Leisurely Living

Monday, September 28, 2009

Assignment Three

Climb On is a membership only facility. The main purpose of this agency is to provide the suburbs with a way to enjoy rock climbing all year round.

The owner created this facility without profit being his main concern, but as providing the community, his family, and himself with what he believed was a good past time. The agency is funded through the owner and te membership based procedure. Climb On is a private membership organizatiopn, meaning you have to sign-up and pay to become a member and climb as you please, meaning that a group or an individual will pay to participate in this leisure activity. Climb On also conducts group climbs and birthday parties, while promoting insight on rock climbing.

What sets this agency apart from others is the way it is ran by the owner. The owner put an emphasis on this agency to provide "fun". The main age group that this agencny brings in are high school and college students, roughly ages 13- 22. The agency also promotes it's business to large groups, such as church groups. Since the agency is geared towards this age group, it provides a "diverse" way to practice leisurely activities. What this agency does that is significant is that it provides a service in a small town and isn't specifically geared towards making a profit.

The strength of this agency is that the main aspect or goal is based on a definition of leisure that we have studied, which was to have fun. Since this agency provides a place for pure fun, the people that are particpating get a comfortable feel, instead of worrying about the price. A weakness that this agency portrays is the fact that it is merely geared towards the suburbs, which may leave out other places, and the age group 13- 22 may only lure in business from that age bracket instead of others. Climb On fulfills it main objective, which is what the owner's main puprose was, to have FUN! Being apart of an activity that is both challenging and amusing the sense of having fun is met.

The Youth Men’s Christian Association aims itself to instill a since of religion in their member’s everyday lives. The YMCA prides itself on the respect the general public has for its organization and has three specific objectives. Its first aspiration is to allow “children and youth to deepen positive values, their commitment to service, their motivation to learn.” The Y’s has demonstrated its commitment to this goal by offering numerous classes in a variety of areas for children. Currently, the YMCA has almost 9.5 million members under the age of 18.

Their next objective is to ensure “families build stronger bonds, spend time together and become more engaged with their community. Lastly, on the individual level, they want to “strengthen spiritual, mental, and physical well-being. This organization has certainly kept to its word by building more facilities and serving over 20 million members. The YMCA is a non-profit group who relies largely on government funding. The age of their members vary from small child to senior citizens, and their membership fees also support the programs existence.

One of the main concerns for the organization is the how much it relies on the state of our country’s financial system. It has had to endure many hard times, and with each recession or depression our country has faced, there has been a noticeable drop in the number of YMCAs. While this is somewhat alarming, the group possesses man strengths as well. Their ability to mix religion with leisure has proven to be a phenomenal way to connect people with friend, families, and strangers alike. The YMCA is and organization that has been around for many years, and I don’t expect that to change.

Another leisure organization is Six Flags Great America. It is a commercial recreation facility and is located in Gurnee, Illinois. It is a major attraction to people of all ages. This amusement park has many attractions for everyone, so people will always have something to do while there are there. Some of these things are riding the roller coasters and other rides, going to the water park, going to the various shops, eating all types of food, or anything else they might find entertaining. By having all of these different attractions, Six Flags aims to brings families together to spend time with each other, and also to enjoy themselves at the same time. Some things that set this leisure service provider are all of the different things to do there. There are so many different things to experience there that no one would ever get tired of doing the same thing. There are many different divisions of this part too, so the set up is appealing to people of all different backgrounds. Some of these divisions are the Southwest Territory, and Marti Gras. There are also many other ones. These are some of the ways that Six Flags is able to relate to many different people from all different backgrounds better than other agencies. There really aren't too may downfalls to Six Flags except for the fact that it is a commercial recreation business so it does make a profit. This means you must purchase tickets to experience this. Now, in this time where people are losing jobs or taking pay cuts, people have less money for leisure. Because of this, people might not be able to afford tickets to get into Six Flags. Besides for that one downfall, there really aren't any others. Six flags is a place for entire families to go out and have a good time together, and i believe that this goal is accomplished by this amusement park. There are always pictures of whole families at Six Flags enjoying their time together with all of the different things to do. I believe that Six Flags Great America is a great leisure service provider and will continue to be in the future.

