The four E's: changing roles for parks and recreation.Ready. Set. Get Moving! Those four words easily could have been the slogan A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a political, commercial, religious and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose. Slogans vary from the written and the visual to the chanted and the vulgar. for the summer of `96. Between the release of the Surgeon General's Report serving as a call to action for the 80% of Americans who are less than active and the repeated sound of the starting gun at the Olympic Games Olympic games, premier athletic meeting of ancient Greece, and, in modern times, series of international sports contests. The Olympics of Ancient Greece Although records cannot verify games earlier than 776 B.C. , a slogan implying physical activity was most fitting. Ironically, right about the time the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta revealed that less than 20% of Americans are sufficiently active, the Olympic athletes--a small group of high-intensity, physical achievers--were being watched by hordes Hordes may refer to:
Ready. Set. Get Moving! Could also be the slogan for parks and recreation as we approach the millennium. Now is the time to seize seize v. To exhibit symptoms of seizure activity, usually with convulsions. the opportunities we've been talking about. The NRPA NRPA National Recreation and Park Association NRPA Natural Resources Protective Association (Staten Island, NY) NRPA Niagara Regional Police Association (Canada) NRPA National Rifle and Pistol Association Vision 2000 Strategic Plan called for our profession tn recreate our role, place and responsibility in the 21st century. Specifically, our objectives for parks and recreation in this new frontier New Frontier President John F. Kennedy’s legislative program, encompassing such areas as civil rights, the economy, and foreign relations. [Am. Hist.: WB, K:212] See : Aid, Governmental should include: being a catalyst for the revitalization re·vi·tal·ize tr.v. re·vi·tal·ized, re·vi·tal·iz·ing, re·vi·tal·iz·es To impart new life or vigor to: plans to revitalize inner-city neighborhoods; tried to revitalize a flagging economy. of urban America; serving as an advocate for parks and recreation resources; promoting the benefits of our services for people and the environment; and advocating for health and wellness. Through our profession's partnerships and programs, parks and recreation have been in the "ready" position for a while now. The Active Living/Healthy Lifestyles initiative serves as the "set" point and can continue to fuel the "get moving" part of our transition into the 21st century. The Greeks and the Romans used to justify open space for play, physical activity and sports as a means to maintain a well-prepared military. This was a tangible and easily understood end. In recent years, we in parks and recreation have spoken loudly and widely about our value as purveyors of "quality of life." While this is a valid and valuable end, it's also difficult to see, touch and quantify Quantify - A performance analysis tool from Pure Software. . This is not so with Active Living/Healthy Lifestyles. The science and medical research clearly demonstrates that play pays and that even a little physical activity pursued on a continuous basis yields big dividends. What role will parks and recreation need to assume in the 21st century? What types of activities will we undertake as professionals? Will those undertakings differ from how we currently operate and function? It is probably safe to assume that parks and recreation will begin to do things somewhat differently. After all banks now resemble drive-thru restaurants and gas stations look like grocery stores so it's fairly certain that change is headed our way. For many years now we have been builders and doers. The well-known line from the movie, Field of Dreams, "If you build it, they will come" applies to parks and recreation. We've built ball fields, playgrounds, swimming pools, hiking hiking Walking, often among hills or mountains, as recreational sport. It represents an activity in its own right and also figures in backpacking, camping, hunting, mountaineering, and orienteering. trails, and community centers. We've scheduled events and programmed activities for virtually every conceivable con·ceive v. con·ceived, con·ceiv·ing, con·ceives v.tr. 1. To become pregnant with (offspring). 2. age, gender and interest group. And yet, the Surgeon General's office reports that lack of moderate physical activity by the majority of Americans is killing us. It's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a for a change and the Active Living/Healthy Lifestyles approach can be an essential part of that change. Active Living/Healthy Lifestyles should be considered a comprehensive approach to the way we do business in parks and recreation and not just a public relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most campaign. Whether you work in the out-of-doors or in an office, whether you work in a rehabilitation rehabilitation: see physical therapy. center or a community center, whether you work with children, families, or older Americans, whether you are resource or resort-based you--and all of us in parks and recreation--need to heed the warning sounded by the Surgeon General The U.S. Surgeon General is charged with the protection and advancement of health