Assignment 2

In the world of leisure service delivery, there is a broad range of agencies that exist to meet the needs of an even broader range of consumers. Members of our team visited different types of these services. Three of these destinations included The Museum of Science and Industry, Campus Recreation Center East (CRCE), and Good Shepherd Hospital Health and Fitness Center. This blog will further explain how each of these agencies operate as well as the strengths and weaknesses seen throughout.

First Facility: The Museum of Science and Industry

The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago is a non-profit organization. The agency’s goals and objectives are to introduce scientific and industrial concepts into the lives of average people. Specifically, the agency wishes to introduce these topics to children so that they will have exposure to these topics at a young age. They hope that through this exposure, children will choose to follow a career path in one of these topics. This differs from the health club and CRCE because both of these places aim to enrich the lives of different audiences through physical activity instead of intellectual growth. The agency is funded through membership fees and other fund-raising things throughout the museum, such as food courts, gift shops, and individual paying activities. Similarly, the health club and CRCE both charge fees for their services, but any extra money they make will go into paychecks, while any extra money made by the museum will be placed back into the museum.

The museum specifically targets children in its mission statement, but believes that the information they provide is useful to people of all ages. This differs from the other two because CRCE specifically targets college-aged people, while the health club generally targets the elderly. The key elements that set the museum apart from other agencies include its size, its collection, and its mission. The museum is one of the largest in the nation, and includes thousands of artifacts such as the only German U-Boat within the United States. Also, the founding ideals of the museum are to bring seemingly fantastic ideas onto levels where average people are able to see how they work. The key elements that set CRCE apart are that it is set in a convenient location, most importantly, and that it offers amenities that would not otherwise be available to students, such as a water slide. The one thing that really sets the health club apart is that it is partnered with a hospital, so it is able to work directly with the patient’s unique needs.

The major strength of the agency is that it is the only one of its kind, so people are drawn to it to see things which they would otherwise be unable to see. A weakness of the organization is that the entrance and parking fees are very expensive, so not everyone is always able to attend, but they offer free admission days in an attempt to remedy this situation. A strength of the health club is that it has very modern facilities, but similarly to the museum, a weakness is that it serves a specific socioeconomic group and cannot market itself to lower-income people. A strength of CRCE is that it provides an outlet for students to work off stress in a convenient location, but a weakness is that it is not quite large enough to accommodate the number of students who would like to be able to use it, making it a generally crowded place to be. The museum definitely fulfills its goals and objectives. While there is no concrete way to tell if children who visit the museum will go on to become scientists, they are

definitely being exposed to new concepts that will broaden their image of what they can accomplish. Similarly, both the health club and CRCE provide a much-needed service to their clientele.

Second Facility: Therapeutic Recreation Services

The goal of the Advocate Good Shepherd Health Center is to provide state of the art therapeutic services to its members using qualified staff members and a friendly atmosphere as part of an outpatient service with the nearby Good Shepherd Hospital. Compared to the other services our group picked out: The Museum of Science and Industry, and CRCE, Advocate Health Care is primarily concerned with serving those rehabilitating their health, and also can charge a fee to members wishing to work out. Clients are typically older and can afford these services. Advocate Health care is funded in a variety of ways. The first is through state tax dollars that go to the hospital. The second way is through

membership fees and insurance companies that cover certain rehabilitation services. Compared to the other two facilities, which are heavily involved in tax dollars and student fees, this organization has a much larger privately funded aspect to it.

Advocate Health Care is available to all over the age of sixteen, but it primarily serves the middle aged to the elderly. This is because these demographics are much more likely to have wear and tear on their bodies and require rehabilitation services. Compared to the other two organizations this is a much older age group, as the museum serves children, and CRCE is primarily a service for ages 18-22. This agency is set apart from others because of its unbelievable workout programs and accomplished staff members. Those two components draw a variety of patrons because they know that the service those two aspects provide are keys to recuperation. Health programs include water rehabilitation, weight training, and endurance training for those

recovering from ailments. The trainers on staff were particularly impressive, with degrees from high ranking institutions and graduate school work. CRCE’s major draw is its location and facilities offered to students, and the Museum offers tangible, scientific knowledge to youngsters to keep them off the streets and engaged in the magic of science.

