Reviews recent research on outdoor adventure (risk) recreation which exposes participants to real or perceived danger. The research examines several professional issues (leadership certification, leadership style, program outcomes, and retention and turnover of program staff), and discusses social, individual, and therapeutic benefits. (SM)

Reviews the rationale for and implications of case study research in therapeutic recreation, examining: what can be learned from studying a single case; issues of validity and reliability; ethical conduct of research; and the practice of case study research (case protocol, case selection, collecting data, analyzing and interpreting data, and…

Describes Boundless Adventures, a Canadian outdoor adventure program that offers 5-day trips to clients with mental-health problems. Suggests that the trips inspire hope, but that follow-up is needed to convert that hope into real lifestyle changes. Sidebars present a poem entitled "Hope" and describe the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry…

The purpose of this article is to examine the empirical evidence and describe theoretical perspectives that address under what conditions and why leisure can be therapeutic and contribute to health and well-being. This review of the literature provides empirical evidence that leisure can contribute to physical, social, emotional and cognitive…

The second edition of "Professional Issues in Therapeutic Recreation: On Competence and Outcomes" is greatly expanded to include a wider variety of introductory materials and updates on current professional issues. The second edition represents a timely review of the state of affairs in the profession of therapeutic recreation. This book contains…

Since 1977, the Department of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, has participated in adult fitness and recreation instruction at the College of Education. The department has offered two programs for selected students: (1) a formal course and practicum in cardiac rehabilitation for selected students; and (2) a summer studentship in…

The second edition of Therapeutic Recreation in the Community: An Inclusive Approach reflects the changing and evolving nature of recreation and health care services. A number of social, economic, and political directives and technological advancements have fostered recreation in the community for all individuals. Due in part to a rising awareness…

The City of Phoenix offers a five-day river-based camping experience to at-risk and disabled teens. Describes how professional river outfitters are contracted to run the trips, staffing considerations, liability and safety considerations, and camper orientation. Evaluation showed that participants received lasting measurable benefits, including…

Describes how therapeutic recreation in naturally occurring retirement communities (neighborhoods where most residents are older) can promote healthy lifestyles, presenting a case report of an in-home therapeutic recreation program offered in conjunction with nursing and social services in a such a community and discussing implications for…

Research compared Storytelling for Empowerment Program participants' pre and posttest responses on drug use. High contact participants had the most marked changes with a decrease in their alcohol and marijuana use. All participants in the last year of the program, regardless of contact hours, decreased their alcohol use and increased in their…

Reports on a therapeutic program for juvenile offenders that uses drum playing and drum building to provide alternatives for youth activities. Drums play five important roles for youth: creating a sense of community, reconnecting with history and heritage, promoting healing, educating, and celebrating victories or rites of passage. Provides…

Therapeutic recreation faces changes that impact educational preparation and professional practice. This article examines the changes, suggesting the need to rethink how the field operates in order to secure its future. The recent reorganization of Temple University's therapeutic recreation curriculum is presented as one example of a proactive…

This paper examines the basic rationale for the necessity of multicultural sensitivity in therapeutic recreation practice, noting ways to exercise an innovative mindset (make a commitment to consciousness, use culturally consistent language, embrace a flexible interpersonal style, be aware of interdependent orientations, and promote multicultural…

Outlines the conceptual background and development of the Leisure Competence Measure, a behavior-anchored rating scale which documents current levels of leisure functioning and change over time. Validation with a geriatric rehabilitation population supports it as an instrument from which researchers can draw dependable inferences regarding leisure…

Therapeutic recreation professionals often use aquatic therapy to improve physiological and psychological functioning, and they have reported improvements for people with many different types of disabilities. The paper discusses aquatic therapy methods, water as a therapeutic environment, professional training and development, and lifestyle…