in the United States. Since the 1960s the surgeon general has become a highly visible federal public health official, speaking out against known health risks such as tobacco use, and promoting disease and take up the call of contributing to the quality of life of the people we serve. It's our call to "Ready. Set. Get Moving" in new directions for our future. Four New Roles for Parks and Recreation This new direction will call upon us to take up four new roles for our profession. We will be called upon to educate, engage, empower empower verb To encourage or provide a person with the means or information to become involved in solving his/her own problems , and evaluate. These roles will involve the continuation of actions to which we're accustomed as well as some new ways of meeting our mission. Education The role or recreation as educators is not an entirely new one. Therapeutic recreators have long been dispensing dispensing provision of drugs or medicines as set out properly on a lawful prescription. A prescription can only be filled, the drugs supplied, by a registered pharmacist, veterinarian, dentist or member of the medical profession. leisure education. Our naturalists in local, state and national parks This is a list of national parks ordered by nation. Africa
The education role for recreation in the 21st century will include those endeavors, but will also incorporate some additional roles for our profession such as building awareness, providing information and serving as role models. We will become responsible for educating people about the importance of leisure time in their lives and the potential impact of such activities on their health and well-being. We must realize, however, that the education must happen at home. We need to start by reminding ourselves, our staff, decision-makers, and volunteers about the role leisure time activity has upon the quality of life for our participants. We usually focus our public communication on what's happening in terms of scheduled events and programs. We also need to make sure that the public knows why these events and programs are happening as well. Support staff and those folk who work part-time or on a volunteer basis are essential to communicating this message. Then we need to take that message externally and seize every opportunity we have to create or raise awareness levels among our publics, both the people we serve and those we don't reach. It's critical to the future viability of our profession--and to health and wellness of our constituents--to make sure they realize just how important leisure time activity is to their overall health and well-being. That means changing your communications messages in a number of ways and across all levels. It means changing the focus of your speakers' bureaus from talking about what you do to why you do it. It also means incorporating well messages into press releases, brochures and flyers. Awareness is a good start but it's only a part of the educational process. Our role will also be that of an information source. Individual recreation departments will need to access accurate and reliable information related to exercise, nutrition and health and do their best to share it with others. But the information must be more than just science; it should be applicable to them. We need to make sure they have information about what activities might be good for people who don't like competition or activities that work into the schedules of people who are pressed for time. We need to tell people what kinds of equipment they might need and where they can buy or rent it. We need to expand our role as an information source to make sure people have access to information that will help them become more active and lead healthier lives. It may also mean reaching out and touching those people we don't normally see or serve. These are likely to be just the people the Surgeon General's office was targeting; people who don't currently get enough physical activity in their daily lives. Look around and brainstorm locations and strategies to reach these people. Can we hold information sessions in libraries? Can we set up a yoga yoga (yō`gə) [Skt.,=union], general term for spiritual disciplines in Hinduism, Buddhism, and throughout S Asia that are directed toward attaining higher consciousness and liberation from ignorance, suffering, and rebirth. demonstration at the grocery store? Where and in what ways can we spread the word? The last segment of the educational role is that of a role model. The "do as I say and not as I do" philosophy has been around for years and we all know that it very rarely works. It's time for our profession to step up the plate (so to speak) and practice what we preach preach v. preached, preach·ing, preach·es v.tr. 1. To proclaim or put forth in a sermon: preached the gospel. 