The EBSA isn't quite like any of the other organizations. They are an organization that is only based in one city. However, they are just as important as any national organization. The EBSA caters to a community that is both upper and lower class. Baseball and softball brings both of these sides together. The lower class in Evanston is rough and there are many bad influences for young children. What the EBSA aims to do is involve children in structured activities that get them away from bad influences and allows them to make friends and learn a great sport. The EBSA is sponsored by a number of local and national businesses which is another difference between it and these other associations. Excluding the small fee payed by families into the leagues, the majority of funds come from these sponsors. This is a great way to get more people involved in not only the EBSA, but in other local businesses as well. This leads to improvements in all aspects of the city. The entire Evanston community is involved in the EBSA. It is a safe place where people come together to watch kids play baseball. It is a place where friendships are made and baseball is taught. To me it does not have a weak point. For the service that it provides, it is perfect. When you think about it, the EBSA is the definition of leisure. It is a place where people are able to get away from their daily lives and enjoy the great game of baseball. It allows kids from both sides of the spectrum to come together and play a sport where there is no divider. The EBSA does what it intends to do, if anything they exceed at it. Compared to these other organizations, the EBSA may not be the most recognized. However, I believe it does the most good and provides the best definition of leisure.In conclusion, our research has shown us there are many different definitions of leisure. Each organization we focused on approached leisure from a different angle. It was interesting to see the varying purposes and goals of each organization. The definition of leisure can encompass so much, that we have realized it is almost impossible to give a precise definition of the word. Instead, we feel it can serve as a form of relaxation, heavy physical activity, play, or anything in between. The common goal we have found in most leisure-based organizations is that they strive to bring people together. They want to see people who share the same interests use their energy in a positive way. This project has shown the many different outlets of leisure and the numerous meanings the word may take.

Another place many find as a leisurely place to visit is the ARC. (Activites and Recreation Center) The ARC has many goals and objectives for the Univsity of Illinois, as well as its students and staff. The first of the ARC is to provide students and staff with a convient free place to work out as well as relax and enjoy each others company. The ARC is funded by Campus Recreation, who recieves money from the University. As I said earlier the ARC serves mostly students and faculty of the Univeristy, however it is not limited to just those inviduals. The key factor that seperates the ARC from all other workout faculites is that it is free with an I-card, there are many places students can go to work out but campus recretion faculites like the ARC and CRCE are the few that allow studnets in for free, and thats be honest that is the most important thing for students. Also campus recreation/the ARC put on Inturmural sports which for many students is a great way to stay in shape and stay competetive. the ARC has many strenghths; it is open at great hours suitable for all schedule types, it has state of the art faculites, and it has a friendly easy to work with staff. The only weakness I see with the ARC is how crowded it gets at times, but lets be honest that is what happens when you have a great facuilty like the ARC. I would have to say that the ARC definitely fulfills its goals and objectives as an organization. The ARC's goals are to provide students with a safe, cheap, fun environment to work out and it definitely does all three. As a student here there is no doubt in my mind that the ARC has got to be one of the best Campus Recreation Orginzations in the country. It fits anyone you might ask defintion of leisure, because it has so many differnet things you can do. If you want to relax, have some fun, get a good workout in, or just hang with friends the ARC is the place for you.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

The ARC and CRCE

These are pictures of The ARC and CRCE.

Introduction:

The ARC (Activities Rec reaction Center) and CRCE (Campus Recreation Center East) are great examples of Campus Recreation facilities. Both are located here on the campus of the University of Illinois. The basic goal of the ARC and CRCE are to allow students and faculty a nice convenient place to work out free of charge. Also these facilities provide more then just places to work out they offer so much more. Things like cooking classes and massages and so much more. The ARC and CRCE are great places for students to spend time either alone blowing off some steam, or with friends having a good time.

