Leisure in Contemporary Society Chapter 1 HPR 322
Dec 27, 2015
Leisure in Contemporary Society
Chapter 1HPR 322
Chapter 1 Objectives Develop an understanding of the role of leisure
in contemporary society Understand basic concepts associated with
leisure, recreation, and play Provide information useful in developing a
philosophy of leisure programming Understand the relationship between leisure
services and the benefits sought by customers Develop an awareness of the leisure
experience as a service
Introduction
Leisure is a powerful force Woven into the fabric of our culture Enriches, enhances and nourishes our
lives Provides multiple benefits for individuals,
groups, communities and cultures (Ex.) Leisure service programming is the
creation of opportunities for leisure experiences with consequent benefits
Leisure Service Programming…..
Provides a means for individuals to seek novelty, variety, pleasure, challenge, renewal, and growth in their lives through participation in leisure experiences
Challenges for us as leisure service providers –cultural diversity, gender and ethnic differences, generational value orientations, varying family structures, income stratification, technological advances
Consumers demand quality and value – We must meet their needs
Basic Terms
Recreation – organized activity intended for social ends Positive for society
Leisure – time OR state of mind OR attitude Highly subjective
Play – even more subjective Planned or not; strux or not; risky or
not Universal
Recreation Restores or recreates – refreshes Some say it renews you for work Typically an activity with physical, mental,
social, or emotional involvement Wide range – sports, games, crafts,
performing arts, arts, music, travel, hobbies, social activities, etc
Voluntary, internal motivation, dependent on attitude, potential for desirable outcomes
Leisure Freedom to pursue individual interests Definitions include
Free time, Activity, State of Mind, Symbol of Social Class, Leisure as action, Antiutilitarian, Holistic
Conditions of the Leisure Experience Perceived freedom, Intrinsic Motivation,
Perceived Competence, Positive Affect Leisure may be from “casual” to “exotic” and may
include Social, Physical, or Natural Environments
Play
Positive form of human behavior Non-instrumental in purpose, spirit of
pleasure and creative expression, aimless to highly structured, adults play, instinctive drive but culturally learned in all cultures, voluntary, pleasurable, linked to social functions such as law, religion, warfare, art
Leisure Service Programming Appeal to universal need for ‘play’ Use of free/unobligated time Positive for society
Improve individuals’ mental/physical health Engage individuals in positive activities Satisfy desires in socially acceptable ways
Need for ‘risk,’ need for competition; need for challenge; need for social contacts
Developing a Program Philosophy
What do we value and what do we believe in? The foundation of any organization is its philosophy
Helps you find meaning and focus, finds meaning, establishes direction, defines relationship with stakeholders, basic set of belief and values
Organization of Leisure Services
Government based recreation Examples?
Private non-profit Examples?
Commercial for profit Examples?
Defining Leisure Service
A service, not a commodity (thing) Competes for $ and time with
other services as well as commodities True for governmental, non-profit and
for-profit providers Necessity (or not) Customer driven
Potential Benefits of Leisure Experience Personal Development Social Bonding Physical Development Stimulation Fantasy and Escape Nostalgia and Reflection Independence and Freedom Reduction of Sensory overload Risk Opportunities
Potential Benefits contd
Sense of Achievement Exploration Values Clarification/Problem
Solving Mental Health Aesthetic Appreciation
Leisure Experience as a Service (Service Industry) Service focuses on transactions
between people Dialogue, empathy, creation of a mood,
motivation, personal interaction Characteristics of leisure service
Transactions between people Services are not tangible The Customer must be present The service cannot be created in advance Leisure services are labor intensive
Elements of Leisure Service Leisure Service Programmer
(“Leader”) Professional in a profession
Possess knowledge; training; ethics; customer service orientation
Personal recreation/leisure philosophy consistent with organization’s philosophy
General and self-knowledge related to leadership style (covered in depth in HPR 323)
Plays one or multiple roles – administrator; activity leader; instructor; coach; public relations, etc.
Elements of Leisure Service cont’d Customers (“Participants”)
Clients; consumers; members; participants; guests; users; visitors
Leisure (and other) decision-making patterns impacted by involvement, differentiation; time pressure
Needs related to age; SES; education; cultural characteristics; family status; perceived skills or limitations
Customer-Driven Programs promote Quality Establish programming priorities Discover client needs Develop product accordingly Identify key program providers Identify key encounters with clients Train for flexibility; but when in doubt
set standards Ask for help
More considerations Inclusion
ADA; IDEA, etc. “Reasonable” accommodation
Adaptive equipment Interpreters Program adaptations Partial participation Support staff In-service training for staff
More considerations Inclusion cont’d
“Reasonable” accommodation does not mean:
Waiving age or other registration requirements
Waiving or applying rules or codes of conduct differently
Allowing people in programs who cannot communicate or follow basic directions
Including people in group programs who cannot tolerate a group setting
More considerations
Inclusion cont’d Challenges to programmers
Emotional/behavioral disabilities Individuals with multiple disabilities Multiple individuals with varying disabilities Disabilities that are not consistent among
individuals (e.g., persons with autism or MS)
Effect of medications
More considerations cont’d
Multiculturalism, Diversity Values may vary Importance or role of
leisure/recreation may vary Behavior in leisure/recreation settings
may vary
A Program Proposal Ideally will reflect a demonstrated
‘need’ but you have to start somewhere Larger areas tend to have more range
of programming “Personality” or characteristics of a
region may be reflected (rock climbing in Utah or Idaho; winemaking in New York or California; what is popular in Mississippi?)
An Example
Public city pool in north Mississippi Neighborhood reflects lower to
middle classes Population includes older adults and
non-working mothers Only programming offered at pool
consists of children’s swimming lessons
Other Factors
Few exercise/fitness programs offered by city
Current water exercise class in indoor university pool Not as convenient as city pool May charge more Noon hour may not be as convenient
as a.m. or p.m.
My Proposal I propose to begin a summer adult water
exercise program to be held at the city pool in Sometown, Mississippi. The program will begin during the week following Memorial Day and continue until the week before Labor Day. This program will provide a low impact fitness activity appropriate for persons who live in the area near the city pool including some older adults, individuals with physical disabilities, and individuals whose Body Mass Indices (BMI) place them in overweight or obese categories.
Attendance is open to any interested adult who registers and pays a program fee of $40. Individuals who have purchased a pool membership can attend the water exercise classes for no additional charge.
My Proposal cont’d The water exercise classes will meet
weekdays between 6:00 and 6:45 a.m. and 7:30 and 8:15 p.m. Instructors will be Red Cross certified lifeguards.
The program benefits the community by working to improve the health and quality of life of residents in an area underserved by recreation programming of this type.
My Proposal cont’d again This program benefits the park and
recreation department by using an existing facility with existing staff to provide programming that will collect additional user fees.
This program benefits the users by contributing to potential improvements in their mental and physical health and by providing additional opportunities for positive socialization (insert ref)
A simple activity Find your group members Each group will be provided with a
location For each location, come up with
possible recreation programs Arts (performing, visual, music) Sports or active games Something else (social; hobby; educational) What makes this a good activity for this
location?