2. . Encourage employees to come in early to workout Workout Informal repayment or loan forgiveness arrangement between a borrower and creditors. workout 1. The process of a debtor's meeting a loan commitment by satisfying altered repayment terms. or walk. Start a monthly or weekly healthy lunch bunch. Hold your own version of the Healthy Habit healthy habit Good habit, see there Olympics. The CDC See Control Data, century date change and Back Orifice. CDC - Control Data Corporation in Atlanta did just that when they created a health promotion program for their employees around the country; the program was field tested before they made recommendations to the rest of us. Engagement In addition to education, we have to engage the public. We must continue to plan programs, provide facilities and schedule events and activities. It's great to see all those kids running up and down the soccer field, but that's not enough. We need to engage the attention, the interest and the involvement of that 80% of the people who aren't running up and down the field or even walking through the park. We need to offer "Getting Started" clinics for children, adults and seniors that feature a variety of activities and give people the information and skill instruction they need to get it in gear. We could consider offering "Activity Sampler sampler, sample piece of needlework or embroidery, of silk, cotton, or worsted, for the preservation of some pattern or as an example of the ability of a child or a beginner. In museums and private collections there are samplers dating from as early as 1643. " packages where people sign up to try out several different physical activity programs, a new one each week. We need to offer and continue to offer the kinds of health and well classes that have permeated the recreation arena in the last decade. Classes in healthy cooking, stress management and other healthy lifestyles changes should be a prominent part of our offerings. Although we must be careful about how we promote and run these programs. Remember we aren't the play police but the quality of life enhancers. We want people to be happy not harangued. Empowerment em·pow·er tr.v. em·pow·ered, em·pow·er·ing, em·pow·ers 1. To invest with power, especially legal power or official authority. See Synonyms at authorize. 2. A third role that we must adopt is that of empowerment; we must empower other related groups throughout the community to carry on our message. We have been long-time providers and planners and we've been successful in both roles. One aspect of the empower approach is to share the roles of planning and providing by partnering with other organizations. The planning and providing can be augmented by cooperating, coordinating and collaborating. Parks and recreation is well positioned to take the lead in community empowerment. From preschoolers to senior citizens, from natural to human resources The fancy word for "people." The human resources department within an organization, years ago known as the "personnel department," manages the administrative aspects of the employees. , we are a likely starting point Noun 1. starting point - earliest limiting point terminus a quo commencement, get-go, offset, outset, showtime, starting time, beginning, start, kickoff, first - the time at which something is supposed to begin; "they got an early start"; "she knew from the for bringing collective resources together. In addition to community empowerment, our profession must undertake the empowerment of individuals as well. This transition from providing leisure time activities to facilitating leisure time behavior may be a bit more subtle but no less important. It's all about helping people to become less dependent upon formal, structured programs for their participation and more independent and self-directed in their use of leisure time. We need to become creators of opportunities and facilitators of leisure time activities. Much of this shift involves a mental re-arrangement of how we perceive ourselves as park and recreation providers. Our departments should become experts at the variety of different recreation opportunities within our area and serve as an information dispenser so people can best use their time. Our role can be one of helping people with similar interests find one another and pursue these interests collectively. Most recreation professionals are experts at coordinating specific programs, which result in numerous short-term opportunities for participants. This role can be expanded to include other areas outside recreation that may also create long-term opportunities: clubs, support groups and networks. How else can we become opportunity creators and leisure facilitators. The possibilities are endless. We can become the activity clearinghouse, the participant connector, the volunteer coordinator, and the head collaborator with all these roles designed to help people become educated (about what's happening and what they might be interested in doing), engaged (in interesting activities and with other like-minded participants) and empowered to continue to pursue healthy quality-of-life opportunities. Evaluation In our society, the term evaluate has always carried with it a somewhat negative, judgmental judg·men·tal adj. 1. Of, relating to, or dependent on judgment: a judgmental error. 2. Inclined to make judgments, especially moral or personal ones: connotation con·no·ta·tion n. 1. The act or process of connoting. 2. a. An idea or meaning suggested by or associated with a word or thing: . Evaluation, as a recreator's role in the 21st century, will revert re·vert v. 1. To return to a former condition, practice, subject, or belief. 