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Although a growing literature base about women's involvement in the outdoors has emerged in the past 10 years, little attention has been given to gender analyses related to the social meanings of being female in a changing society. Five focus group interviews with a total of 36 women focused on past, present, and future involvement in the outdoors and whether the outdoors was perceived as a gendered environment. The women were university students attending leisure studies classes and ranging in age from 19 to 25. The sample consisted of 5 African-Americans, 2 Asian-Americans, and 29 women of white heritage. The women described a range of gendered behaviors related to the outdoors and discussed common constraints to participation such as fear and the need for partners. With gender as an organizing framework, interpretation of the data exemplify how most women made choices contingent on contexts and relationships, not just their biological female status. However, the impact of changing women's roles, past socialization, and stereotypical gender expectations made the determination of how choices were made difficult. Findings included: (1) women's appreciation of the outdoors was related to exposure to outdoor opportunities as a child, either through family, school, or summer camp experiences; (2) a progression of appreciation, interests, skills, and opportunities in the outdoors was necessary for female involvement but was sometimes impeded by gendered constraints; and (3) most women were optimistic and wanted to believe that the outdoors is a gender-neutral environment, but their experiences sometimes contradicted such idealized attitudes. Contains 25 references. (SV)

Feminist perspectives provide a basis for examining the nature of participation in outdoor experiences, the goals of outdoor leadership, and the meanings associated with the outdoors. Feminism is concerned with the correction of both the invisibility and distortion of female experience in ways relevant to social change and removal of social inequality. In this essay, perspectives on feminism and the diversity of women's experiences serve as a critique of existing practice, a means for correcting biases, and a foundation for the transformation of outdoor participation and leadership. A literature review reveals five conceptual phases of research and practice: invisibility of women's outdoor participation and leadership, women's experiences acknowledged but judged by male standards, focus on dichotomous sex differences in leadership, woman-centered analyses that challenge traditional androcentric notions about the outdoors, and analyses of gender relations and socialization to gender roles. Corrective mechanisms for providing women with outdoor leadership opportunities have been based on two contrasting approaches: making women more like men in their leadership style, and preserving and developing what has been defined as typically female. A third alternative--a transformative feminist perspective--suggests that outdoor leadership is not defined by gender or gender-related traits and proposes an organizational model in which all participants are empowered to develop expertise and assume leadership roles. Contains 27 references. (SV)

Extends past integrative reviews about women's leisure to include emerging research trends and outcomes, analyzing research articles from 1996-00 in selected major research journals of English speaking countries. Dialogical issues surfaced related to the inward examination of how research needs to move toward an examination of ideologies that shape girls' and women's experiences. Contextually, the literature has broadened to address new areas of inquiry. (Contains references.) (SM)

Morry's Camp specifically serves low-income and at-risk New York City youth by providing a maintenance and prevention program focused on the camp community, youth development, and education. Campers attend for 4 years, and there is a "post-grad" program for those who have completed the 4 years. The camp has a year-round component in which staff travel to campers' schools to hold monthly programs with the campers. These programs include goal setting and life skills trainings. A study examined the match between the camp's objectives and the valued aspects of the camp experience as articulated by campers. Two focus groups were conducted with 24 campers of varied ethnicity in grades 6 and 7, and one focus group was conducted with 3 teenage female "post-grads" of African American and Latina descent. Findings indicate that Morry's Camp seems to be meeting its objectives when viewed from campers' perspective. Campers articulated the values and meaning of camp for themselves, and these values were aligned with the camp's four main objectives focusing on positive core values, increased social skills, enhanced self-esteem, and a sense of personal responsibility. The objectives were a conscious component of the camp program and a source of focused attention with campers. Recommendations are offered for carrying out camp evaluations and relating camp outcomes to youth development theory. (TD)

A study explored current issues affecting camps run by nonprofit agencies. A literature review revealed areas of concern related to social trends and management practices. A survey of 85 camping professionals and agency executives involved with nonprofit camps examined organizational mission, strategic management issues, and perceived critical issues for their organization. Findings indicate that camping was perceived as integral to the mission of most organizations, and that organizational missions tended to reflect changes occurring in society. Perceptions of issues and concerns differed by type of nonprofit organization. A critical concern of most programs was staffing issues, particularly attracting skilled staff that would work for camp wages and dealing with diversity issues with children and staff. Funding issues were also critical and included maintenance of camp facilities, rising insurance costs, need for scholarships, and the effort to keep down camper fees. Respondents said they wanted to increase camper numbers and include all children, but they struggled to include low-income campers. Tables of mean item responses are included, along with the top five issues in each category. (SV)

