Leadership for Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Service

The third edition of Leadership for Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Services is unique. In the first edition, entitled Leadership in Recreation and Leisure Service Organizations, the authors organized the effort into separate theoretical and practical applications sections that covered a variety of direct service areas. The second edition was split into textbooks, Leadership in Recreation and Leisure Service Organizations and Leadership for Recreation and Leisure Programs and Settings.

The current effort focuses on bringing together a number of interrelated elements that influence leadership in recreation, parks, and leisure service organizations. The first part of the book discusses the work of leaders and includes presentation of theoretical and foundational information. The second part focuses on leaders in groups. Finally, the third part is dedicated to leadership elements in a number of recreation, parks, and leisure service settings.

Leadership in Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Services also features many distinctive pedagological elements. The authors have identified learning objectives and key terms at the beginning of each chapter. This will be useful in helping students focus their attention to the intent of each chapter.. In addition, each chapter has marginal quotations featuring perspectives from notable individuals. These quotations will provide heightened awareness and understanding of the subject matter. Also featured in each chapter is an outstanding leader in the recreation, parks, and leisure service field. These vignettes, known as A Legacy of Leadership, feature historic and current figures in the recreation, parks, and, leisure service field. Further, leadership perspectives from professionals across the United States are included in the section entitled Leadership: A Point of View from the Profession. Each chapter is concluded with discussion questions, a case study, and experiential learning experiences from which students can explore and analyze their own thinking, engage in problems-solving strategies, and reflect upon their own thinking regarding leadership.