Recreation as a Developmental Experience

Issue Editors' Notes 1 Lawrence R. Allen, Robert J. Barcelona Executive Summary 5 1. Leisure, recreation, and play from a developmentalcontext 13 Linda L. Caldwell, Peter A. Witt This article provides a platform for this special issue onrecreation and youth development by examining how and under whatconditions play, recreation, and leisure contribute to adolescentdevelopment. 2. Positive youth development within a family leisurecontext: Youth perspectives of family outcomes 29 Peter J. Ward, Ramon B. Zabriskie This article presents an extensive review of the literature onfamily leisure and its impact on youth development, and addressesimplications for families and youth programs. 3. Back to the future: The potential relationship betweenleisure and education 43 David S. Fleming, Lawrence R. Allen, Robert J. Barcelona The authors propose a series of four developmental stages for amore purposeful integration of leisure and educationaloutcomes. 4. Recreation as a component of the community youthdevelopment system 59 Corliss Outley, Jason N. Bocarro, Chris T. Boleman This article provides an overview of how recreation fits in acommunity youth development framework and focuses on three caseexamples. 5. Youth development and the camp experience 73 Barry A. Garst, Laurie P. Browne, M. Deborah Bialeschki A comprehensive overview of the evidence linking campparticipation and a range of positive youth development outcomes ispresented, including a discussion of ongoing American CampAssociation research efforts across a range of camp settings andcontexts. 6. Outdoor-based play and reconnection to nature: Aneglected pathway to positive youth development 89 Fran P. Mainella, Joel R. Agate, Brianna S. Clark This article outlines the arguments for a new outdoor-basedplay movement and discusses some programs and initiatives engagedin the effort. 7. Adventure-based programming: Exemplary youth developmentpractice 105 Jim Sibthorp, Cass Morgan This article outlines the evidence for adventure-based programsas prototypes of ideal positive youth development settings, anddiscusses the features of adventure programs that make themdevelopmental. 8. A competency-based approach to preparing staff asrecreation and youth development leaders 121 Robert J. Barcelona, Amy R. Hurd, Jennifer A. Bruggeman This article outlines the competencies of recreation and youthdevelopment professionals, and discusses methods and examples forintegrating competency models through academic preparation,continuing education, and staff training. 9. Reframing recreation as a public policy priority141 Phillip Lovell The author, an advocate for education policy, discusses thepotential role of recreation in addressing a wide range of academicand social issues, and provides suggestions for reframing therecreation field to gain traction with key funders andpolicymakers. Index 151