OUTDOOR RECREATION- WEEK 1
Outdoor recreation is a form of human behaviour which is an engrained part of many cultures. It
is free time activity that occurs in the outdoors and embraces the interaction of people with the
natural environment (Plummer, 2008).
Outdoor recreation activities have been defined as activities which (QORF, 2009):
are undertaken outside the confines of buildings (ie, in the outdoors); and
can be undertaken without the existence of any built facility or infrastructure; and
may require large areas of land, water and/or air; and
may require outdoor areas of predominantly unmodified natural landscape.
While facilities, site modifications or infrastructure may be provided to manage access to and the
impacts of outdoor activities, outdoor activities can be undertaken without facilities, site
modification or infrastructure.
Outdoor recreation activities include but are not limited to:
Abseiling
Bungee-jumping
Cycling: road bikes – touring and road racing and mountain bikes
Camping: tent, caravan
Caving: including cave diving
Climbing: rockclimbing, canyoning
Canoeing and kayaking: white water, flat water, surf and sea
Driving off-road vehicles – touring, racing
Fishing
Gliding: hang gliding
Horse riding: recreational trail riding and endurance competition
Hunting and shooting: with firearms, spears, bow and arrows
Riding off-road motorcycle-like vehicles: trail bikes, motocross bikes,
quads, etc– recreational rides, touring, motocross
Picnicking
Power boating: motor boats, jet skis, etc. – recreational touring, racing and
other forms of competition
Sailing: yachts, sailboards, kiteboards and any other wind-powered vessels
SCUBA diving and snorkelling
Surfing
Swimming: body surfing, swimming in rivers, creeks and the sea
Walking: walking, running, orienteering and bushwalking
Water-skiing
Outdoor recreation activities are undertaken for a range of purposes (QORF, 2009):
Non-competitive outdoor recreation – activities in a non-competitive context (for example,
bushwalking, bicycle touring, picnicking and camping)
Outdoor sports – formally organised, competitive events such as orienteering, surfing
competitions, cycling, car rallies and endurance horse riding
Outdoor and environmental education – using outdoor recreation activities to help achieve
formal and informal educational outcomes
Health and lifestyle improvement – active forms of outdoor recreation (walking, riding,
canoeing, etc.) improve health and wellbeing or as part of a balanced lifestyle.
Adventure-based counselling – using outdoor recreation activities for therapeutic outcomes –
, improved physical, psychological, social and spiritual well-being.
Adventure tourism, eco-tourism and nature-based tourism – outdoor recreation activities
provided by commercial tourism enterprises
Definition of Leisure, Recreation, Play and Sport
LEISURE
Leisure is associated with free time where the individual has the luxury of choice (Godbey,
1999). Leisure and free time are also used synonymously. The word leisure is derived from the
Latin word ‘licer’, which means ‘to permit or allow’. Hence, leisure can be defined as
permission to do what one pleases at one’s own pace, to participate in an activity of one’s choice,
and to abandon the activity at will. Leisure is also defines by activities which are pleasurable,
purposeful and undertaken voluntary.
‘Leisure is activity- apart from obligations of work, family and society- to which the individual
turns at will, for either relaxation, diversion or broadening his knowledge and his spontaneous
social participation’ (Dumazedier, 1967: 16-17).
The leisure experience has 3 essential elements:
1. Perceived freedom: One embarks on the experience at will and is also able leave it at will.
2. Autotelic activity: An autotelic activity is one that is done through self-motivation and not
because of some external factor.
3. Beneficial outcome: One undertakes the activity on the assumption that doing so will yield
some benefit.
The leisure experience has 3 essential elements:
1. Perceived freedom: One embarks on the experience at will and is also able leave it at will.
2. Autotelic activity: An autotelic activity is one that is done through self-motivation and not
because of some external factor.
3. Beneficial outcome: One undertakes the activity on the assumption that doing so will yield
some benefit.
Leisure as Residual Time
Residual time means the time left over after subtracting the hours that are not devoted to leisure
from a 24 hour day: working, sleeping, eating, and attending to physical needs.
Leisure as Activities
Activity is commonly defined as the performance of a specific deed or act.
Leisure as a State of Mind
The importance of one’s state of mind in a given leisure experience. Leisure is the opposite of
obligation. To be at leisure, one must be free from external forces that prevent one from engaging
in a chosen experience. The opposite of leisure is not work but obligation.
Leisure is both subjective and personal. Individual must be both positive and open to the
experience
Leisure as a holistic concept
Leisure consists of all of the above. It enables people to recover from fatigue, get rid of boredom
and liberate themselves from their daily routine.
