need for social services and programs that supportsocial justice and thedemand for leisure experiences at all points in the cost spectrumhas never been greater. People from allwalks of life are beginning to reexamine theirprioritiesandconsciouslyseekhigherquality leisureexperiences.All recreation,parks,sportmanagement,hospitality,andtourismorganizationsarebeingchallengedtooperateethically,sustainably,andtorespondtotheneedsofdiversepopulations.

Individuals who are attracted to careers in recreation, parks, sport management,hospitality,andtourismalllovesomeaspectofrecreationactivitiesthemselves,andtheyalsohaveastrongcommitmentandattraction tooneormoreof the following:helpingothers,loveoftheoutdoors,play,andentrepreneurismandexcitement.Let’stakeacloserlookatthesefourmotivationssowecanbetterunderstandwhatdrivesrecreation,parks,tourism,andleisureservicesprofessionals.

What Motivates Recreation, Parks, Sport Management, Hospitality, and Tourism Professionals?

Those who work in recreation-related professions are especially passionate aboutoneormorethingsthatgivethemgreatsatisfactionintheirchosencareer.Manystudentssearchingforamajordiscovertherecreationfieldandfeellikethey’velandedinagoldminebecauseit’sobvioustothemthat“ThisdegreewillpreparemeforajobwhereIcan


lookforwardtogoingtoworkeveryday!”Recreation-relatedprofessionsprovideagreatopportunitytoalignone’slife’sworkwithsomethingthatcorrespondswithone’sauthenticself.Thus, therecreationprofessionalswhoseprofilesyou’llbereadingthroughout thisbookdidn’tarrivetherebecausetheyweretryingtogetrich—thatmightbeasecondaryoutcome—buttheirfirstlovewassomethingelse.

Firstandforemost,recreationprofessionalshaveanintrinsicattractiontosomeactivityorleisureexperiencethat“turnedthemon”intheiryouth.Whatdoyoulove?Maybeit’ssoccer, baseball, backpacking, scouts, sailing, summer camp, travel, or kayaking.MikeGamache, theDirectorof theOysterRiverYouthAssociation(ORYA), tellsushowhispassionconnectshimwithhisprofession:“Iplayedsportsandwasinvolvedwithsportsallmylife.I’vealwaysbeeninterestedinsportsandfitness.Imajoredinrecreationmanagementwithafocusinsportstudies.IhadachancetointerviewwiththeformerExecutiveDirectorfollowingmyinternship,andhehiredme.IwantedtobeatORYAbecauseIbelievedthatIwouldbeabletomakeadifferenceinpeople’slives,andlearnalotintheprocess.”Maybeyoulovemanykindsofrecreationandleisure,andthepossibilitiesaretrulyunlimited.

We’regoingtoleadyouthroughsomeexercisesinchapter2toassessyourpassions,butwe’dliketogetyoustartedthinkingaboutwhatdrivesyourrecreationalcareerinterestsrightawaysoyoucanseehowwhatmotivatesyoucanhelpyouchoosetherecreation-relatedcareeroptionsthatmayberightforyou.

Helping Others

Recreationprofessionalsareallaboutmakingadifferenceinpeople’squalityoflife.Thatdifferencecanbehelpingothersbyworkingdirectlywithclientsorhelpingmanyonabroaderscale(inclusiveservice).TomCarr,CertifiedTherapeuticRecreationSpecialistandProgramCoordinator for theNortheast PassageAthleteDevelopmentCenter, talksaboutwhatit’sliketoprovidedirect servicetoothers:“Helpingtomakeadifferencewasabigthingforme.Iliketobeinvolvedwithbeginners,andseeingtheinstantgratificationwhentheyareintroducedtoasportandgetapositiveexperience.ButIdoalotofmyworkwithhighlevel,competitiveathletes.Whatisevenmorerewardingisseeingtheirlong-termgrowth.Seeingthembeginasport,andthen10yearslater,theyarecompetingintheParalympicsonthenationalandinternationalstage.”

SandyDhuyvetter,thefounder,executiveproducer,andhostofTravelTalkMEDIA,providesthetypeof inclusive servicethathasabroadereffect.Shestates,“Thegreatestpartaboutmyjobistohearfromguestsabouthowwehaveaddedvaluetoothers’lives.Travelpositivelyaffectspeoplepersonallyandsocially,andourworldbenefitseconomicallyaswell.Meetingpeopleandconnectingpeoplefromallovertheworldispurejoy”(www.traveltalkradio.com).AsyoucanseefromSandy’scomment,somerecreationprofessionalshelpothersonabroadscale.

