WHY HOT HOLD A . TRAINING INSET IECIS ON THE K.U. CAMPUS Conducted by a Steff From the NATIONAL RECREATION ASSOCIATION The National Recreation Association of America, sponsored by the Department of Physical Education of the University of Kansas, will offer a one-week Recreation Training Institute, May 16-20, I F an advance enrollment of 75 members is secured by April 10th. We will use every available facility to bring this institute to Lawrence, but YOUR cooperation is needed. WHY have a Recreation Training Institute? * To train volunteers for War Time Commmity Recreation programs in Kansas. * To bring new vision, inspiration, techniques and activities. * To revitalize existing programs. * To develop higher leadership standards. * To help volunteers obtain better results and give better service. FOR WHOM will the Institute be held? * For those volunteers who are concerned with 2 eS community. * Chamber of Commerce Secretaries a * Service Clubs: Rotary, Kiwanis, Co-Op, Lions, etc. * Farm Bureaus 7 * Business and Professional Women's Clubs * Fraternal Organizations: Elks, Masons, 1.0.0.F., Eagles, etc. * Y.W.C Ae = Y.M.C.A. * Youth Clubs: Boy Sgouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H Clubs. * Churches and Leaders of Youth. — * Camp Cowsellors. * American Legion. * Parent-Teacher Associations. + Community Reoreation Councils. 4 * Women's Clubs - A.A.U.W., League of omen Voters, Soroptimist, City Clubs, ete. * Physical Sducation Directors. * Anyone interested in this type of work. WHAT Se Que Gontent of auch « sored” * Activity programs * Techniques * Organizati onal procedures * Practical suggestions * Music for fun * Mixers * Parties for special events DAILY SESSIONS - May 16 - 20 - 7:00 to 10:00 pele 7:00 © 8:20 Lecture-discussion 8:20 - 8:30 Intermission 8:30 ~10:00 Practical activities Setarsey. r Sessions : = 3 Bele | 2:00 ~ 4:00 peme PEES for the Institute: - General fee for @tire course $1.50 Studenf fee | (1.00 Saturday sessions only 050 11:30 Tuesday, March 14 -- Pat Rooney, Field Representative of the National Recreation Association. National Recreation Association acts as a clearing house for all community recreation problems. Community recreation fits into the picture of American life - it is nothing new to America. The movement started in 1870 in Boston. All such movements are first started off because somebody felt they were good and necessary. The movement is then .usually taken up| by an organiced club or group; next, into the hands of a group @. little more highly organized, with part-time leaders; then into full-time leadership. Community recreation has moved through this evolution. Community recreation is today recognized as one of the necessary functions of government - is as necessary in a cormunity as an adequate sewage system, or an adequate water supply. In 1942 1500 communities operated a program of some sort - playgrounds, swimming pools, etc. Out of this number, 500 had a full-time program under trained professional leadership. These trained leaders - and school teachers - complement each other. Classes of activities in community recreation; 1. Playgrounds (the keystone) oF Not alone for eHildren. Should be located in neighbor- hood within easy reach of people living there - a focal point for all activities in that neighborhood - two to = . five acres. This is where most communities start out in the develop- ment of their community recreation. 2. Centers Some are built expressly for the purpose of serving leisure time - art centers, gymasiun, auditoriun, craft rooms; or - centers being operated part time, such as schools, when community recreation takes over after school hours, using indoor facilities; teen-age centers - about S500 at present time. Se Service Training for betterment of people - volunteer training. 4. Leagues and tourmaments Should cover more than athletics. 5e Special events ? 3 ‘Uniting community in celebration of a particular event - Easter Egg Roll, 4th of July celebration, etc. - oppor- tunity to bring people together - do not Yet those events slip by. The above are the five great fields in any good community recreation programe Administration: Vho should operate the Community recreation program? In any ieee unity you will have at least 3 - and perhaps 4 civic groups vitally interested in their pony eet) a ty for recreation. 1. Schools and school boards have control of indoor facilities, toa ‘large degree - gym., craft shops, etc. Remember that the board of education is not the owner, but rather the trustee of school properties. The taxpayers are the owners, and the teachers are responsible to the taxpayers. 2e Traditional emphasis upon leadership a system is no more effective than that which the teacher employs and that which the superintendent of schools employs. What is true of education is also true of recreation - you cannot have it without Beet leadership. schools should be expected to take a definite respon- sibility in the development of a community recreation programe Ss Park boards = have control over most outdoor facilities a ; parks, softball diamonds, playgrounds, etc. ‘+ 4, City governing body - the power for a community recreation “movement must start with the city governing body. The citizens express themselves through ee activities and service clubs - PTA, Kiwanis, University Women's ee etc. Community’ recreation should not depend upon handouts for its existence but should have a definite place in the city's tax budget. Diversified program - must have a wide range of activities for all the people. Full-time trained leadership - program cannot attain success under part-time volunteer leadership. Best program in Kansas is being carried out in Wichita at the present time. Supported under Board of Park Commissioners. Program in summer time - playgrounds, swimming pools - neighborhood playgrounds - art museum - wading pools - dowmtown arts and crafts center open from 9 a.m. to ll pem. for adults (ceramics, weaving, building crafts, etc.) Progrem has been somewhat neglected in fall, winter and spring because school board claimed they were taking care of intramural activities for children during school months. There is now a swing over to after-school programs. . . What has happened to community recreation since the war began? It is now in its period of greatest expansion which cannot be compared to any other period. Reasons: shortly before the war the American people through the press, radio, government bureaus, etc., became increasingly aware of their neighbors - the people