Chapter 12

12

CampusCampusand Communityand Community

H. Joey Gray

C H A P T E R

Learning Outcomes

• Be able to define and identify microcosms within the campus and community settings.

• Better understand recreational activities and associations offered in campus and community settings.

• Know the benefits associated with leisure participation.• Understand the importance of getting involved in

campus and community activities.• Be familiar with some of the leisure theories associated

with microcosms, campus recreation, and community recreation.

Microcosms

• A miniature world; a world within a world

• Examples:– Friends

– Social groups

– Fraternities and sororities

– Clubs

– Sports

– Recreational sports

(continued)

Microcosms (continued)

• How is your campus community a microcosm?

• How is community recreation a microcosm?

People come together based on their common recreational interests. What microcosms do you belong to?

Leisure Theory Tied to Macrocosms

Serious leisure: the methodical pursuit of an amateur, a hobbyist, or a volunteer activity so substantial and interesting that the participant centers their life on special skills, knowledge, and experience associated with the leisure pursuit

Campus Community as a Microcosm

• Associated with being valued as an individual, gaining acceptance within the community, and improving individual quality of campus social life

• Theory of student involvement: The more involved students are in extracurricular and academic activities, the more they experience enhanced socioemotional development, particularly though sport.

(continued)

Campus Community as a Microcosm (continued)

• The more involved students are,– the more likely they will be to have positive developmental

experiences, and

– the less likely they will be to drop out of school.

• Increased involvement in chosen microcosms increases feelings of cohesion to the campus community, increasing the likelihood that students will want to stay long enough to graduate.

Community Recreationas a Microcosm

• Sport clubs, social groups, family, neighbors, friends, and other recreational groups all consist of microcosms.

• An example is a sticker of a soccer ball on minivan window. How is this connected to a microcosm?

What Does All This Mean For You?

• Be aware of your surroundings and the microcosms you join. – Are these activities you enjoy?

– Do the people you recreate with share your beliefs and values?

– Do you enjoy the time you spend with your friends? Is there some activity or a group you have always wanted to learn or be a part of?

• Explore your campus and community recreational opportunities now and seize the opportunities that you have. – Explore opportunities you might find interesting.

– Take chances and join in activities you always wanted to attempt. You never know what doors campus and community involvement might open for you.

Exploring Your Campusand Campus Recreation

• How many activities offered on campus can you name?

• Are you aware of the numerous recreational opportunities and student organizations that are offered on your campus? Surprisingly, many students are not!

• Campus recreation and activities are a great way to meet people who share similar interests or to try new activities.

(continued)

Exploring Your Campusand Campus Recreation (continued)

• The key to exploration is knowing where to look (e.g., Internet, student paper, flyers, posted schedules around campus).

• But do not stop there! – Student affairs department often has a list of activities;

offerings may be under “student life” or “student programs.”

– Check with student government association and individual academic departments for clubs to join (some clubs are open to ALL students, not just majors).

(continued)

Exploring Your Campusand Campus Recreation (continued)

• When exploring your campus, look for five major opportunities for involvement:1. Campus recreation 2. Student programs3. Student organizations and clubs 4. Greek life5. Learning environments

• Realize that at no other time in your life will you have this many recreational opportunities for such little cost.

• Do not make the mistake of thinking you will have time later.

Reasons Some StudentsDon’t Participate

• If there are so many great recreational and social opportunities on campus, why do students not participate?

• Some of the top reasons students do not participate in campus recreation programs: 1. Lack of awareness

2. Lack time

3. Lack of a partner

4. Feeling inadequate in skill

Discover Opportunities

• What is the primary goal of campus recreation?

• What are some of the benefits of participation in campus recreation?– Stress management

– Maintaining a healthy lifestyle

– Socialization

– Having fun

(continued)

Discover Opportunities (continued)

• Most popular programs offered by campus recreation centers: recreational sport, fitness and aquatics, outdoor opportunities, and student programs

• Recreational sport was coined due to the popularity of informal sport programs. It’s an umbrella term that refers to intramurals, extramurals, club sports, informal sports, and instructional sports.

Benefits of Recreational Sport

• Decreased stress• Improved social integration • Enhanced self-esteem• Improved grades• Student development

Participation: What the Research Shows

Who participates in campus recreation activities more:

• Men or women? Why?

• Freshmen or upperclassmen? Why?

Many recreational sport opportunities build lifelong friendships, skills, and love for the sport.

Leisure Constraints Theory

• Leisure impediments interfere with participation.– Interpersonal constraints are barriers to participation that

deal with social relationships.