Background:

The ARC and CRCE are examples of a campus recreation business. As the name states both building are owned and operated by campus recreation. Both are a type of fitness and recreation building. Providing students and staff with all sorts of things, anywhere from weights, cardo machines, tracks, basketball, volleyball, racquetball, and many more. All this is free for students and faculty as long as they have there I-Card which is a great deal for students who that's face it struggle as it is with money.

This is a picture of some of the fine workout equpiment both the ARC and CRCE have to offer.

Employment:

Campus recreation is one of the top three employers on campus. With the ARC and CRCE being two of their biggest places for employment. So as far as employment goes there are many opportunities at both of these locations, as well as within campus recreation. There are many different types of jobs within both of these buildings. Some of the job options include; people who swipe cards to enter, employees who manage towels, basketballs, volleyballs, and more, cafe staff, life guards, and many more. Just like any business the more time you put in and the harder you work the more likely you are to move up the job ladder to a managerial position.

These are some of the people who make the ARC and CRCE run so smoothly.

New Trends:

As the times evolve on campus, Campus recreation has to keep up. This means the ARC and CRCE have many new trends. For example the ARC has personal TVs on several of their machines, as well as Ipod docs. Also both the ARC and CRCE have put in pools (the ARCs outdoor CRCEs indoor) which for students is a great workout as well as just a nice place to relax and get their tan on. Also the ARC has put in a new state of the art rock climbing wall. As far as none workout faculties are ARC has added a wellness center and a kitchen facility. Both these places allow students to do things they normally would not be able to do at an older campus recreation facility. All these options are nice new options for students and facility, and it just shows just how good of a job the ARC and CRCE are doing at keeping up with the recent trends.

CRCEs indoor pool and slide.

Definition of Leisure and its Benefits:

The ARC and CRCE definition of leisure might be a place for students and faculty to go blow off steam and relax from the pressures of everyday life. Whether its working out, enjoying some pickup basketball, or getting a nice massage the ARC and CRCE are a great place to spend time with friends and have a good time for free as long as they can simply remember to bring their I-card. So for everyone on campus to be able to have both these places as options to go is a huge benefit for all students and staff.

Synopsis:

The ARC and CRCE are great places for both students and faculty. It is a free place to have a good time and relieve your stresses. These facilities provide students with so much. I know that everyone I have talked to has nothing but positive things to say about either places. Campus recreation does a great job keeping students involved to make sure that they keep up on new trends and cater to students needs. Also campus recreation does a great job keeping students involved with their employment opportunities. Overall the ARC and CRCE are very important places for the university and students alike. With out the ARC and CRCE I know a lot of students who instead of the freshman fifteen, they would put on the freshman 45. Both places are state of the art facilities and I know I am very grateful to have them.

Yoonki Chun- Mettler Center

Intro: Paul Mettler, who is a physical therapist, founded Mettler center in 1990. Since then, it has evolved to become an important place for rebilitative care in Urbana-Champaign community. It provides physical therapy in order to treat pain, injury or physical-mobility problems.

Background: Mettler center is located at 2906 Crossing Court, Champaign , IL. Mettler center uses their motive slogan ‘Whole Life Fitness’. By so, it provides therapies, but also group exercise classes, one-on-one personal training, nutrition consultations, weight loss programs, rehabilitative fitness classes, medical services, and more. Their goal is to provide people with the best in Whole Life Fitness.

Employment opportunities: The center values one’s talent and diversity when hiring employers. They require hard-working, positive person. Also, they require certifications in the associated fields such as certification in physical therapy or Pilates instructors.

Current trends and issues: As more people are getting interested in wellness and healthy lives, Mettler center is assisting people with many classes such as Yoga, Pilates, and more. Also, one-on-one consultations concerning nutrition provide people about how to eat and what to eat. Additionally, recently, on august, Kids Camp was held where they instructed kids to cook healthy food and working out.