next door, and were called upon to cooperate with each other in various activities. Prior to this he hardly gave his neighbor a nod in the morning. Government asked us to cooperate on many, many things. People have learned to work together and have learned to do things together that they never had done before. This is one of the greatest things that has come out of the war period. Government also asked local communities to solve their ow problems with changing population. Troops sent to different localities by the thousands - colored and white. Recreation at the base or camp was taken care of by military authorities. The job for the communities was when the soldier came to town. Some communities set up defense or war recreation committees, realizing that the soldier came to town to do something. These committees began to act as a liaison between camp and town. the USO was designed _to go into communities where the comunity itself could not handle the military load. Some of the greatest service men's centers today have been set up by these war recreation committees - stage door canteen, Chicago Service Men's Club, the Pier at Miami Beach - all run by local communities with local leadership. Ra ‘ fs people became interested in recreation for soldiers they be- gan to realize also that recreation was necessary for their om community. This is ‘the second greatest thing that has come about in this war period. These people are now devoting their energies to local recreation. In Wichita, Kansas, a war recreation committee served the military as well as the war plant workers. $18,000 from the community chest was expended there for the teen-age program. In Omaha, Nebr., the same type of development took place. ; War recreation committees became the forerunner in handling the third great thing in this war period - the juveniles or teen-agers. — People have suddenly become conscious that in their community are boys and girls who ina very distinct way are often apt to break over because they have an excess of energy - normal to adolescence - and people have | become, worried. Juvenile delinquency Will never be eradicated by any one program because it is caused by too many things. Recreation won't do much for these boys and girls. Too much reliance has been placed upon the juke boxes in the community center. This cannot take the place of home, church and school. ee? ND_w | - i? WESTERN UNION ‘Yarch 16, 1944 Des Moines, Iowa. Dr. Forrest Ce Allen. The Asses: will be happy to cooperate with your department to make available to Lawrence and adjacent commmities as well as your students a Recreation Training Institute with Mrs. Anne Livingston, week May 16 through May 20. Accordingly, arrange schedule May 15 p.m. meetings with planning committees and Mrs. Livingston on Sires content of course, background of registrants, sia WeEH community and with students, and so forth. You will receive general publicity naterial and mats, as well as supply of posters for University and comunity. Pat Roohey SUGGESTIONS FOR PLANNING FIELD VISITS by Miss Ethel Bowers National Recreation Association First Days Entire forenoon shovld be reserved for office conferences. Noon - Formal luncheon meetings should not be scheduled on this day if at all possible. Afternoon and Evening - Meetings, conferences, interviews or institute sessions as desirede Other Days: Not more than two two-hour institute sessions in one day, especially if other appointments or meetings are planned. Be sure to make appointments for her to meet key people, lead- ing lay women, especially those who are in a position to help promote the program, Also allow time for individual staff conferences (without interruptions) and for staff meeting or training coursee Last Days This is the best time for her to meet the Recreation Commission - or Boards to confer with influential city officials if desired; to place suggestions before key industrialists, civic leaders, lay women, etc. Time should be allotted for an advisory con- ference with the recreation superintendent, for preparing these suggestions and for a final conference at the conclusion of the visite If time permits and the recreation program will be benefited thereby, Miss Bowers will be glad to meet with allied organization leaders, P»TeAs, Kiwanis or other civic clubs, YeWeCoAe, civilian volunteer recreation committees, church leaders, settlement staffs or board members, any workers who are in a position to organize and promote recrea- tions She should not be scheduled to address children's groups, or lead games or conduct parties except as they are an outgrowth of the institute work. “Her most important contribution is leadership training and promotion of recreation, working with adult leaders, professional or volunteer, not playing games with childrens Professional and volunteer leaders in all interested organizations as mentioned above, should be urged to attend such institute classes. If an adult leader wishes to bring one or two junior leaders, fifteen years or older, who thoroughly understand attendance is solely for the purpose of obtaining training, they should be welcomed, but only if accompanied by a leader or parente NATIONAL RECREATION ASSOCIATION 315 Fourth Avenue New York 10, Ne Ye 10-43 SUGGESTIONS FOR RECREATION INSTITUTES Conducted byjclidia@dediemeanset National Recreation Association Material Covered: Each institute is planned by the local committee or recreation executive, based on local needse The outlines in this bulletin are merely suggestive. Please select or make up your own institute subjectse Balances The best plan seems to be one half lecture-discussion, one half activitics, but any combination may be arrangede Time s A two hour session with no intermission, but with a frequent change of pace and activity seems satisfactorye Sometimes - when people some long distances for an eve- ning institute, a three hour one is held with an inter- mission, in the middle. Places A friendly hall with movable chairs is better than a cold draughty, barnlike gym with bleacherse Almost any quiet room will doe Equipment: — A blackboard is an absolute necessity. For a two day or longer institute a piano and a pianist, one hour each evening is helpful. Movable chairs and a table are recommended. ; Hours s : One or two: sessions a day are recommended, not threée 9:30 = 11:30 AeMe if a morning session is necessary or 10: = 1g 1 = 3 PM, if scout and other lay leaders are to attend, - 4=- 6 if oe are expectede 7:30 = 9:50 P. Me - or earlier or later, according to