MattPostein,fromtheNewEnglandOutdoorCenterinMaine,servesbothdirectlyandinclusively:“First,thereisthesatisfactionofseeingourguestshaveareallygreattimeandfeelingtheenrichmenttheyarereceivingfromtheexperience.Thesecondisbeingapartofhelpingourcommunityeconomically,socially,andenvironmentallybybringinginvisitorswhoareeco-sensitive,andsharingthebeautyandwonderofthiswildernessareawiththem.Wedoallthiswhilecreatingjobsandrevenuethatsupportsthecommunity.”

Manyrecreationprofessionalsaredrivenbythedesiretomakeapositivedifference.Oursocietyhasmany“So Importants,”suchasprograms,services,andorganizationsthat address social and environmental justice issues. For example, youth need healthydevelopmentalopportunities;theagingandelderlypopulationsdeserveactive,high-qualitylives; personswithmental, physical, and emotional disabilities canbe reached throughrecreationandleisureexperiencesinwaysthattheycannotbereachedbyclinicaltreatment;peopleandcommunitiesthatarecopingwithcrime,poverty,andracialtensionscanuse


recreationandleisuretobuildcommonbonds;communitiescanbestrengthenedthroughsustainabletourism;and,theenvironmentcanbepreservedandenjoyedsimultaneouslywhenwefollowsustainablepractices.Therearenolimitstotheneedsandopportunitiesforthoseinterestedinusingrecreationandleisureexperiencesasameanstoimprovequalityoflife.

Love of the Outdoors

Areyoudrawntothegreatoutdoors?Whenyouareinnature,doyoufeelatpeace?Thosewho loveworking in theoutdoorshaveastrongbondwithnature.Somepeoplewouldlovenothingmorethantoworkoutdoors.Theymaybeparticularlyinterestedinpreservationandprotection,providingpositiveoutdoorexperiences,orboth.Maybeyoucanrelatetothisanonymousbloggerwhowrote,“Ilovetakinglongwalks,collectingmythoughtsasIenjoythesightsandsoundsofnature.Ilikecamping,lookingupatthestars,breathinginfreshair.Thebeautyofnatureisunmatched,andweshouldtakethetimetoappreciateit.”

GinnyAlfriend,ParkSpecialistfortheCityofEugeneParksandOpenSpaceinOregon,states,“Weareoutsidemosteverydayoftheyearandtimeallofouractivitiestotheweatherandseason.Itisarealtreattohavemy‘office’sharespacewithaPileatedWoodpecker!”So,ifyoulovetheoutdoorsinanextraordinaryway,therecreationprofessionsprovideanumberofwaysyoucanworkinandfortheoutofdoors.

Play for Life

Earlierinthechapterwetalkedabouthowplayisauniversalhumanexperience.Ifyouareoneofthosepeoplewhohavekeptyourchildlikepassionforplayasanadult,youmaybemotivatedtoshareitwithothers.JackWise,theCEOofWildwaterRafting,talksaboutthevalueofhavingfun:“Iwouldhavetosaythatthemostrewarding[thingaboutmyjob]istohavenewandexcitingexperiencesinaspecialenvironment.It’salsoabonustobeabletobeinvolvedinallthesefunexperiencesmyself.”Giventhatthedesiretoplay-hard/work-hardisawide-spreadphenomenoninAmericanculture,it’snotsurprisingthatmanywouldlovetohaveajobwheretheycandojustthat!

Entrepreneurism and Excitement

Anentrepreneurisaspecialtypeofpersonwhoisdrawntotheexcitementofcombininginnovationand risk taking tocreateandsustainabusinessventure.Heor sheprovidestheleadershipfortheventureandassumesasignificantamountofaccountabilityfortherisksandoutcomesinherentinthatenterprise(O’Sullivan&Sheffrin,2003).Phrasesthatdescribeentrepreneursinclude:innovator,creator,risktaker,problemsolver,andcatalystforchange.Startingandmaintaininginnovativebusinessventuresisnotforeverybody,butentrepreneurialskillsareincreasinglyneededinallsectorsoftheeconomy.Thatis,public,non-profit and for-profit enterprises increasingly rely on entrepreneurial skills becausefinancialsustainability isno longeragivenforany typeoforganization. Indeed,aswemovetoamoresocialeconomy(moreonthisconceptinchapters2and15),anincreasingnumberofprofessionalswillbecalledontoblendtheirentrepreneurialabilitieswiththeirpassionformakingadifference.