Definition of leisure: They value leisure as a time to enrich one’s life by doing activities that help people get healthier. Such activities like fitness programs and getting therapies, or even attending camps can be part of the societies leisure and also seek wellness.

Synopsis: After looking into the Mettler center, I found it fascinating because one of my favorite things to do during my leisure time is working out. I am very interested in working in one of these facilities so I already have achieved certification for personal training back in Korea and am planning to get one for physical therapy as well. I will find enjoyment in working in one of these facilities (and earn money too!!). Although it would be hard to work since I have to deal with individuals all the time, I find it manageable. My father always mentioned that, the best jobs that one can get is : a job where you can do things that you like, and jobs that benefit others, and a job where you can make living out of. Facilities like Mettler Center seems to meet the criteria above and I would love to work in one of them in the near future.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Six Flags Great America

Introduction
Six Flags Great America is a commercial recreation facility. It is located in Gurnee, Illinois, and is a major attraction to people of all ages. There are also many different attractions for everyone, so each person that visits this great place will have a wonderful time. Some of these attractions include the rides, entertainment, events, a water park, and a ton of food choices. Six Flags also offers help for anyone at the park who needs it. There are places right inside the gate for anyone with questions, and the staff can answer question for anyone who speaks English and Spanish so they can better assist people.

Background
Six Flags Great America is a commercial recreation business, meaning it makes a profit. This profit is made so that work can be done on all of the attractions to make them better, therefore making more people want to come. It is an amusement park for people of all ages to enjoy. Some of these attractions include 12 roller coasters, Hurricane Harbor Water Park, and various other rides and attractions for children or anyone else who doesn't like to ride the roller coasters.

This picture shows The Batman roller coaster. This along with 11 other roller coasters such as The Dark Knight, Raging Bull, Superman, Iron Wolf, American Eagle, Raging Cajun, The Wizzer, Viper, V2 Vertical Velocity, Demon, and Spacely's Sprocket Rocket, which is a junior roller coaster, make up some of the attractions at six flags.

Another main attraction at Six Flags is Hurricane Harbor. This is the water park located within the theme park, and is available to go to for no extra charge with a purchase of a ticket for the park. Some other attractions at Six flags are places for kids to go such as the two story Carousel and kids zones such as Wiggles World which is shown in the picture above. These attractions all exist to allow people to greatly enjoy their time spent at Six Flags.

Employment

There are many different ways to get your foot in the door at this theme park. There are many jobs offered such as ticket sales, life guarding at the water park,costume characters such as the characters from Looney Toons or one of the Superheroes, preparing food at one of the many different food kiosks or restaurants, working with games, landscaping, and many other different jobs. After working there for long enough, people are able to get promotions to managerial positions.

New Trends

As more and more people come to Hurricane Harbor Water Park inside of the theme park, workers for this amusement park keep thinking of new ways to keep the people entertained. A new trend spreading through various Six Flags amusement parks is the new water ride Buccaneer Battle. It is a ride where people are in a boat and soot water out of canons at various targets.

Definition of Leisure and Its Benefits

Six Flags definition of leisure is that it is a time where families can get away from the everyday world and have a fun time, whether it is relaxing in the lazy river, or riding the roller coasters. It's biggest benifit is the fact that it is a great time to be spent with family. With everyone working long hours, people don't have much time to spend as a family, so when they do get the occasional time to spend with family, they can do that at Six Flags.

Synopsis
Six Flags Great America is a great place for family fun. It attracts people from all over because of the great reputaion for fun and excitment experienced there.I have gone to Six Flags every year for as long as i can remember, and each time I go there, it is a memorable time. It is a great time to spend time with my family and friends, and that is why I believe a career at Six Flags would be a good one. Working at Six Flags would be a good career because you would be able to have a lot of fun while at work by riding the rides or just doing whatever you want at the park, and also because by working there, you would get to experience families being together everyday and see them having fun. Starting off working there might not be the greatest for some people, but others would find this a great way to start a career. It depends on personal preference as to if this amusement park would be a good career choice for them or not. It is a commercial recreation business, so it makes a profit, but the price of admission isn't all that expensive. Even still, I believe Six Flags Great America is a great place for recreation and leisure.

