Therapeutic Recreation Personal Philosophy
Kandice Brown
RECR 317
During my time at Longwood University, I have grown to gain a deeper understand
of what Therapeutic Recreation is and why it is important. I’ve learned that each Certified
Therapeutic Recreation Specialist’s definition of Therapeutic Recreation is unique and
personal to them. My philosophy is ever changing and growing as I learn more through
classes and experiences in the field.
I believe that leisure is a necessity for all individuals. It provides an outlet through
recreation to alleviate the stresses of daily life. I firmly believe in the Leisure Ability Model
and its components: Functional Intervention, Leisure Education, and Recreation
Participation (Stumbo & Peterson, 1998). I agree with the idea in this model that the role of
the CTRS begins with high involvement and through the program changes to low
involvement. The Leisure Ability Model allows the client to take control of their leisure and
become independent.
Through my experiences at Longwood University, I have achieved many things
through the major. In February 2013, I assisted in planning a basketball tournament with
Special Olympics in Virginia. I learned firsthand how to successfully plan and implement
programs that involves a large number of participants and volunteers. I gained experience
in working alongside my peers effectively to provide a competitive recreational experience
for individuals with disabilities in the surrounding areas of Farmville, Virginia. During the
summer of 2013, I worked in the Therapeutic Recreation division at Newport News
Department of Parks and Recreation. I primarily worked with children with Autism, Down
Syndrome, and Intellectual Disorders. I was responsible for programming daily activities
for the children as well as implementing them alongside my staff. These activities included
outings, which I was responsible for planning one per week. While I was working at parks
and rec, I learned that flexibility is key. When activities don’t work the way you want to, it is
better to always have a back up activity to implement. I also gained a bigger understanding
of Autism Spectrum Disorders as well as Intellectual Disorders and methods of working
with children with disabilities. Recently, I had the opportunity to plan a 5k for the children
with disabilities in Cumberland County Public Schools. I, along with the executive board of
Therapeutic Recreation Organization, spent two semesters planning a walk/run 5k on
Longwood’s campus that benefited the children we work with in the pool on Friday
afternoons. This program was the first time that I planned an event without assistance
from a supervisor. I learned that things are not always going to happen in the way that you
want them to and that it is not the end of the world. I gained experience that I can put
towards my future endeavors in Therapeutic Recreation.
I am very proud of the achievements I have made in my time in the major. However,
there are more things that I would still like to contribute. One thing I would like to
contribute in the near future is to volunteer at Comfort Zone Camp. Comfort Zone Camp is a
camp for children who have recently lost a loved one such as a parent, sibling, or
grandparent (Comfort Zone Camp, 2012). I believe that this camp is phenomenal and
would love to make an impact on a young child’s life through the initiatives, group therapy,
and expressive arts and activities provided at Comfort Zone Camp. After volunteering and
becoming a big buddy for a camper, I would love to further my impact on the camp and
create more camps and offices in every state. Currently, there are only 4 offices located in
Virginia, New Jersey, California, and Massachusetts. I would like to branch off of the
Virginia office and make a series of camps in North Carolina or Tennessee where I could
incorporate Adventure Therapy in the activities for the weekend. Another contribution I
would love to accomplish would be to create multiple service projects in Alpha Phi Omega
that directly involve individuals with disabilities. Currently, I am involved in projects such
as the Virginia Home kickball tournament and Special Olympics. I would like to implement
a weekly project with children with disabilities where we could assist a CTRS in
accomplishing the child’s goals through leisure activities. I believe that this would be a
great way for the child to increase their social skills through meeting 74+ brothers of the
fraternity as well as an opportunity for the brothers of Alpha Phi Omega to get a better
understanding of Therapeutic Recreation and how beneficial it is for individuals with
disabilities. Also, I would love to be able to create and manage a sensory gym for children
with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Based on my past experiences, I have witnessed how
beneficial it is for children with Autism to have a sensory area where they can play and
explore everything around them. Having a sensory gym would be a great way for a child to
meet their program goals without being in a classroom setting.
Throughout my time at Longwood University, I have grown into a more outgoing
and independent person. I have gained a stronger knowledge and passion for Therapeutic
Recreation. Although I have come so far, I still feel like I have much more to learn and grow
from in our major. I am excited to see how I will utilize the knowledge given to me through
our faculty, classes, internships, and volunteer experiences. I hope to accomplish each of
the goals I have set for myself to effectively complete my contributions to the field.
References
Zone Camp, C. (2012). Comfort zone camp. Retrieved from http://www.comfortzonecamp.org
Stumbo, N., & Peterson, C. (1998). The leisure ability model. Therapeutic Recreation Journal,
32(2), 82-96.