Recreation History & Concepts

• Outdoor recreation involves organized activities during free time, with interaction between people and nature.
• It is done during vacation or school breaks.
• The aim is to have fun outdoors with nature.

Three Parts of a day

• Existence time is for biological needs.
• Subsistence time accounts for hours spent for economic purposes.
• Free time is all remaining time after existence and subsistence.

Leisure

• Free time is spent as one sees fit.
• It involves activities making up unstructured free time with variety
• It is not a necessarily planned use of time, but not necessarily wasted time.
• Free time allows the body to rejuvenate itself.
• Recreation means refreshed, derived from the Latin "Recreare".
• It depends on one's interests, pursuits, needs, beliefs, and gratification.
• Recreation is the refreshment of strength and spirits after toil; amusement; diversion; sport; pastime.

Historical Development of Recreation: A Brief Overview

Renaissance Period (1350-1500)

• Upper-class citizens enjoyed painting, music, literature, science, and education
• Well-educated men could ride, fence, dance, and paint.
• There was a great cultural movement in the arts and education.

Reformation Period (1500s-1600s)

• The Protestant work ethic was introduced to colonial America
• Recreation and leisure were earned through daily hard work with"Work before play"
• Ample time for recreation and leisure was associated with being lazy.

Industrial Revolution (1700-1900)

• Working-class citizens had no time or energy
• It presented few leisure opportunities and involved visiting taverns or pubs
• Middle-class citizens modeled the upper class.
• Upper-class enjoyed many forms of recreation, including playing the piano, singing, drama, bird watching, fishing, cricket, polo, and hunting.

Depression Years (1929–1945)

• Recreation became less formal, fostering community engagement.
• People came together playing musical instruments, having picnics at local beaches, swimming, conducted square dances, and made ice cream
• Big bands and swing music were popular involving attending the movie theatres

Roaring 20s

• People began realizing the need to enjoy leisure time.
• Hard work was followed by deserved recreation and leisure.
• It included touring in newly invented automobiles, The Charleston in illegal after-hours clubs, Jazz, and Gambling.

Modern Era (1950-Present)

• Middle-class citizens had extra money for fun and leisure.
• They finished work each evening with leisure activities thanks to faster transportation and early retirement.
• Municipal multipurpose recreational facilities increased.

Present

• While technology provides hours of recreation, it does not necessarily promote a healthy and active lifestyle.

Recent Developments

• Shift in recreation priorities occurred
• Family recreational activities are on the rise.
• Programs and facilities are being adapted and parents spend time on children's recreation.
• Adult sports leagues, golf, skiing, and fitness memberships are increasing.

Outdoor

• A space outside an enclosed area, either in a natural or semi-natural state.

Benefits of Outdoor Recreation

Physical Benefits

• Prevents a sedentary lifestyle.
• Green space is now called screen space.
• Improves cardiovascular and muscular fitness, enhances immune system function

Psycho-Emotional Benefits

• Helps one relax, de-stress, unwind and feel revitalized.
• It distracts a stressed mind and calms it down.
• It contributes to personal and spiritual growth.
• It improves self-esteem, confidence, and creativity.

Economic Benefits

• Increases productivity at work.
• Ecotourism creates jobs and other economic growth activities.

Spiritual Benefits

• Positive outdoor experiences stir up spiritual values and being one with nature brings calmness.

Social Benefits

• Outdoor activities foster closer family ties
• They allow interactions and meeting others who like outdoor recreation
• They help form lasting friendships plus develop a community

Different Outdoor Recreational Activities

• Land activities include Mountaineering, Trekking/Hiking, Camping, Backpacking, Picnic, Bird-watching, Mountain, Biking, Orienteering, Canyoneering, and Rock Climbing.
• Water activities include Swimming Snorkeling, Diving, Surfing, Canoeing, Kayaking, Whitewater Rafting, Sailing, and Bamboo Rafting.
• Air activities include Parasailing, Skydiving, and Paragliding.

Aquatic Activities

Snorkeling

• One of the best ways is used to see, discover, and appreciate the intriguing underwater life. It allows one to grasp the amazing beauty of marine life and swim with them.
• Peeking through underwater life is possible by swimming with a snorkel and mask.
• It enables observation of underwater attractions for a longer time with less effort.
• Used for recreational purposes and in water-based searches by rescue teams
• Useful in water sports like underwater hockey, underwater rugby, and spear fishing.

