Christopher R. Edginton

History of the World Leisure Organization: a 50-year perspective and analysis

For more than 50 years, the World Leisure Organization (WLO) has engaged in providing technical support, advocacy and research activities to promote recreation and leisure on a worldwide basis. The purpose of this historical review is to provide a 50-year perspective and analysis of the activities of the WLO. The historical inquiry has been framed around seven (7) research questions focusing on: factors leading to its establishment; leadership; major policy statements; programmes, services and events; sources of financial support; and major publications. Initiated as an offshoot of the National Recreation Association in the USA, the organization was supported by its parent organization and the philanthropic generosity of industrialists and others. Located in New York City, New York (USA), the organization had close ties to the United Nations (UN) and its programmes during its formative years. Subsequently, changes in leadership required a relocation of the World Leisure Secretariat to the location of the Secretary General. Over time, the Secretariat has been moved to Canada and is now again located in the USA. Major global events of the WLO include the World Leisure Congress, World Leisure EXPO and the World Leisure Games. Other programmes of note which have been developed and continue to this day include World Leisure Centers of Excellence, World Leisure Commissions, World Leisure Chapters, World Leisure Academy and the World Leisure Honors and Awards programme.

A pathway to an integrative/holistic education: Camp Adventure Child and Youth Services (CACYS) – a model service learning programme

The purpose of this study was to investigate the growth trajectory of college and university students in core competencies between entering and exiting the Camp Adventure Child and Youth Services (CACYS) experience using Boks (2006) framework for undergraduate education. Boks competency framework included: communication, critical thinking, character development, citizenship, diversity, global understanding, widening of interest and career and vocational development. The sample comprised 82 college and university students serving for the first time as participants in CACYS. A repeated measures 3-phase design was used to collect data pre and post and after field service. Citizenship was the highest mean self-rating, and global understanding, communication and critical thinking were consistently the lowest across time. Results indicate that there was growth in all of participants’ core competencies from the baseline to end through the entire programme. The findings show that the core competencies can be taught and developed through experiential learning experiences. The study provides a model for linking undergraduate core competencies with parks, recreation, leisure and tourism curricula in an integrated and holistic fashion.

Youth Services: Strategies for Programming

Abstract Relational programming offers a new perspective for people working in youth services.

Health and physical education: a new global statement of consensus (from a Polish perspective)

Health and physical education: a new global statement of consensus (from a Polish perspective) Physical education has found itself in a difficult position; increasingly more voices are questioning its legitimisation on school curricula. There is an obvious need for performance standards and ways to measure the impact of physical education. Linking the benefits and outcomes of physical education to 21st Century core learning areas such as critical thinking, problem solving, the ability to operate with agility and adaptability, the ability to analyse information, communicate effectively and the ability to act innovatively, will be essential. One of the ways of enhancing its social value (and recognition) might be including and relaying more on health education. This paper draws some lines of direction for the pedagogy of these both subjects in the 21st Century referring to the Global Forum on Physical Education Pedagogy 2010 (GoFPEP 2010) and presenting its Statement of Consensus.

A content analysis of the World Leisure Journal: 1958–2012

The World Leisure Journal (2000–present) and its predecessor publication know as IRA Bulletin (1958–1972), WLRA Bulletin (1972–1980) and the WLRA Journal (1981–2000) have served as the major conduit for disseminating information regarding the activities of the World Leisure Organization (WLO) as well as advancing the body of knowledge in recreation and leisure studies and services. As Edginton has offered “over time, WLO has consistently offered its membership a publication highlighting the activities of the organization as well as, in recent year, advancing research and scholarly findings.” The purpose of this study was to conduct a historical content analysis of the World Leisure Journal and its predecessors from 1958 to 2012. Several areas were explored including: (1) core/primary themes as reflected in title, abstracts and keywords; (2) methodology of only research-based articles; (3) geographic distribution of authors; (4) gender of authors; and (5) affiliation of authors. The findings reveal that the geographic distribution of authors finds 44% are North Americans; 27% are European; 14% are drawn from Australia/Oceania; 8% from Asia; 3% from Africa; 2% from South America; and 2% from Middle East. When viewing authorship by gender, 70% of the authors were male and 30% were female. Slight more than 35% of the articles author(s) affiliation were with non-governmental organizations, followed by 24.2% from universities, colleges, or research institutions and 21.5% from the World Leisure and Recreation Journal/World Leisure Journal. A keyword analysis finds that the greatest percentage of articles emphasize a regional focus, followed by papers which focus on lifespan/age groups, leisure terms, leisure values/outcomes, culture/diversity, leisure management/programming and health/wellness. When viewing research methodologies employed 62.50% were identified as quantitative, 31.2% were identified as being qualitative, and 6.2% could be described as mixed method studies. The most prevalent research method utilized was survey research. The majority of articles published following the transition of the journal to a more research-focused one is that the majority of articles can be categorized as research/theoretical, followed by ones offering commentary, professional practice, conceptual frameworks, book reviews, philosophical and other.