JohnHope-Johnstone, theCEOofCorvallisTourism, isonesuchentrepreneur inarecreation-relatedprofession.Johntellsus,“Istartedmytourismcareerasatravelagent,thenas a tourwholesaler, thenas ahotelier, thenownedmyownbedandbreakfast inHawaii,andnowIamfinishingmytourismcareerindestinationmarketing.”Johngoesontoexplainhowinnovationpermeateswhathedoes:“Travelandtourismalwaysstayson


thecuttingedge.WhentheInternetsearchenginesstartedtoblossomasamarketingtoolinthe’90s,manyofthefirstonlinee-commercebusinessesweretravel-based.”

If youhave entrepreneurial abilities, crave the excitement of solvingproblems andbeing on the cutting edge of innovation, you will find a number of recreation-relatedcareersthatappealtoyou,including:sportmanagement,thehospitalityindustry,travelandtourism, eventmanagement, andcommercial recreationbusinesses.Dependingonyourunique abilities and interests, youmayalso findways to combineyour entrepreneurialaptitudeswith other passions, such as becoming the head of a non-profit organizationdedicatedtopreservingandprotectingopenspace.

Now that you’vebecome familiarwithmotives forworking in a recreation-relatedprofession,let’stakealookatwhatmotivatesclientstoengageinrecreationandleisureexperiences.Understanding the benefits of recreation and leisure experienceswill helpyoubetterunderstandhowtheseexperienceshelppeopleacquireknowledge,skills,andabilitiesthathelpthemlivemoresatisfyinglives.

Motivation for Recreation and Leisure Participation

Generally speaking, people are motivated to engage in recreation and leisureexperiences because of a mix of intrinsic and extrinsic motives. For example, I mayattendmydepartment’ssoftballgamebecauseit’sexpectedofmeaspartofmywork-role(extrinsicmotive—IfeelIhavetobetherebecausemybossaskedmetocome),butImayalsothinkitwillbefun(intrinsicmotive—IgobecauseIwanttoenjoymyself).Inmostcases,peoplechooserecreationexperiencesbecausetheyanticipatereceivingoneormorebenefits

AccordingtoBevDriver(2008),therecognizedexpertonoutcomesandbenefitsofrecreationandleisureexperiences,therearethreetypesofbenefitsweshouldbeawareof.First,therearethosebenefitsthatareassociatedwithanimprovedchangeorcondition(p.4).Thisimpliesthatanewstateisviewedasmoredesirablethanapreviousstate.Thesechanges could occur within individuals, groups, or biophysical and cultural resources.Examplesincludeimprovedhealth,learning,socialbonding,improvedeconomicviability,andimprovementsinnaturalorman-madeenvironments.Asecondtypeofbenefitisthemaintenance of a desired condition, prevention of an undesired condition, or reductionofanundesiredcondition(p.4).Anexample isprotectingnatural resources inorder toprovide opportunities for visitors tomaintain their physical andmental health.A thirdtypeofbenefit is, quite simply, the realizationof a satisfying recreation experience (p.4). It is very important to place a high value on people having satisfying experiencesregardlessofwhetherornotanyimprovedconditionscanbeeasilydiscernedormeasured.AspointedoutbyEstesandHenderson(2002),“Professionalsshouldn’tforget…thattheoutcomesrelatedtoenjoymentarestillatthecoreofwhatmakesourprofessionuniqueandvaluableamongotherhumanserviceareas—wefacilitatefunandintrinsicallymotivatingexperiences.Althoughthevaluesofourprofessiongobeyond‘funandgames,’enjoymentis, at all times, central to ourwork” (p. 22).Driver classifies benefits into four types:Personal,Social/Cultural,Economic,andEnvironmental.SeeTable1tobetterunderstandthesepotentialpositivebenefits.