Health Benefits of Snorkeling

• Helps overall fitness and tones the body while swimming, doing the flutter kick and diving.
• Works out quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, ankles, hip flexors, core muscles, and shoulders.
• Builds greater lung capacity and increases oxygen uptake, good for cardiovascular work as it increases heart rate

Basic Equipment in Snorkeling

Mask

• Serves as a viewing device by creating airspace underwater for clear vision.
• Encloses the nose to equalize pressure during dives by exhaling air inside the mask.
• Failure to equalize pressure could result in nose squeeze.

Key factors for choosing a mask

• Fit
• Comfort

Parts of the Mask

• Strap: Holds the mask to the face underwater
• Mask Skirt: the soft, flexible material that seals the mask around the face.
• Nose Pocket: Cushions and protects the nose and some have a purge valve to remove water.

Snorkel

• A equipment that makes it possible to breathe at the surface while submerged.
• It is basically composed of a tube (the barrel), and a mouthpiece.
• An end sticks of the tube out of the water while the mouthpiece is used.
• It includes a clip to be attached to the mask.

Kinds of Snorkels

• The Classic Snorkel includes the tube, and mouthpiece and can be bent to a specific shape.
• The Snorkel with Flexible Tube includes a flexible tube allowing rotation to different angles.
• The Purge Snorkel features a small valve emptying collected water when one blows it out.
• A splash Guard prevents splash water from entering the tube, unable to stop wave water from entering.
• The dry valve stops water from entering when a wave comes or when diving underwater.

Snorkeling Fin

• Wider than feet and encounters more water and resistance. Thus they work better than bare feet for swimming.
• Provides locomotion to propel in the water
• Conserves energy allowing the snorkeler to reach further distances and protect feet from corals.

Basic Kinds of Fins

• The Full-foot fin covers the heel and is easy to put on, flexible, and efficient while swimming.
• The Adjustable Fins are used with dive boots and secures the feet with adjustable straps, has rigid blade for forward thrust that requires more effort to use.
• Snorkel Vest: Small and inflatable, which provide more buoyancy while floating on water and help consume less energy.
• Skin Protection involves using biodegradable sunscreen or wearing a long-sleeve rash guard.
• Swimming Cap keeps hair out of the snorkel and the face, preventing scalp burning on sunny days.
• Mask Defogger prevent a mask from fogging up. It is non-toxic, biodegradable, and alcohol-free

Safety tips for Snorkeling

• Stay close to the shore if you are a beginner.
• Never snorkel alone and always have a buddy; advise a minimum party of three with a shore lookout.
• One person stays on the surface while the other is underwater. In case the diver has a problem, one can help or seek help.
• Rain check: Always check the weather forecast because wind causes waves to increase
• Know the area where you will be snorkeling and be careful around rocky shores or aggressive marine life.
• Avoid overestimation of your limits; use a flotation device to conserve energy.
• Leave marine life alone and maintain safe distance by avoiding sudden movements.
• It involves a qualified professional leading groups of aquatic enthusiasts with knowledge on local underwater organisms
• The guide plans the aquatic activity for a safe experience and swims underwater at 100 feet per minute.

Canoeing and Kayaking

• Floating crafts that can navigate various water locations.
• Both boats requiring a paddle for propulsion and steering.
• Kayak has a covered deck, kayakers extend their legs, use a double-bladed paddle.
• Canoe's deck is has wide open, a canoer sits on a raised seat or kneels and uses a single-bladed paddle.

Basics of Canoes and Kayaks

• Used for economic needs in early days: canoes transported goods and kayaks hunted marine life.

Basic Parts of the Canoe

• Yoke allows the canoe to rest on shoulder when portaging
• Stern = rear end
• Gunwale acts as structural support, defines shape of boat
• Thwart are crossbars reinforcing the canoe to prevent apart load
• Seat
• Bow = Front Part

Basic Parts of Kayak include

• Deck
• Foot brace for foot rest
• Hull
• Cockpit where the paddler sits, with a spray kit/waterproof kilt
• Hatch for storing food and gears.

Paddles

• Equipment used to maneuver the boat with tip, blade, throat, shaft, and back

Activities Done with the Kayaks and Canoes

• Sea kayaking is done in open waters such as the sea/lake.
• Whitewater kayaking/canoeing is paddling down whitewater rivers.
• Flatwater recreation is relaxing canoeing/kayaking in a calm river/ocean/lake for sightseeing.
• Involves sailing fitted with sails, kayak is typically with a fin, rather like surfboard.

Important Reminders to be safe in Kayaking and Canoeing

• Check weather conditions and always plan ahead includes studying the river maps.

Safety

• Know swimming and canoeing/kayaking skills and avoid paddling alone or far from the coastline.
• Yield to safety and know where to go and always wear a personal floatation device, safety equipment to keep hydrated
• The instructions from guides/facilitators/leaders must be followed strictly.
• Keeping the Leave No Trace Seven Principles and ensure everyone is always safe.
• All equipment should be tried and checked.
• Essential Items should be in waterproof bags.