Characteristics of Leisure Research: Trends over Three Decades

This article primarily explores the relationship between leisure and physical activity or what is known in the research literature as Leisure Time Physical Activity (LTPA). Outlining the challenges faced with the rise of obesity and overweight worldwide, a review of pertinent research investigations which reflect the impact of physical activity are included. In addition, the paper offers supportive documentation from the United Nations, World Health Organization and the World Leisure Organization regarding the fundamental concepts, declarations and terms advancing leisure, health and physical activity. Guidelines and benefits of physical activities are included and focus on the importance of a sustained program of moderate to vigorous participation. The primary benefits of physical activity involve the prevention of cardiovascular disease and fractures related to osteoporosis. Case studies from Hong Kong-China, South Africa and the United States are included in the presentation to highlight examples of programs throughout the world that have incorporated leisure and physical activity as themes in their development.

The United Nations system and World Leisure: an overview

Throughout the existence of the World Leisure Organization (WLO), a direct link to United Nations (UN) policies and programmes has been a steadfast aim of the Organization. WLO’s early efforts centred on cooperating with the UN and its affiliated agencies. In 1956, the Organization’s offices were located in the Carnegie Endowment International Center, directly on United Nations Plaza, just across from the UN Headquarters in New York City. The proximity to the UN in the early years of the Organization, in fact, assisted in defining and implementing its mission. The consultative status WLO holds with the UN as a non-governmental organisation has been defined as its most valued partnership (Edginton, 2007a, 2007b). The UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948, provides the moral and philosophical underpinning to WLO’s efforts. Article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that ‘‘Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.’’ In addition, Article 27 offers the following: ‘‘Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.’’ Further, several UN principles and covenants also support WLO’s mission, goals and priorities. These include the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979), and the Principles for Older Persons (1999). This three-part series of articles is dedicated to WLO and its relationship with the UN and UNESCO. The primary purpose of the series is to provide basic information regarding the UN and UNESCO and WLO’s historical and philosophical commitment to working with these important international bodies. This initial article provides basic information on the purpose of the UN and UNESCO and offers some historical reflections on WLO’s work with these organisations. WLO’s UN Representative, Geoffrey Godbey, outlines a strategy for creating opportunities for the WLO while attaining the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Andre Thibault, Vice-Chair of the World Leisure Board of Directors and UNESCO Co-representative, outlines UNESCO’s current priorities, focused on Africa and gender equality, and presents a strategy for building a new relationship with UNESCO. Finally, Hans d’Orville, Assistant Director-General for Strategic Planning, UNESCO, offers perspectives on the link between leisure and culture and its influence in terms of human and sustainable economic development.

The Impact of Brain Breaks Classroom-Based Physical Activities on Attitudes toward Physical Activity in Polish School Children in Third to Fifth Grade

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the Brain Breaks® Physical Activity Solutions in changing attitudes toward physical activity of school children in a community in Poland. In 2015, a sample of 326 pupils aged 9–11 years old from 19 classes at three selected primary schools were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups within the study. During the classes, children in the experimental group performed physical activities two times per day in three to five minutes using Brain Breaks® videos for four months, while the control group did not use the videos during the test period. Students’ attitudes toward physical activities were assessed before and after the intervention using the “Attitudes toward Physical Activity Scale”. Repeated measures of ANOVA were used to examine the change from pre- to post-intervention. Overall, a repeated measures ANOVA indicated time-by-group interaction effects in ‘Self-efficacy on learning with video exercises’, F(1.32) = 75.28, p = 0.00, η2 = 0.19. Although the changes are minor, there were benefits of the intervention. It may be concluded that HOPSports Brain Breaks® Physical Activity Program contributes to better self-efficacy on learning while using video exercise of primary school children.

Decreasing Patient Stress and Physician/Medical Workforce Burnout Through Health Care Environments: Uncovering the Serious Leisure Perspective at Mayo Clinic's Campus in Rochester, Minnesota

Abstract Health care environments are places of high stress for both patients and medical professionals. Although organizational efforts of workload and efficiency are often implemented to decrease both patient and physician/medical workforce stress, what is often overlooked is how leisure opportunities and programs located in day‐to‐day experiences and in physically built environments can increase both patient and medical staff enjoyment and pleasure, thus lowering patient stress and physician/medical staff burnout. Combining historical research on the leisure pursuits of Drs William J. Mayo and Charles H. Mayo, literature on leisure, stress, and burnout, and a case study methodology of Mayo Clinics campus in Rochester, Minnesota, the purpose of this study was to describe how the Serious Leisure Perspective (SLP) exists at Mayo Clinic and contributes to relieving stress among patients and preventing burnout among physicians.

Leisure, ethics, and spirituality

ABSTRACT Leisure, ethics, and spirituality are interwoven and contribute to one’s leisure choices and behaviours. Spirituality is one component of the quality of one’s leisure. Another element of leisure in relationship to spirituality is ethical or moral considerations. The choice of leisure is often governed by one’s belief that participation respects one’s spiritual convictions and faith traditions. Pieper [2009. Leisure: The Basis of Culture; The Philosophical Act. San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press, 69] writes, ‘the celebration of divine worship, then, is the deepest of the springs by which leisure is fed … though it must be remembered that leisure embraces everything, which without being merely useful, is an essential part of a full human existence’. Spiritual convictions and religious beliefs can provide an ethical framework for decision-making regarding leisure. This paper examines the relationship between spirituality, ethics, and leisure, and how one’s spirituality and ethical beliefs may influence leisure choices and experiences.