Advocate Health Care’s greatest strength is that it provides state of the art equipment. The pool was recently redone, and all cardio and weight training equipment is connected to a computer network that creates and monitors one’s workouts. These machines make rehabilitation an intimate and accessible process for those with varying levels or workout expertise, it also is a major draw to have workouts monitored by the machines themselves, as it motivates members to complete their programs and check their status online. One of the major weaknesses is its inclusiveness to a particular socioeconomic class. Barrington, IL, is one of the most affluent suburbs in America, which automatically excludes certain groups from being able to utilize such services. It kind of goes against an accessible brand of leadership, and does deprive some residents of Barrington from having access to wonderful facilities. I think the organization DOES fulfill its goals, because its mission statement is not to provide affordable healthcare, but healthcare and rehabilitation for those who can afford it. It does this very well for the groups who it is concerned with serving, offering excellent staff, programs, and facilities to meet the needs of those its leisure is intended for.

Third Facility: CRCE

Just like any other campus recreation their main purpose is to make students get involved.

More, CRCE care for student’s health and how they spend their leisure time. It showed similarity with health center in that, both of the agencies focused on the health of members of the agency. CRCE is funded by student’s recreation fee. The bill is billed to every students on campus and is not optional. Unlike CRCE, the museum of science and industry is ran by entrance fee. Since it is a non-profit museum, it does not try to maximize their profit over the fees. Advocate good shepherd hospital and fitness center is a more of a private agency although it is funded by tax in some part, agency is ran mostly by fees that is collected from patients.

CRCE is mostly for a student on campus. But faculties and visitors are also served by the agency. Also people from the community could use the facility with fee if they have a student to endorse their identity. Unlike CRCE where it is used only for certain members, museum is for everyone. Advocate good shepherd hospital and fitness center is like CRCE in ways that it is accessible to only certain people who pay for their memberships or fees. CRCE is unique in that it is served mainly for students. Both museum and Advocate good shepherd hospital and fitness center serves public. Museum is unique in that its purpose is to teach and educate the public. While Advocate good shepherd hospital is unique in that its purpose is therapeutic.

What are the key program elements that set this agency apart from others?

The strength of agency as a leisure service provider for CRCE is that it is located in very convenient location. It is right next to the bus stop and is located south part of the campus. It is very near to PAR, FAR and allen hall which gives close access to students live near these dorm. But it lacks the size and equipments compare to the ARC. Compare to CRCE, museum tries to invest every penny on improvement of their facility but on the other sides, since it is non-profit museum, it requires donations and funds beside fees which may limit the growth and investment in facility. CRCE fulfill the purpose, since statistic shows that a lot of students around campus are using the facility and they enjoy the service provided by the facility.

After analyzing the many different aspects of our three leisure service organizations, we were able to learn that there are specific purposes of many different organizations. They can serve people of different ages and with different needs. It is important that there are a multitude of leisure services available so that a larger population will continuously be served. Although these three leisure services serve people from many different walks of life, they ultimately have the same goal. This common goal is to better the lives of the specific individuals targeted.

Campus Recreation Center East (Campus Recreation Program)

Campus Recreation Center East By Hyoun-Min Wang

CRCE known to us as Campus Recreation Center East is an open recreation facility containing gym, Squash court, running track, swimming pool, basketball court and other facilities helping students to enjoy their leisure through sports. Through my research I interviewed two people in CRCE. Liz and Shardy.

As I mentioned, the facilities are limited to only current UIUC students, members and guests. Person from community could pay 348 dollar for a year and use the facilities freely but would need a sponsor from either student or faculty member. Children of faculty, staff, students could also use the facility after paying for the facilities usage.

Liz told me about the purpose of the facility and what benefits them. The purpose of CRCE is help people (majority are students) to put their personal wellness into action. CRCE offers a broad range of activities and resources, which improves quality of life to students and members. CRCE is located behind Freer Gym, which is close to Krannert Center for the performing arts and is next to Allen Hall. CRCE is 110,000 square feet of activity space. CRCE opened on March 30, 2005 and is accessible to current students, members, and guests.

While visiting CRCE, I asked faculty member about employment. Liz told me about the employment and how many are working. From the interview, CRCE is one of the top hiring agency in campus. From person managing the light bulb to person who manages the facilities, and their job varies significantly. There are Customer service, Facility assistants, personal trainers, Facility manager, Building service workers, professional staff and more.The process of employment go through application and interview, and requirements usually varies on what position you are applying for. But usually after the interview, applicant goes through orientation and training after. The majority of workers are students in CRCE.