– Intrapersonal constraints are individual psychological factors that get in the way of leisure participation (e.g., ability level, personality needs, prior experiences, or supposed peer group attitudes).

– Structural constraints are factors that intrude between leisure preference and participation.

• How does leisure constraints theory apply to participation in campus recreation activities?

Student Programs

• Also known as student activities, student affairs

• Somewhat unique from campus recreation, most activities are created, programmed, and delivered by students

• Examples are movies, concerts, comedians, lectures, variety shows, and fine arts

Casual and Serious Leisurein Student Programs

• Casual leisure: intrinsically rewarding activities requiring little skill or training to enjoy – Going to the movies

– Hanging out with friends

• Can serious leisure be applied to student programs? If so, what are some examples?

Other Campus Activity Opportunities

• Your campus offers a host of other student program opportunities:– Student organizations and clubs

– Greek life

– Religious organizations

– Cultural opportunities

(continued)

Other Campus Activity Opportunities (continued)

• Student unions and other venues on campus are filled with social learning environments:– Cyber cafes

– Study spaces

– Open green spaces

Volunteer and Job Opportunities on Campus

• Committees

• Student boards

• Service learning

• Employment in campus recreation and on campus: trip leader, referee, student director, program chair, events coordinator, fitness instructor, and student program specialist

(continued)

Volunteer and Job Opportunities on Campus (continued)

• Internships, practicum learning, and field experiences: life skills that will serve you personally and professionally

• Evaluations

What Do All These Opportunities Mean For You?

• You may never have as many recreational opportunities at such little cost.

• The mental health and physical benefits of frequent recreation are invaluable to staying healthy while in college.

• You are constantly building the habits you will carry forward, including in your fitness and leisure practices.

• Get involved in the planning process of the activities offered on your campus.

Exploring Your Community

• Community can refer to– a group of people living close to one another,

– a group of people sharing common interests (e.g., the scientific community),

– a group of people composing a distinct segment of the population (e.g., the gay community), or

– a group of people sharing a common identity (e.g., the Irish community).

(continued)

Exploring Your Community (continued)

• People bond through a shared purpose or shared interests, which reduce feelings of isolation.

• What is the difference between community recreation organizers and campus recreation and student programs?

Community Recreation

• A means for improving and maintaining societal cohesion and the quality of life; its development is dependent on social participation

• How might serious leisure and casual leisure be applied to community recreation?

Discover Opportunitiesin Community Recreation

• Activities may be organized by local recreation departments, which maintain facilities and plan, organize, and deliver programs.

• Community activities are adult and youth sports, cultural arts, senior centers, educational and instructional courses, aquatics facilities, wellness programs, and special events.

(continued)

Discover Opportunitiesin Community Recreation (continued)

• Includes creating and maintaining parks, lakes, playgrounds, lakes, walking trails, greenways, bike paths, dog parks, and skate parks.

• Free play opportunities are part of parks and recreation.

Community Centers

Play a role in community recreation and may be owned and operated by the local parks and recreation department or they may be privately owned.

• Privately owned community centers• YMCA centers • Jewish Community Centers• Boys and Girls Clubs• Fitness centers

Get Involved Now and in the Future

• Become an active voice for leisure pursuits, volunteer for advisory boards, assist with programs, and be an activist.

• National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is active in legislative efforts. RecreACTION Online is NRPA's policy and advocacy listserv tool.

(continued)

Get Involved Now and in the Future (continued)

• Volunteers also play a role in community recreation by providing experience, expertise, and labor. – Build relationships and bring communities together.

– Opportunities in community recreation (senior centers, youth coach, referee, event management); several activities are planned, organized, and implemented solely by volunteers.

– Serve as a volunteer to gain experience and skills for future employment.

Careers in Community Recreation

• Recreation director

• Athletics coordinator

• Facilities coordinator

• Aquatics director

• Events coordinator

• Marketing director

• Official or referee

• Grounds custodian

• Skills instructor

• Day camp counselor

• Entrepreneur or owner

Summary

• Microcosms are on campus and in the community.

• Campus recreation plays a role in leisure, but become aware of student programs, organizations and clubs, religious organizations, and cultural arts.

• Serious and casual leisure are in all aspects of campus activities and community recreation.(continued)

Summary (continued)

• Involvement fosters health, reduces stress, fosters social experiences, increases skills, and rejuvenates.

• Use knowledge to improve service delivery, and volunteer to serve on advisory boards, committees, and event delivery.