Documentationofbenefitshasonlycomeaboutfairlyrecentlysincerecreationandleisureexperiencestendtobeverypersonal,andoftensubjective,innature.However,asyougainmoreeducationandexperienceinrecreation,parks,sportmanagement,hospitality,andtourism,youwillgainabetterunderstandingofbenefitsandhowtheycanbeusedtomanagethebestpossiblerecreationandleisureexperiencesforyourclients.Whilemostpeoplearemotivatedtoengageinrecreationandleisureexperiencesforpositivebenefits


Table 1.1

Selected Benefits that Have Been Attributed to Leisure by One or More Scientific Studies

(adapted from Driver, 2008, p. 10-11) I. Personal Benefits 1. Mental Health and Maintenance of such: •Holistic sense of wellness •Stress management •Prevention of and reduced depression, anxiety, and/or anger •Positive changes in mood and emotion 2. Personal Growth and Development •Self-esteem •Self-confidence •Value clarification •Leadership ability •Teamwork/cooperation •Balanced living •Acceptance of one’s responsibility •Academic and other mental performance 3. Personal Appreciation and Satisfaction from: •Sense of freedom •Self-actualization •Sense of adventure •Perceived quality of life/life satisfaction •Nature appreciation •Spirituality 4. Pyschophysiological •Cardiovascular benefits, including prevention of hypertension and strokes •Better muscle functioning and strength •Decreased obesity •Increased life expectancy •Improved perceived quality of life •Reduced need for medications

II. Social Cultural Benefits and Improvements •Community identity, satisfaction, and morale •Reduced social alienation •Reduced crime •Ethnic social integration •Family bonding/better life •Conflict resolution/harmony •Prevention of social problems by at-risk youth •Developmental benefits in children •Increased independence of older people •Increased longevity and quality of life

likethoseshowninTable1.1(e.g.,fun,relieffromstress,physicalhealth,beingwithfriendsandsoon),itisalsoimportanttobeawareofthedarkersideofrecreationmotivation.


Table 1.1 cont.

III. Economic Benefits •Reducedhealthcosts •Increasedproductivity •Lessabsenteeism •Localandregionaleconomicgrowth •Localamenitieshelpattractindustry •Employmentopportunities •Promotionofplacestoretireandassociatedeconomicgrowth •Increasedpropertyvalues

IV. Environmental Benefits •Stewardshipandpreservation •Improvedairqualitythroughurbanforestry •Understandinghumandependencyonthenaturalwork •Publicinvolvementinenvironmentalissues •Environmentalprotection •Ecosystemsustainability •Preservationofparticularnaturalsites/areas •Promotionofecotourism

Living Near Green Spaces Positively Influences Health

There is new evidence that living near a green space has health benefits. New research published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health indicates that living near green spaces has tangible benefits to human health. The best health benefits come from living less than one kilometer (3/5 of a mile) from a green space. The research shows that the impact is particularly noticeable in reducing rates of depression.

Other health indicators that benefit from proximity to green spaces include: coronary heart disease; neck, shoulder, back, wrist, and hand complaints; depression and anxiety ; diabetes; respiratory infections and asthma; migraine and vertigo; and stomach bugs and urinary tract infections.

While people often report that time in nature reduces their stress and helps them feel better both physically and mentally, this is the first study to demonstrate that proximity to nature translates into fewer health problems.

Researchers looked at the health records of 195 family doctors and 350,000 individuals across the Netherlands, and tracked how often patients were diagnosed with 24 different disease types. Researchers mapped the amount of green space near each patient’s household by using postal codes and land use data.

The study: Maas J, Verheij RA, de Vries S, et al. (2009) Morbidity is related to a green living environment. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 2009.

Taken from: “Community Health Priorities: Join the Conversation” Retrieved December 13, 2009 from www.communityhealthpriorities.org/conversation/comments/living_near_greenspaces_proven_to_positively_influence_health/


The Darker Side of Motivation

Let’sfaceit—noteveryoneengaginginrecreationandleisureexperienceshasmoral,health-enhancing benefits in mind. Humans are driven to seek pleasure, and they areoften hedonistic—that is, self-indulgent and reckless—in their choice of activities. Infact,ourculturalbeliefsystemtellsusthatwhenwehaveworkedreallyhardforalongtimethatwehaveearnedtherighttoplayhard.Inotherwords,wearepronetothinking,“Thankgoodnessthat’sover,nowit’stimetogoblowoffsomesteam.”Lefttoone’sowndevices(whichmeanstheindividualisfreetodowhatheorshewants),manywillchooseexperiencesthatarepotentiallyharmfultoself,others,orsociety.