Leisure Definition Audrey Smith

Wednesday, September 2, 2009
This is a picture of me over spring break on the Royal Caribbean (Grandeur of the Seas) cruise to Costa Maya, and Cozumel, Mexico. I decided to rock climb this day along with numerous other activities that the cruise provided. I also consider going on vacation as a part of leisure, because it is a time to relax. This is what I consider leisure. I consider it a "time" when you have the time to do something you usually don't do, or that you do regularly and have a good time while doing so.
Posted by Audrey Smith at 6:55 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

YMCA by Britni Holtmann

The organization I have chosen to research is the Young Men’s Christian Association, otherwise known as the YMCA. The non-profit organization was founded on June 6, 1844 in England by a man named George Williams. The goal was to form a healthy getaway for the men who traveled to cities such as London for weeks at a time to work. Instead of commuting back and forth, these unfortunate males would live in overcrowded and socially unacceptable conditions.

During the United States Civil War, the organization suffered a significant drop in membership. The amount of men able to maintain their association with the group shrank to a third of its original size. President Abraham Lincoln formed a group to help the troops uphold their faith. After almost 5,000 volunteers and the distribution of nearly one million bibles it is safe to save the movement was a huge success.
Despite Lincoln’s feat, the war had taken its toll. By the end, there were only forty-nine Y’s left. After a hefty reconstruction period that lasted about four years, there were six hundred more operating facilities. These new buildings offered the YMCA a reformation. Instead of being dominated by volunteer help, the new Y’s included a fitness center and needed supervision around the clock. It wasn’t until this time that the YMCA centers showed a greater focus on physical well-being.

Just when it seemed YMCA was well on its way to being an extremely influential non-profit organization, its advancements came to a screeching halt. The Great Depression was to blame, and the Y’s were released from the government welfare tasks. YMCA was forced to prove its worth to the community in hopes of receiving governmental aid. In order to increase their members, the Y’s aimed to provide for the unemployed. Luckily, they received a great response and the YMCA was able to uphold its existence.

After some very rocky periods and questioning the future of the organization, the Young Men's Christian Association finally found level ground. Monetary was back in a big way and more facilities began to spring up. Also, the YWCA was formed. This organization functioned the same way YMCA did, but was made for women. This advancement allowed the group to multiply in size. Nearly six million dollars was put towards the YMCA and YWCA and 98 new facilities were built.

Above is a picture of the Monroe County YMCA. As you can see, the buildings have become very modern work out facilities. After speaking with a YMCA representative, I have learned a great deal more about the group. They pride themselves on the respect the general public has for them and agree they have underwent many transformations since their beginning. I was told that a larger effort is being placed on maintaing the religious aspect of the group because it has become less of focus as of late. There are several career paths available for young and old at the Y and within the corporate organization. Anything ranging from lifeguard, to camp instructor, to receptionist, to climbing the corporate ladder would allow any one of us to hold a stable job while being involved with the recreation world. When asked what their definition of leisure was, they replied with a simple, "There is no one definition. My definition will certainly differ from yours, which will differ from the next person who walks through out doors." After pressing a little further the rep. said leisure was a way to get away from the constant grind of everyday life. Mixing a healthy lifestyle with a group that provides and excellent support in faith and life in general is something their members enjoy.

The newest trend that has become very noticeable in the YMCA organization is art. Many people are turning to their intellectual side and exploring the world of art. What used to be widely known for physical exercise has know become a place of learning and creativity.