A research study on the future of organized camping investigated future factors which may affect leadership of camping programs in Wisconsin and throughout the country. Objectives were to: identify 50 experts on organized camping who would participate in a 3-round Delphi study on the future of camping; generate consensus among the experts concerning future challenges/trends in camping, educational needs of camp administrators, future role of professional organizations; report and publish information on challenges/trends affecting organized camping for the next 5 to 10 years; develop a model curriculum to train camping professionals at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and possibly elsewhere; and develop scenarios on the future of organized camping and obtain feedback from professionals, staff, educators, students, business affiliates, camp boards, volunteers and participants. Findings included: major challenges to organized camping will be management effectiveness, costs, camp operations, program services, changing needs/values of youths and adults; and future camping administrators should be trained in college and on the job, in human relations, business management, leadership, problem solving, program development and social sciences. Questionnaires, results, the model curriculum for educating camp administrators, scenarios on the future of organized camping, and recommendations for continuing education and professional organizations are presented. (MH)

To assess the professional continuing education needs of persons employed full-time in administering, directing, leading, organizing, or planning leisure services, a questionnaire was mailed to 1,640 leisure service professionals throughout Wisconsin (50% return). Groups surveyed (and for which data was analyzed separately) included people involved in park/outdoor recreation, community/school, therapeutic, older adult, camping, and outdoor/environmental education services. On the average respondents had worked in present position five years, in leisure services eight years. Of all surveyed, 78% had at least an undergraduate degree, 18% a Master's, 27% had recreation as a college major, 10% were pursuing an advanced degree and 20% would like to. On the average they supervised four full-time and twenty-seven part-time employees and forty-four volunteers; were 35 years old; 44% women; gross salary ($15,000). Some of the high specific needs and interests were innovative programming, public relations, program evaluation, programming for special groups, leadership techniques, supervising staff, training staff, current issues in programming, evaluating personnel and interpersonal communication. Highest needs were in relationships and programming. Regarding continuing education, 35% belonged to professional associations; most frequent activities: conferences, inservice training, and reading professional books, but activity desired for future was college credit coursework. Greatest deterrents cited for participating in continuing education were schedule conflicts, cost, and not enough time. The importance of continuing education was ranked high by 87%, 47% believing it should be mandatory for continued employment. (Questionnaire appended.) (JT)

A study was conducted to ascertain the continuing education needs of men and women leisure service professionals in Wisconsin and to identify differences caused by gender. (Leisure service professionals were defined as persons employed full-time in administering, directing, leading, organizing, and planning in leisure service organizations.) A questionnaire was mailed to 1,646 Wisconsin professionals regarding their characteristics, continuing education needs and interests, and attitudes toward continuing education, with a 50 percent response rate. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, and tests of homogeneity. It was found that male recreation professionals' salaries were an average of almost $6,000 more than those of females. In general, attitudes toward continuing education were similar in males and females, although women tended to view continuing education in a slightly more positive light. Men had high continuing education needs in public relations, budgeting techniques, program evaluation, supervising staff, and long range planning. Women said they needed information on innovative programming, programming for special groups, activity analysis, current issues, and program evaluation. No significant differences in needs between women and men were found in staff training, time management, public speaking, and interpersonal communications. It was recommended that since no major differences by gender were found, opportunities for continuing education should be made available to all personnel, with particular emphasis on removing barriers or deterrents to women. (KC)

Two participant observers evaluated the week-long camp experience of adult women in order to assess the appropriateness of participant observation research methods in the camp setting, to identify strengths and weaknesses of this method, and to develop guidelines for its use. The study was part of a larger evaluation of the 9th annual Women's Week sponsored by the Black Hawk Council of Girl Scouts in Wisconsin. Data recorded by the participant observers were systematically analyzed using qualitative procedures with the development of themes as the primary research outcome. The participant observer method was judged appropriate in the camp setting, allowing for description of complex social phenomena without disrupting camp activities. The naturalistic method provided a systematic way to look at camp phenomena, capture details, and generate ideas as data were being collected. Problems included the possibility of observer bias, the high level of skill needed to observe and record events, and the time required for data collection and analysis. Researchers and camp directors wishing to conduct this type of qualitative research should involve two observers to limit bias, use adequate sampling procedures, provide training for the observers, treat data collection and analysis activities as two separate functions, and treat conclusions as working hypotheses. (JHZ)

A study explored the perceptions and attitudes that 96 Wisconsin women (age range 18-95; average age 34) held toward leisure. Subjects were interviewed personally by members of a University of Wisconsin (Madison) class on "Women and Leisure," using parts of the Leisure Attitudes Inventory concerning three factors: society's role in leisure planning, self-definition through leisure and work, and amount of leisure perceived. These three factors were then compared to the demographic information obtained about the women in the study: age, marital status, children, occupation, hours of employment, income, level of education, residence, and religious preference. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, factor analyses, chi-square statistics, and analysis of variance. The study found that the women were satisfied with their leisure and that demographic variables did not seem to influence leisure attitudes and perceptions. (JMK)