Curtis (1988) believed that any recreation professional preparation program shouldincludeconsiderationofpurple recreation.Hecoinedtheterm“purplerecreation”toreferto“thoseactivitiesandinterestsindulgedinbyyouthandadultsduringnon-work,non-studyfreetimethatdonotfallwithintheparametersofwhatsocietygenerallyviewsaswholesomeorgood”(p.73).Curtispointsoutthatmanypurplerecreationactivitiesarenotstarklybadorevil,astheymaybevictimlesscrimes,suchasacollegestudentsdrinkingtoomuchafterfinalexams(assumingtheymakeithomesafely).They’veharmednoonebutthemselves,andtheharmmaybeminimalintheformofahangover.However,somepurplerecreationcanbequiteharmfulevenwhenthepersondidnotintendharm.Considerdrinkinganddriving,bingedrinking,heavydruguse,dogfighting,compulsivegambling,pornography,prostitution,andsoon.

Ourintentionhereisnottoengageinalengthydiscussionabouthedonisticbehavior,butrathertoacknowledgeitsexistenceandexplainwhythisknowledgeisimportantforfuturerecreationprofessionals.Dustin,McAvoy,andShultz(1991)pointoutthattheonlyvirtuousactisonethatisfreelychosen.Therefore,ourrole(asrecreationprofessionals)isnottogoaroundforcingpeopletodoonlymoral,beneficialactivities.However,itisourjobtoensurethatrecreationandleisureexperiencesprovidedbyouragenciesareassafeandbeneficialaspossible.Inmanyinstances,recreation,parks,sportmanagement,hospitality, and tourism organizationswill be providing healthy activities that promotepositivebenefitsandmoralcharacterdevelopment.Inothercases,agenciesmayprovidemild purple recreation activities—especially when the paying customer desires them.However,inthesecases,it’simportantthatwe,asrecreationprofessionals,alwaysremainaware of the potential for harm and practice good judgment about what activities wewillinglyprovideandpracticegoodriskmanagementtominimizeharm.

Conclusion

Inconclusion,recreation,parks,sportmanagement,hospitality,andtourismprofessionsarerichwithmeaning,history,andbenefits.Therearemanyyoungprofessionalswhowillfindacareerunderthisumbrellawhowilllovetheirjobsandlookforwardtogoingtoworkeveryday.Toacertainextent,allrecreationprofessionalsareleisureeducators,too.Thisisagrowinganddiversefield,richwithchallengesandopportunities.Thedesiretomakeapositivedifferencewhiledoingsomethingonelovesisindeedauniqueopportunityforleadersinthisprofessiontoembraceopportunitiestoimprovequalityoflifeforall.


For Further Investigation

For More Research

AgrowingnumberofpeopleinNorthAmericaareseekingnewwaystoexperiencethefullestofwhatlifehastooffer.Grass-rootsmovementsandtheself-helpindustryareburgeoningwithadvicetohelppeopleimprovethequalityoftheirlivesbyslowingdown,focusingonhealthandwell-being,establishinggreaterintimacywithothers,andcreatingsustainablelifestyles.DosomeresearchviatheInternettolocateatleastfivefactsaboutAmericans’viewsoftime,work,andleisure.Whichpublicpolicyagendaitemsarethemostintriguingtoyou?Whatdoyouthinkaboutthesegrass-rootsmovements?Sixwebsitesyoushouldexplorearelistedhere:

Take Back Your Time(http://www.timeday.org/)

Right2Vacation.org(http://www.timeday.org/right2vacation/default2.asp)

Families and Work Institute(http://familiesandwork.org/site/about/main.html)

MomsRising.org(http://www.momsrising.org/)

Common Good: Restoring Common Sense to America(http://commongood.org/)

The USA Affiliate of the International Play Association: Promoting the Child’s Right to Play(http://www.ipausa.org/index.html)

Active Investigation

1. Collect your own stories about people enjoying recreation and leisure experiences.Askoneormoreindividualstotellyouaboutwhatrecreationorleisuretheyenjoythemostandwhattheygotoutofit(benefits).Writeaparagraphforeachstory.Identifythepersonbysex,age,andethnicity(e.g.Female,age25,Caucasian)tosharewithothersinyourclass.Classifythestoryintooneofthefollowingtypesofexperiences:

• Someoneenjoyinganeudaimonic-typeleisureexperience(i.e.,somethingthatinvolvesgoodactionandnogoalotherthanenjoyment;theexperienceisanendinitself)

• Someonewhoisbenefitingfromayouthrecreationprogram(i.e.,afterschool,summercamp),apersonwithdisabilities,orelderlyperson

• Someonebenefitingfromarecreationalexperience(i.e.,play,sports,etc.)

• Someone (or the environment) benefiting from outdoor recreation experience,preferablyapark

• Someone enjoying a commercial recreation/leisure experience (i.e., concert at anarena,Disneyland,etc.).


