UnleashingtheYouthCu ltureWithin

BC Recreation and Parks Symposium: 

BC Recreation and Parks Symposium Friday, April 28th Vancouver, BC

WHAT DO WE REALLY KNOW ABOUT THE FUTURE?: 

WHAT DO WE REALLY KNOW ABOUT THE FUTURE? The world will continue to shrink Uncertainty & change Difference & diversity Unpredictable economies

You can judge the quality of any society by examining three factors…: 

You can judge the quality of any society by examining three factors… The condition of their Children and elderly… …The condition of their Environment… …How they use their free time!

Slide6: 

THE DEFINING STATISTICS OF OUR TIME! Between 1983 and 1992 the rate of juvenile arrest for violent crime increased by 100%. Juveniles are now responsible for 1 in 5 violent crimes. Between 1984 & 1993 the number of gun related murders of juveniles increased fivefold. One-quarter of juvenile victims are killed by other children. From 1980 to 1992, the number of children who were subjects of child abuse and neglect reports nearly tripled, from 1 million to 2.9 million. Between 1950 and 1992 the teen suicide rate tripled. Washington state spends over $50,000 a year to incarcerate a juvenile and approximately $3,400 per pupil for education. ©

Civilization?: 

Civilization? America has the distinction of having: more children in prison more children subject to domestic violence more children hurting each other more children killing each other more children killing themselves, and More children who are obese the lowest level of educational attainment than any other developed country!

CULTURAL DISEASES: 

CULTURAL DISEASES Means have become ends Lost sight of the distinction between “Free-”High” and “Connection” Culture vs. Democracy Violence Isms Apathy -- learned helplessness Cultural definitions of creativity, heroes and leadership Reactionary – low capacitance solutions Entitlement Finding a cure for gravity Freedom vs. License Situational morality and ethics Illiteracy Wealth as an indicator of… Kinship distorts judgment

WHAT CHANGED?: 

WHAT CHANGED? Permissiveness Transformation from nuclear families Institutionalization of family responsibilities Reduction of parental investment in raising children Proliferation of choices -- good or bad Diversification of population Intolerance Ad hocism Media as the source of absolute truth Erosion of the credibility of authority figures

Youth Development?: 

Youth Development? Adultism Treating kids like pets Too much parental influence in recreation activities

Leadership: 

Leadership Anytime you are in a leadership position, but especially when you are interacting with young people, remember everything you do is a message about how something should or should not be done.

Hmmm…: 

Hmmm… Our human genetic imprint to survive was developed when we lived in homogeneous groups of approximately 10 people who were constantly running from something or after something!

Slide13: 

Throughout history recreation activities and discretionary time have been used to practice the skills required to survive at the time. Not long ago our survival was primarily based on confronting and overcoming physical challenges. Consequently our recreation activities were and remain dominated by physical activities designed to increase speed, coordination and strength. The contemporary challenges we face are not physical. Contemporary challenges require us to develop the abilities to live in diverse communities, facilitate complexity, and make good choices. We must now use our discretionary time and recreation activities intentionally to develop and refine these new skills.

Discretionary time has been used for…: 

Discretionary time has been used for… Practicing survival skills The restoration of the mind –body—spirit Worship and celebrations   Building Community Expanding world Locksmith – unlocking doors that have previously been closed Cultural tribes Finding Gifts

TRADITIONAL ELEMENTS OF CULTURE: 

TRADITIONAL ELEMENTS OF CULTURE Preparing the world for our children—Preparing our children for the world Bonding Rituals Rites of passage Celebrations Mythology Wild and sacred places Gathering places --Third spaces not home or work ©

WHAT WE WANT!: 

WHAT WE WANT! Understand the importance of boundaries Find their gifts Lifelong learning, creativity, discovery, awe, and curiosity Diverse recreational, social and cultural interest Practice “Big Citizenship” Be open to social and cultural experimentation Bea able to sustain kinship and connection in complex diverse communities Lifestyles are compatible with sustaining our environment

All of us have the need to experience…: 

All of us have the need to experience… Independence Connection/Kinship Mastery Power Self Esteem Our available choices -- and how we choose determine the quality of our experience!

Redefining Recreation from: 

Redefining Recreation from Voluntary activity taking place during discretionary time engaged in for its own sake – to…

Slide19: 

Recreation is the act of selecting, participating in, and re-living experiences that result in achieving and maintaining the balance required to live life fully and in the realization of human potential! ©

Slide20: 

Recreation and park professionals collaborate with others who care to increase the potency and capacity of citizens, and to provide programs and services that encourage alignment between our lifestyles and our environment . ©

Slide21: 

Recreation is a vital component of a well planned system of intervention directed toward creating self sufficient, responsible, involved citizens, and environmental stewards -- and toward breaking the cycles of poverty, addiction, violence, self abuse, boredom, discrimination and low expectations that are often the cause, and result of lifelong low self esteem. ©

The role of play and recreation: 

The role of play and recreation The most important principles, on which the city's welfare and health depended, if imprinted on the hearts of citizens by training and habit, would remain more firmly fixed than by compulsion; and that this education of the young would turn each of them into a lawmaker himself." Through the discipline by which it educated its youth, the city built into its children's very character those elements that were crucial to the maintenance of the city, those elements that we generally think need to be expressed in laws and regulations.

Transformation: 

Transformation “The difference between transformation by accident and transformation by a system is like the difference between lightning and a lamp. Both give illumination, but one is dangerous and unreliable, while the other is relatively safe, directed and available.” M. Ferguson

TARGET POPULATIONS: 

TARGET POPULATIONS Aware users Non aware users Aware non users Non aware! Non users!

Slide26: 

FOR EVERY ACT OF CREATIVITY THERE IS AN ACT OF DESTRUCTION!

Slide27: 

Potency Capacity

Self –awareness and introspection: 

Self –awareness and introspection Are you living authentically and intentionally? What is your vision What is your personal mission? What are your values Are your personal vision, mission and values aligned with your community’s, organization’s and profession’s vision, mission and values Your ability to lead is determined by your ability to be lead

Slide29: 

Americans are said to be alchemist in reverse. Alchemist took ordinary things and tried to make them extraordinary. We live and work in the presence of extraordinary things and allow them to become ordinary. As Parks and Recreation Professionals we must be constantly moved and motivated by our compelling mission and the nature of our work. There is nothing ordinary about what we do. You are the architects of holistic, comprehensive life enrichment systems that build personality and a personal sense of worth. Programs that encourage a sense of independence, the gradual acquisition of a sense of power to act alone -- or in concert with others. You feed the active imaginations and the souls of our citizens and communities Parks and Recreation Departments are the departments of sacred places, of community celebrations, of heroes, of rituals and rites of passage, of mythology, learning systems, and cultural experimentation. We are the Departments of personal and community healing, self esteem and individuation, of family and community bonding, of life long creativity and fitness, of discovery and of hope. You are the people and the profession of PURE POSSIBILITY! ©

People change for four reasons!: 

People change for four reasons! Fear Pain Love To improve their position

Love...: 

Love... …and know yourself …constantly learning about what you do what you do and know why you do it …the people you do it with …and have sincere compassion for the people you do it for