A questionnaire was devised and disseminated at the 1983 American Camping Association (ACA) convention to ascertain from members the value placed on camping research. The questionnaire addressed the following concerns: who should be conducting research, how should research be disseminated, what are the important broad areas of needed research, and what research questions should be addressed. Study results indicated 88% of the respondents believed that ACA should do research; over 75% believed that research should be reviewed and reported in the Camping Magazine; areas of most research needed were the individual and camping and programming in camp; and broad areas to address were the individual and camping and management. Recommendations made in light of the study findings were: respondents and other consumers of camping research realize the value of research; value of camping to the individual appears to be the broad question in camping which needs more investigation; camping research is not viewed as the domain of one academic discipline or as the domain of only university students and faculty; and an important goal of ACA should be the dissemination of research findings that will enhance the meaning of research and promote the sharing of findings and methodologies among researchers. (ERB)

The paper describes methods and results which were obtained when systematically identifying important aspects of the future of organized camping, through the combination of "expert" opinion as well as "grassroots" input. The futures forecasting technique used was scenario writing, a well-thought story to describe a future state of affairs. Four perspectives on the future were written regarding conservative, humanistic, pessimistic, and optimistic views of the future of organized camping. A random sample of 270 camp directors were invited to respond to questions about the four scenarios. The respondents were asked to read the scenarios and answer several brief questions about their reaction to the stories. The 95 respondents included 42% who were affiliated with agency camps, 16% affiliated with church camps, and 33% with private independent camps. Sixty-five percent of the respondents represented resident camps with 12% involved in day camping, and 19% involved in both. The scenario which the directors said was most likely to occur was the conservative view to which 44% responded. The optimistic view received 39%, with humanistic and pessimistic receiving 7% and 4% respectively. The optimistic scenario was chosen to be the ideal for the next 10-15 years. The appendix contains the four scenarios. (ERB)

Questionnaires were sent to 100 women employed in leisure service positions in Wisconsin. Areas of services included therapeutic recreation, community/school and voluntary/youth agencies, outdoor recreation and parks, and a variety of other miscellaneous fields such as combinations of the above, industrial recreation, college unions, etc. Positions included leadership roles such as therapists or program leaders, technical jobs, supervisory roles, and administrative positions. Findings revealed that, overall, the women have positive attitudes about their own leisure. It was also found that women in leisure service professions have androgynous personality characteristics which allow them to be both masculine and feminine, agentic and communal, and assertive and nurturing. In general, women in leisure services tend to be more nontraditional in their sex-role orientation. Results also indicated that few differences exist among the women surveyed in terms of demographics and personality, and age appeared to be the primary differentiating factor among the women in this study. (JD)

This study evaluated the leisure attitudes and recreation participation patterns of a sample of returning female college students. Interviews were conducted with 36 full-time women students who had returned to graduate school after a five-year lapse in their formal training. The women placed a high value on the cognitive and affective aspects of their recreational activities. However, the score concerning their behavioral attitudes were lower, indicating that incongruity existed between what the women thought and felt about recreation and what they did in regard to their actual activities. The greatest barriers to recreation were related to limited time, work and school being the highest priorities; and too much daily stress. The returning students said they participated less in mass media, social, outdoor, sport, and hobby activities when they returned to school. The study suggested implications for those who may be programming for women who are returning to school. With the growing number of returning students, traditional student activity and sports programs may not be the best methods for supplementing the recreational needs of this group of students. (Author/JD)

The first chapter of this monograph presents some major themes and fundamental issues surrounding leisure activities volunteers and their management from a system perspective. Chapter 2 discusses the results of a survey conducted to obtain a status report of selected volunteer system characteristics. The third chapter focuses on dealing with volunteers with regard to planning, marketing, training and placement, supervision, and recordkeeping, evaluation and recognition. The fourst chapter covers other concerns related to volunteer management, e.g., liability, the agency/volunteer relationship, current and future roles for volunteers, and characteristics of special groups of volunteers. The appendices offer detailed examples of effective volunteer management techniques. (JD)

This paper reviews the research on women in the outdoors, 1978-97. Among the major findings are the following: women were underrepresented and underpaid in executive and management positions related to outdoor programs; women tended to lead outdoor groups differently than men; outdoor recreation patterns differed in that women were more likely to seek out aesthetic experiences whereas males enjoyed the glory of exploring the unknown; little research has addressed diversity and women in the outdoors; all-female groups have demonstrated value related to the absence of traditional gender expectations; lack of confidence limited women's success more than did physical limitations; outdoor activities boosted self-esteem; the major constraints to finding meaning in the outdoors for women related to social dimensions; and outdoor activities had therapeutic benefits for women. The findings indicate that much of the research on girls and women is not framed as feminist or gender-based; research focused on gender differences has revealed little about the outdoor experience for females; research on women in the outdoors has contributed to a broader understanding of the epistemology and methodology used by researchers; studying girls and women may pave the way for addressing gendered meanings and other issues of diversity in the outdoors; research must emphasize critical analyses in addition to personal experience; and empowerment is emerging as an important theme that could benefit all outdoor educators. (Contains 58 references.) (TD)

Suggests that experiential educators must be concerned about the intersection of human and environmental factors, and that ecofeminism provides a framework for examining this intersection. Defines ecofeminism and discusses its benefits and shortcomings as a foundation for social, educational, and environmental philosophy and practice. Contains 16 references. (SV)