2. To undergo genetic reversion. back to its more literal translation This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please help Wikipedia by adding references. See the for details. This article has been tagged since September 2007. and will come to mean signifying Signifyin' (slang) is an African-American rhetorical device featuring indirect communication or persuasion and the creating of new meanings for old words and signs. Signifying, in this sense, includes repetition and difference, implication and association, combining words and value and worth. The "evaluate" portion of our professional role will encompass two different tasks. The first task involves our role as advocates. We must become far more effective as spokespeople for the value of parks, recreation, leisure-time, and open space. We need to become experts at illustrating the worth of leisure-time physical activity upon the personal health of individuals as well as the overall economic and social well-being of our community and society. We need to continue to serve as advocates for the under-served members of our society who are most in need of the recreative rec·re·ate v. rec·re·at·ed, rec·re·at·ing, rec·re·ates v.tr. To impart fresh life to; refresh mentally or physically. v.intr. To take recreation. and health benefits of our facilities, natural areas and programs. The second task within this role relates to signifying value and worth. For too many years we have been measuring or evaluating the same things. How much money have we generated through fees and charges? How many more people have attended our programs this year? We can agree that numbers and dollars have their place, but they aren't the only focal point focal point n. See focus. of evaluation or at least they shouldn't be as we head toward the future. New types of data and information will signify sig·ni·fy v. sig·ni·fied, sig·ni·fy·ing, sig·ni·fies v.tr. 1. To denote; mean. 2. To make known, as with a sign or word: signify one's intent. our value. This is already being proven today with examples like the Adirondack Trail, the first national park operated without paid employees whose upkeep is in the hands of volunteers from hiking clubs. It is also proven by statistical data like the Money magazine survey on the "Best Places to Live in America," which indicates that clear air and water are high priorities for people in their decision about where to live. All of these new roles are aimed at the same objective we have been pursuing since our profession began, enhancing quality of life. It's about time It's About Time may refer to:
It's about moving into the future. It's about infusing the "what" we do with a renewed emphasis upon the "why" and transforming our roles so we focus upon valued and more visible aspects of quality of life including Active Living/Healthy Lifestyles. RELATED ARTICLE: The 4E's: Emerging Roles for Parks and Recreation Education * Create and Raise Awareness * Provide Information * Serve as Role Model Engagement * Schedule areas and facilities * Plan Programs * Provide Activities Empowerment * Cooperate, Collaborate, Coordinate * Create Opportunities * Facilitate Self-Directed Pursuits Evaluation * Promote the Values and Benefits * Serve as Advocate for Others * Identify and Quantify Quality Of Life Indicators Education Develop a list of the holistic Holistic A practice of medicine that focuses on the whole patient, and addresses the social, emotional, and spiritual needs of a patient as well as their physical treatment. Mentioned in: Aromatherapy, Stress Reduction, Traditional Chinese Medicine benefits of youth and lifetime sports to share with parents List the benefits of moderate physical activity in your press releases Conduct a slide show-activity demonstration at senior citizens housing Start a lunch time or before work walking group at your office Offer to serve as a resource to area hospitals with cardiac rehab programs Hold a Ready, Set, Retire class at local corporation promoting benefits of leisure-time activities brochure Engagement Create a youth sports program where every child has a chance to learn, play, and grow Conduct a series of "Getting Started" classes for a variety of different physical activities Sponsor an afternoon of line dancing line dancing Noun a form of dancing performed by rows of people to country and western music or yoga the next week at housing site Invite other departments or organizations nearby to join in the walking Provide recovering heart patients with discounts or special invites to appropriate physical activity classes Take a class participants on a tour of local public and commercial facilities as a welcome to retirement activity Offer your facility to local restaurants on a rotating ro·tate v. ro·tat·ed, ro·tat·ing, ro·tates v.intr. 1. To turn around on an axis or center. 2. basis for healthy cooking demonstrations Empowerment Schedule times for less formal "pickup Pickup A gain in yield made by selling one bond and buying another. Also referred to as "yield pickup." Notes: When the present yield is relatively low compared to the longer-term yields, pickups will be done by investors trying to increase the yield and duration of their " games at local park Take participating into the community to help them get started under real conditions Assist seniors in starting a dancing or yoga club Solicit ideas from group and assist them in starting their own activity groups Publish pictures or progress of participants to encourage others to become a part of their own recovery Contact participants to see if they'd like to serve as volunteers within your department Encourage participants to share recipes and healthy cooking tips with others |
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