GLOBAL VISION PROJECT: Global Vision of Rehabilitation
and Recreation for People with Disabilities in the 21st Century

PROGRAM:
"Seven Elements of A Successful Recreation Activity"

by Prof. John A. Nesbitt, Ed.D., CTRS, Pres/CEO
Special Recreation for disABLED International

The recreation experience is enhanced by the seven, actually, eight elements. Any professional or volunteer leader should keep these in mind when planning and evaluating a recreation activity or program.

I. GOAL COMPONENT.
Every recreation activity should be goal oriented. The goal should be a conscious, public, meaningful goal. No one can achieve a goal unless they have goal. The participant should start out thinking and saying, "I want to ... be a champion ... do my best ... do that at least once ... get recognition from doing that ... get the enjoyment of doing that ... give it a try ... have fun ... laugh out loud ... learn that ... make one of those ... win ... prove that I can do that ... show I can do it ... try that ... win ...." At the close of the recreation activity the participant should have a sense not of "killing time" but of achieving a goal or goals.

II. SOCIAL COMPONENT.
Every recreation activity should have a strong social component. The recreation might be performed with a stable group of friends and acquaintances. The stronger the bounds between the participants become, the better. If the recreation activity is a solitary hobby -- drawing or wood working -- there should be clubs or groups where the recreator can share experiences, exchange insights, display creations, and make friends. Hopefully, the social experiences lead to lasting friendship and relationships and social satisfactions.

III. IMPORTANCE COMPONENT.
Every recreation activity should be important. It should have meaning to the individual participants and to the group. Recreation activities without importance degenerate to "killing time ... passing time ... dreading time ...."

IV. OPTIMISM COMPONENT.
Every recreation activities should be imbued with buoyancy, cheerfulness, high hopes, and optimism. Granted, some people are born in despair. But, recreation works when people are positive. The recreation experience should evoke optimism in the anticipation of the recreation experience, the recreation experience, and the recollection of the recreation experience.

V. NEW EXPERIENCE COMPONENT.
Recreation activities should provide avenues to new experience because every person wants and needs new experience. The new experience might be new people in the group, or some changes in and among the group. The new experience might be a new subject, or use of a new medium, or the introduction of new equipment or materials. "Something New" should be part of the planning and of the evaluation of the activity.

VI. PHYSICAL COMPONENT.
Every recreation activity should have a physical component -- laughing, light exercise, moving about, stretching, walking. Physical movement should be incorporated into recreation whenever and however possible and no matter how little. The physical activity should be a fun, invigorating part of the recreation activity. Even if the recreation activity is sedentary, there is nothing wrong with a "stretch break" or a little "get the blood flowing" movement activity.

VII. HAPPINESS COMPONENT.
Every recreations activity should serve to allow, evoke, and further the expression of people's basic happiness. The world is full of myths and superstitions about who should be unhappy and when. Angst, crisis, depression, loneliness, and melancholy are not the foundations of human existence. Satisfaction, stability, optimism, relationships, and joy are the human condition. They should be stimulated and paraded. There is no human condition where happiness can not be expressed.

THE RECREATION LEADER. Every recreation activity needs a recreation leader (paid or professional) who is an expert in providing the "Recreation Seven" elements in any recreation activity. Her or his personality, skills, and energy instill and evoke the "Recreator Seven" in the clients, members, participants, or patients.
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GLOBAL VISION PROJECT:
Global Vision of Rehabilitation and Recreation
for People with Disabilities in the 21st Century
A JOINT PROJECT BY:
Disability International Foundation AND
Special Recreation for disABLED International

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