Leisure and Status
Outdoor recreation is a form of human behaviour which is an engrained part of many cultures. It
is free time activity that occurs in the outdoors and embraces the interaction of people with the
natural environment (Plummer, 2008).
Outdoor recreation activities have been defined as activities which (QORF, 2009):
are undertaken outside the confines of buildings (ie, in the outdoors); and
can be undertaken without the existence of any built facility or infrastructure; and
may require large areas of land, water and/or air; and
may require outdoor areas of predominantly unmodified natural landscape.
While facilities, site modifications or infrastructure may be provided to manage access to and the
impacts of outdoor activities, outdoor activities can be undertaken without facilities, site
modification or infrastructure.
Outdoor recreation activities include but are not limited to:
Abseiling
Bungee-jumping
Cycling: road bikes – touring and road racing and mountain bikes
Camping: tent, caravan
Caving: including cave diving
Climbing: rockclimbing, canyoning
Canoeing and kayaking: white water, flat water, surf and sea
Driving off-road vehicles – touring, racing
Fishing
Gliding: hang gliding
Horse riding: recreational trail riding and endurance competition
Hunting and shooting: with firearms, spears, bow and arrows
Riding off-road motorcycle-like vehicles: trail bikes, motocross bikes,
quads, etc– recreational rides, touring, motocross
Picnicking
Power boating: motor boats, jet skis, etc. – recreational touring, racing and
other forms of competition
Sailing: yachts, sailboards, kiteboards and any other wind-powered vessels
SCUBA diving and snorkelling
Surfing
Swimming: body surfing, swimming in rivers, creeks and the sea
Walking: walking, running, orienteering and bushwalking
Water-skiing
Outdoor recreation activities are undertaken for a range of purposes (QORF, 2009):
Non-competitive outdoor recreation – activities in a non-competitive context (for example,
bushwalking, bicycle touring, picnicking and camping)
Outdoor sports – formally organised, competitive events such as orienteering, surfing
competitions, cycling, car rallies and endurance horse riding
Outdoor and environmental education – using outdoor recreation activities to help achieve
formal and informal educational outcomes
Health and lifestyle improvement – active forms of outdoor recreation (walking, riding,
canoeing, etc.) improve health and wellbeing or as part of a balanced lifestyle.
Adventure-based counselling – using outdoor recreation activities for therapeutic outcomes –
, improved physical, psychological, social and spiritual well-being.
Adventure tourism, eco-tourism and nature-based tourism – outdoor recreation activities
provided by commercial tourism enterprises
Definition of Leisure, Recreation, Play and Sport
LEISURE
Leisure is associated with free time where the individual has the luxury of choice (Godbey,
1999). Leisure and free time are also used synonymously. The word leisure is derived from the
Latin word ‘licer’, which means ‘to permit or allow’. Hence, leisure can be defined as
permission to do what one pleases at one’s own pace, to participate in an activity of one’s choice,
and to abandon the activity at will. Leisure is also defines by activities which are pleasurable,
purposeful and undertaken voluntary.
‘Leisure is activity- apart from obligations of work, family and society- to which the individual
turns at will, for either relaxation, diversion or broadening his knowledge and his spontaneous
social participation’ (Dumazedier, 1967: 16-17).
The leisure experience has 3 essential elements:
1. Perceived freedom: One embarks on the experience at will and is also able leave it at will.
2. Autotelic activity: An autotelic activity is one that is done through self-motivation and not
because of some external factor.
3. Beneficial outcome: One undertakes the activity on the assumption that doing so will yield
some benefit.
The leisure experience has 3 essential elements:
1. Perceived freedom: One embarks on the experience at will and is also able leave it at will.
2. Autotelic activity: An autotelic activity is one that is done through self-motivation and not
because of some external factor.
3. Beneficial outcome: One undertakes the activity on the assumption that doing so will yield
some benefit.
Leisure as Residual Time
Residual time means the time left over after subtracting the hours that are not devoted to leisure
from a 24 hour day: working, sleeping, eating, and attending to physical needs.
Leisure as Activities
Activity is commonly defined as the performance of a specific deed or act.
Leisure as a State of Mind
The importance of one’s state of mind in a given leisure experience. Leisure is the opposite of
obligation. To be at leisure, one must be free from external forces that prevent one from engaging
in a chosen experience. The opposite of leisure is not work but obligation.
Leisure is both subjective and personal. Individual must be both positive and open to the
experience
Leisure as a holistic concept
Leisure consists of all of the above. It enables people to recover from fatigue, get rid of boredom
and liberate themselves from their daily routine.
Leisure and Status
