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…

In this paper I suggest that social dances and local markets are examples of resilient practices of place-making and community that involve active participation. These two activities create mobile and pliant communities of participants that involve considerable informal and incidental learning. With dances and markets in mind, I look at the two…

In this article, the author describes the Sports, Habilitation, and Recreation Program (SHARP), a program of the Foundation for Blind Children in Phoenix, Arizona. The SHARP program aims to help children, who have visual impairments, achieve goals, develop independence, and make friends. One of the unique features of the SHARP program is that it…

The retention of racial minority students lies at the core of diversity efforts instituted by colleges and universities across the nation. Withstanding the changing racial demographics of the U.S. and the need to have qualified racial minority professionals serving diverse communities retention and matriculation heighten in importance. With the…

This article discusses social dimensions of the play form. (PD)

The extension educator must identify recreation as an important educational program by itself; extension personnel must be concerned with integrating recreation, rather than placing it in a secondary position of importance. Implications and recommendations for incorporating recreation into 4-H activities are discussed. (Author)

Big ideas for the future is a joint report by Universities UK and Research Councils UK, published as part of the second annual Universities Week campaign. This new report explores the excellent research taking place in UK higher education today and what it will mean for us in 20 years' time. It demonstrates the value of public investment in higher…

School camping programs are a major component of outdoor recreation. Many educational disciplines can be taught through camping. (RC)

This book is intended for both students and teachers of ballroom dance. It begins with detailed descriptions of the fundamentals of ballroom dance and systematically builds to complex dance routines. In each chapter, devoted to a selected American or Latin American dance, the basic steps of the dance are presented first followed by recommended…

This report identifies the different settings in which summer programs for disadvantaged youth most commonly take place--schools, parks and recreation departments, community--and faith-based organizations, and child-care programs-- and examines the limitations and opportunities presented by each in building better programming. It reviews broadly…

This article discusses how arts can be included in a recreation program on a shoestring budget. (PD)

The Society of State Directors of HPER presents specific guidelines and standards. (Editors)