• Someoneenjoyingavacationataresortoradventuretravelexperience

• Someoneenjoyingavirtualleisureexperience(i.e.,electronicgame,socialnetworking)

• Someoneenjoyingahedonicleisureexperience(i.e.,drinkingalcohol,gambling)

References

Alboher,M.(2008,May5).Whyleisurematters inabusyworld.The New York Times Retrieved November 24, 2009 from www.nytimes.com/2008/05/05/business/smallbusiness/05shift.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1210522088-/lw8fJjht4DGgSk5dLH7Sg

Billitteri,T. J. (2005).Time crunched:Howbusy schedules are sappingour spirit.U.S Catholic, 70(5),pp.12-17.

Bregha,F. J. (1982).Leisureand freedomre-examined. InT.L.Goodale,&P.A.Witt(Eds.),Recreation and leisure: Issues in an era of change.StateCollege,PA:Venture.

Curtis,J.,E.(1988).Purplerecreation. SPRE Annual on Education, 3,73-77.Dare,B.,Welton,G.,&Coe,W.(1998).Concepts of leisure in western thought (2nded.).

Dubuque,IA:Kendall/HuntPublishing.DeGraaf,D.G.,Jordan,D.J.,&DeGraaf,K.H.(1999).Programming for parks, recreation

and leisure services: A servant leadership approach.StateCollege,PA:Venture.deGraaf, J. (n.d.).What’s the economy for, anyway?NewAmericanDreamRetrieved

November27, 2009 fromNewAmericanDreamatwww.newdream.org/newsletter/economy_for.php

Driver,B.L.(2008).Whyoutcomes-focusedmanagementisneeded.InB.L.Driver,(Ed.),Managing to optimize the beneficial outcomes of recreation (pp.1-17).StateCollege,PA:Venture.

Duncan,M. (1991). Back to our radical roots. In T. L Goodale, & P.A.Witt (Eds.), Recreation and leisure: Issues in an era of change(3rded.).StateCollege,PA:Venture.

Dustin,D.L.McAvoy,L.H.,&Schultz,J.H.(1991).Recreationrightlyunderstood.InT.L.Goodale,&P.A.Witt(Eds.),Recreation and leisure: Issues in an era of change(3rded.),(pp.97-110).StateCollege,PA:Venture.

Gray,D.E.(1972).Exploringinnerspace.Parks & Recreation Magazine, 12(12),pp.18-19,46.

Ellis,M.J.(1973).Why people play. EnglewoodCliffs,NJ:Prentice-Hall,Inc.Estes,C.A.,&Henderson,K. (2003, February).ResearchUpdate:Enjoyment and the

GoodLife.Parks and Recreation Magazine, 38(2),22-31.Frankl,V.E.(2006)Man’s search for meaning: An introduction to logotherapy.Boston,

MA:BeaconPress.Huizinga, J. (1950).Homo ludens: A study of the play element in culture.Boston:The

BeaconPress.Mainemelis,C.,&Ronson,S.(2006).Ideasareborninfieldsofplay:Towardsatheory

ofplayandcreativityinorganizationalsettings. Organizational Behavior: An Annual Series of Analytical Essays and Critical Reviews, 27,pp.81-131.

McLean,D.D.,Hurd,A.R.,&Rodgers,N.B.(2008).Kraus’ recreation and leisure in modern society(8thed.).Sudbury,MA:JonesandBartlettPublishers.

Neulinger, J. (1974). The psychology of leisure: Research approaches to the study of leisure.Springfield,IL:Thomas.

O’Sullivan,A.,&Sheffrin,S.M.Economics: Principles in action.UpperSaddleRiver,NJ:Pearson-PrenticeHall.


Pavelka,J.(2000).It’s not about time: Rediscovering leisure in a changing world.Ontario,Canada:CreativeBound,Inc.

Russell,R.V.(2009).Pastimes: The context of contemporary leisure(4thed.).Champaign,IL:Sagamore.

Sessoms,H.D.,&Henderson,K.A.(1994).Introduction to leisure services(7thed.).StateCollege,PA:Venture.

WorldTourismOrganization.(1995).Technical manual: Collection of Tourism expenditure statistics, No. 2.RetrievedNovember27,2009frompub.unwto.org/WebRoot/Store/Shops/Infoshop/Products/1034/1034-1.pdf

WorldTourismOrganization.(n.d.).Fact and figures.RetrievedNovember27,2009fromwww.unwto.org/index.php

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