As our food and life style changes, so does concern about one’s health. These days, term “well being” or “Wellness” is being emphasized due to change in our life style. People want to keep their health not just by running or working out but by broad and fun activities. That is the reason why CRCE and recreation program on campus is trying to bring different trends to free time activities by providing different programs from adventure recreation, aquatics, group sports, ice skating to desktop wellness, learn to breath easy and relax and many other wellbeing activities. Also Facility like ARC is trying to bring joy in exercising by Wii and Express Bike. These two are a sport games that you compete with your friends while working out for your health.

Definition of leisure for CRCE is a wellness and health. CRCE is a place where main purpose is to serve students healthy and enjoying. For that reason CRCE focus on health concerned part of leisure.The agency provides many benefits to students. Through CRCE students enjoy their free time. This does not only benefit students but also community it self. Because of CRCE less and less students tend to do wrong acts on their freetime rather spend times with friends exercising and playing sports. Also CRCE benefits students in ways of understanding how to cope with social and community. Through group activity such as Taekwon Do program, students get to know others from other community group.

This was an opportunity for me to explore a place that I was familiar with. From my interview and research I saw a different side of CRCE that I visited every week. There was more broad concepts and purpose in the facility. There were programs that I did not hear about. CRCE serves multi purpose in its meaning. It is not just a gym that is for muscle exercise but is a facility for all different people who are desperate to seek adventure, recreation, and different experiences. Through out my report, I have learned the definition of campus recreation and its purpose. Campus recreation programs serves as a leisure service for students, where students could socialize and enjoy their free time. Campus recreation also helps us to bring our interest in one thing so that it will lead students to unify community.

Public Agencies: Morris Community High School Athletics by Matt Hussey

Over this past break, I had the opportunity to visit my old stomping grounds at Morris Community High School. The purpose of my visit was to explore how the high school serves the community members of Morris. I chose MCHS because in a small town like Morris, IL, the sporting and extra curricular events and recreational services are popular forms of leisure for both students and members of the local community. MCHS has been home of the Redskins since it was built in the 1950's. Since then its athletics, theatre performances, band and choir concerts, and Rec. Center have kept kids busy and entertained the masses.

Morris Community High School is located in the small town of Morris, Illinois. The school is made up of 1,039 students and 70 staff members (including coaches). The school is primarily funded by the public tax base, making it a public agency. According to Principal, Kelly Hussey, the mission statement for the high school is, "For students to achieve socially, emotionally, and academically to their fullest potential." Along with academics, there is a wide variety of programs that MCHS offers that include both students and the public.

There are a number of ways that MCHS serves the community of Morris. First off, there are the sporting events that are held at the school including baseball, softball, tennis, track and field, basketball, wrestling, bowling, volleyball, cross country, and the sport that draws the most spectators: football. Second, there are the performing arts including a concert band, symphonic wind ensemble, marching band, concert choir, varsity singers, madrigal singers, and spring and fall plays that are put on annually. A final form of public recreation calls the MCHS field house its home. The field house was built in 1977 and funded by tax payers under the agreement that it could be used by both the public and the school. After 6:00 P.M. on weeknights and 1:00 through 4:00 P.M. on Saturday, the field house becomes the Morris Area Recreation Center. The Rec. Center includes three full sized basketball courts, two weight lifting facilities, and a 25 meter swimming pool. Principal Hussey stated that the school looks at leisure as, "Participation in activities for health, relaxation, and enjoyment." MCHS wishes to fulfill this statement through each and every one of its recreational functions.

There are two major trends that have surfaced in recent years and both of them have to do with the state of the economy. Because the economy is so poor right now, the State of Illinois has cut back on funding which directly affects the recreation programs at the school. Sports teams, bands, and choirs now have to rely heavily on booster programs to support them financially. On the other side of the ball however, the economy has forced people to be careful about spending money. The cheap availability of events and activities at MCHS presents a perfect opportunity for people get out and experience the leisure and recreation services that the Morris Community High School has to offer.

There are several ways to become employed by MCHS and be a part of its recreational services. Some of the jobs available are Athletic Director, Coach, Band or Choir Director, Morris Area Recreation Center Manager, employee for the Rec. Center, or a volunteer. The easiest way to get a foot in the door is to be employed as a teacher on the MCHS staff. Principal Hussey informed me that if there is a capable employee and a non-employee vying for the same position in one of the many services, the job will almost always go to the person who is already employed by the high school.