Scuba Diving

• It utilizes Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA)
• It enables underwater visits with a mask, fins, Buoyancy compensator device, regulator, pressure gauge, weights and a snorkel
• Important signals communicated with hand gestures

Equipment for Scuba Diving

• MASK - Device covering eyes and nose allowing you to see underwater
• FINS - Device put on the feet to extend the kicking motion underwater
• BCD or BC - (Buoyancy compensator device) Device/jacket that controls buoyancy up or down
• REGULATOR - Device that deliver air to you demand at reduced pressure
• PRESSURE GAUGE- (SBG- Submersible Pressure Gauge) Device that tells diver how much air they have left.
• WEIGHTS - Lead weights used to weigh down divers for depth decent.
• SNORKS - Device used to breath air close to or on the surface of the water. Common dive signals are used to promote awareness

Health And Safety Hazards of Diving

• Considerations of how soon to fly after diving including decompression sicknesses or musculoskeletal, joint, limb pain, neurological, hypothermia, hyperthermia, cramps, overexertion, nitrogen narcosis, carbon monoxide poisoning, gastrointestinal barotrauma, heart complications.
• Risks include ear infections, nosebleeds, breathing problems, dehydration and diving while pregnant.

Basic Dive Signals

• Stop: raise hand vertically, fingers together, palm facing the receiver.
• Go down: thumb extended downward
• Go up: thumb extended upward
• Are you OK?: Make a circle with your thumb and forefinger.
• Something is wrong: Hand flat, fingers apart, moving back and forth on the forearm.
• Distress or help me: Wave hand quickly from a horizontal to overhead position,
• Watch or look: Place forefinger and middle finger against the mask lens.
• Me or I: Point to yourself at chest height.
• Indicates the intended route: palm down.
• I'm low on air: clenched fist with one hand and move hand inward toward the chest.
• I'm out of air: Hand is flat, fingers together, with palm cut across throat.
• Indicates urgency: repeated several times

Mountaineering Activities

Hiking

• It is done on man-made road or well-made trails and shorter in distance that only takes a day or two.

Trekking

More involve over a variety of terrain that requires days and nights in the outdoors

• Backpacking, trampling, or bushwalking are terms used for treks and “organized climb”

How to prepare

depends on climb with prior physical conditioning of exercising a week before a week for 30-60 minutes three times a week with Trip planning

Hiking Essentials are

• Backpack
• Footwear: Hiking shoes are lighter than boots but Hiking boots have protective features and backpacking boots cope with all terrain.

Trekking Poles

• Are 135 cm (54 inches) with sections that can be retracted/extended.

Nutritional Needs

• It is important to consider in planning the food
• The calorie should match calorie requirement, manageability to load plus duration involved

Skills needed

• Establishing right hiking pace that the body good and rhythm pace for maintain long time.

Other Essential things to bring are such as

First aid kit, Water, Trail food, Topographic map and compass, Extra layers and rain gears, Firestarter and matches, Multi-tool knife, Flashlight or headlamp and extra batteries

Reminders

• One hikes in a group in skills and trails while being aware of surroundings, and to follow Instructions from guides, and be sure to ensure safety measures.

Camping

Front Country

also called "car camping" is where a vehicle, bathroom, stores, and aid are near.

Back Country

has no amenities are readily available and is not accessible to motorized vehicles camping site

In camping are Clothes

• It acts as the first defense to maintain an appropriate core temperature with different layers
• Sleeping Bag and Pad: provides relaxation and protection from the weather with insulated materials

Bag Shapes

• Mummy-shaped: is lighter for trekking, or barrel-shaped
• Rectangular-shaped bag: The roomiest shape for warmer weather.
• Tents: give protection from the rain, wind and bugs, also adds warmth, comfort and sense of security.
• Cooking and Eating Utensils: a backpack stove is more efficient because temperature is controllable. Washing Dishes with soaps that do not harm the environment
• Campfires can only be built in fire rings
• Campfire sanitation must be clean

Safety is applied, such as: Cleaning, Awareness, Mapping, Protection and Never approach animals

• Essential include equipment, rope, matches, a knife, and first aid.

Orienteering Skills

• An outdoor goal locates checkpoints in which participants can find themselves in a pre-set course to show their created map Equipment includes
• Whistles, Bag and Pen

Explore the history and key concepts of recreation, leisure, and outdoor activities. This quiz covers the origins of recreation, its evolution through different eras, and its impact on well-being.