Synopsis:

After researching the Youth Mens Christian Association I have learned many interesting facts. I have learned its not just a workout center, but an organization that prides itself in its faith. Also, the history of the Y is somewhat fascinating in that a large part of its success and failure coincide with the economy. The Y has existed for many years and has established itself has one of the most influential non-profit organizations in the world. There are numerous career opportunities each with its own rewards. If I were to have a career in this agency I would love that I was largely involved in a recreational group, but the pay may be significantly less than if I were employed elsewhere. Climbing up the corporate ladder may be possible at the home office, however, the possibility is not as great when working at the actual facilities. The YMCA has outlast many dark periods, which may be a great insight to their many years ahead.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

EBSA-David Horwitz

INTRODUCTION

The EBSA is Evanston, Illinois’ youth baseball and softball association. It gives kids from the ages 5-15 the chance to play organized baseball. The EBSA supplies fields, equipment, and facilities so that the kids can have the best experience possible. The Evanston Baseball & Softball Association does make a profit, but the money they make goes directly back into the program and leads to better uniforms, helpers, and facilities.

BACKGROUND

The EBSA has been providing children with the chance to play baseball for close to 60 years. Their goal is to teach children the skills and values of baseball and softball, but also to show them a good time. Set up in Evanston, Illinois, the EBSA is sponsored by a number of local and commercial businesses. Co-Presidents Bill Blanchard and Mike Weber run the EBSA and there are also commissioners for each age group. The association was set-up by the community because 60 years ago Evanston was not a safe place to live for every child; still today, there are unsafe areas. So they wanted to set up something that would get kids off the streets and into safe, structured activities.

EMPLOYMENT

There are many ways to get involved with the EBSA. To get your foot in the door, you can start by working at concessions, you can be an umpire, or even help run the facilities during the season. In many ways the EBSA is a community effort. There are numerous families that volunteer their time so that the kids can have a great experience. There is also coaching. The EBSA hires coaches as young as the age of 19. They love giving jobs to people who are part of the community and have been involved with the EBSA previously. The current presidents were each umpires and coaches before they became the presidents.

CURRENT TRENDS

The current trends for the EBSA are good. They have a number of job opportunities available for umpires, they added four new sponsors this year, and they were able to put new scoreboards up on each of the fields. Also, the player development in each league is improving. There are a number of new summer camps available to players and travel teams are beginning to enter more tournaments where they can play better competition. Not only is this good for the players, but it has allowed the association to expand and keep growing.

EVANSTON TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL

The current growth of the EBSA these past few years would not be possible without the help of Evanston Township High School.

The contributions that the high schools athletic department has made to the EBSA have been drastic. A percentage of the money collected from each fundraiser done by the school is given to the EBSA. Also, the high school has set-up its own baseball and softball camps where children can go to get a more advanced skill set. Without the

high schools help there is no way the EBSA would be thriving like it is.

DEFINITION OF LEISURE AND BENEFITS

The EBSA defines leisure as giving children the best chance to improve their baseball and softball skills while still having fun. The main benefit of the EBSA is that they give kids a safe and structured area to learn and play baseball. Another huge benefit is that the whole community is able to get involved and make the EBSA a well-oiled machine.

SYNOPSIS

The Evanston Baseball & Softball Association has been part of my own life for years. Growing up in Evanston, I played baseball from the age of 6-18. I was part of the EBSA for years and I know what a great organization it is. There are many pros of working for the EBSA. One reason is the satisfaction that you get out of basically helping an entire community. A large part of Evanston takes part in the EBSA and being able to help that many people can only make you feel better as a person. Another pro is that it is a great way to learn basic sport management. Even though it isn’t a large sport organization, there are still many responsibilities that come along with it. Workers for the EBSA have to set-up both baseball and softball youth leagues, they have to hire a number of employees, they have to set-up camps, and have to run a large facility. The only con I can think of when it comes to working for the EBSA is that the pay is not that great. Many workers are paid by the hour and also because they are able to get so many volunteers, they don’t have to pay their paid workers a large sum. Still, the EBSA is a great organization that does great things for the Evanston community.