My visit to Morris Community High School really gave me a whole new perspective on the how its activities and leisure services affect the community as a whole. Getting into a career involving recreation in the school would be

highly rewarding. It may not pay the most money but if you are a person who enjoys working around people, a job in this field would be perfect. The activities and services available at MCHS fit perfectly in line with standards of a public agency. It is supported largely by tax dollars but other means are also utilized and through the Morris Area Recreational Center, the school is obligated to serve the public with useful programs because of its tax based funding. MCHS is one of the the few real venues for indoor recreation in the city of Morris and for this reason, it is a very important facility. Being able to serve the community and create wellness of mind body and spirit is the mission of any leisure service provider and the school is no exception to this mindset. Morris Community High School has provided these pillars throughout its history and will continue to do the same in years to come.

For further information visit the Morris Community High School homepage at:

http://morrishs.org/

McFetridge Sports Center- Sports Management Organization

I chose to visit the McFetridge Sports Center Ice Arena in Chicago. This is a facility that explores both figure skating and ice hockey opportunities for people of all ages. Activities range from beginner levels in both hockey and figure skating to more advanced levels. There are public skating sessions for recreation that people of all ages and skating abilities attend just to have fun and enjoy themselves. The ice rink holds many events throughout the year such as ice shows, hockey tournaments, and even birthday parties.

The McFetridge Sports Center Ice Arena is made up of a wide variety of people from working at the concession stand to coaching their synchronized skating team, Chicago Skates. The rink exists solely for the purpose of allowing individuals to partake in various levels of skating activities. It is a public ice rink and so the participants are what keep it in operation along with funds from the city of Chicago (through the Chicago Park District). Although figure skating and ice hockey can be very competitive, they are seen as leisure activities because they are personal choice and often times enjoyable (or the participants would not be partaking). The rink strives to keep its members satisfied and to keep a well-rounded multitude of activities for a wide variety of people.

Employment opportunities vary, depending on each position. There is a head director of the rink who monitors all of the activities. Generally this position requires a degree in the recreational sport management area. Often times, the McFetridge Ice Rink considers those who have worked at the rink longer and have been assisting in other aspects to then move up to this position. There are also coaches of hockey teams, synchronized skating teams, and solo figure skating. These coaches must have experience in the field. The rink offers a wide variety of sports management positions through the organization of Rat Hockey (for younger children) to the organization of the synchronized skating teams. Because McFetridge is part of the Chicago Park District, postions are hired through the main office of the park districts in Chicago. (Photo of a solo skating coach and student after a performance).

Currently, the ice rink is having some issues with money and skater enrollment. With the affected economy, the ice rink has noticed a decline in the amount of skaters there are. This is a significant problem because money has now become a main concern. Some employee positions have been eliminated and there are fewer benefits to those who do work there. Skaters have even said they noticed a change in behaviors such as turning lights off more often. Many of these changes are to save more money because so little is coming in. (This photo is of the skating team having a pep talk before having an official practice.)

When I spoke with one of the skating coaches, Kathy, she described McFetridge’s view on leisure as pleasurable activities that serve a multitude of people. She then went on to describe how enthused she is to work in a place where people choose to be there and want to be there. She loves to teach skaters as well as coach the synchronized skating team, all of which consist of people who are excited to be there. Not only does she feel happy to teach skating, but she knows how accomplished and proud the skaters feel. This shows how sports organizations are very much a part of leisure activity. (This picture is of a proud skater practicing to put on a show.)

I really enjoyed this experience visiting McFetridge Sports Center ice arena to learn more about the wide variety of opportunities there are, from being a skater to holding a sports management position. The organizations involved are amazing (the synchronized skating teams and hockey teams). This experience opened my eyes to the idea of how much planning and organization have to go into operating an ice rink and its activities. The pros of working in an agency like this are the good feelings of teaching skaters to learn new things as well as constantly working with a large group of people; it never gets boring. The cons are that the pay for jobs in this agency are not very high, and the job is very unstable because factors like this economy create large impacts. This agency fits into the leisure through recreation because it serves the public as an enjoyable activity. Some of the motivations to participate in ice hockey or figure skating are that it is a social activity as well as exercise. However, skating and hockey are extremely expensive sports, leaving many people unable to have a chance at these sports. This leads the richer to enjoy such pleasurable activities. This issue is seen in many leisure activities, but being a part of the skating world can be a great place to work.

(This photo shows the excitement with skaters and coach).