In his book, "Identity and the Museum Visitor Experience," John Falk makes the case that by understanding the underlying motivations that drive a visitor, a museum can create an experience that reflects a person's identity and therefore satisfy their motivation for visiting. According to Falk, this level of personal connection increases…

Penny Wilson is a playworker--one of a group of professionals who facilitate children's play in adventure playgrounds, parks, and other settings, principally in the United Kingdom. Wilson grew up in the Southeast of England and spent much of her childhood playing on the coast near her family home. She studied illustration in art school, settled in…

Modern zoological gardens have invested substantial resources in technology to deliver environmental education concepts to visitors. Investment in these media reflects a currently unsubstantiated belief that visitors will both use and learn from these media alongside more traditional and less costly displays. This paper proposes a model that…

In the October 2007 issue of "Adults Learning," Paul Stanistreet wrote an article which celebrated the successes of the countryside access movement of the twentieth century. He highlighted how, while some of the legal barriers to access have been reduced, not all citizens are able to take advantage of the rights that were won by an…

Storey (2008), in his eloquent and timely critique of the Special Olympics and his call to close it down, focuses on the failure of the Special Olympics to achieve the goal of social integration and sustained social interaction among people with intellectual disabilities and their peers without a disability label. The authors wholeheartedly agree…

Unlike students in traditional classrooms, the interpretive visitor has voluntarily approached the site and is usually looking for interesting entertainment. Meeting the challenge of satisfying both the visitor and the sponsoring agency requires an understanding of the audience and its interests and motivations. A social-marketing approach to…

In this article, the author objects to what curricularists and teachers often believe that meaningful activities in school have to be scripted, planned to the nth degree and assigned learning objectives and goals ahead of time, or they have no educational worth. Instead, he used Elliot Eisner's classic curriculum text, "The Educational…

Planetariums are being used for entertainment instead of the academic study of astronomy. Economic necessity is forcing them to use their unique projection systems for a wide variety of spectacles, including laser light shows and theatrical performances. (AM)

Most recreation program activities have not resulted in the kinds of injuries that promote large judicial verdicts or settlements. (JD)

Outlines the reasons for a need to know more about water and swimming pool dangers with regards to young children and how to make these water areas more safe. (BB)

Individuals with disabling conditions have rights to participate in recreational activities. Full participation for disabled participants can be a reality if consideration is given to facilities, programs and activities, and people. (MT)

Specific suggestions about financing and designing municipal golf courses are presented. (JMF)

Aquatic activity is the most popular form of participatory recreation in North America, according to many surveys and studies. This article discusses various ways to make public pools profitable. Examples are used from Canada and Japan. (JMK)

Suggestions are made for removing potential hazards for the physically handicapped. (JD)

While it is our responsibility as adults to protect our children from hazards that would inflict injury, it is also our responsibility to provide children with a safe play environment providing challenging opportunities to explore, practice, and reach personal levels of competence. Children learn their own play abilities and limitations through…