VWC Course Outline

INSTRUCTOR'S NAME: Dr. Doug Kennedy

COURSE TITLE: Commercial Recreation

COURSE NUMBER: REC 336

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS: This course is designed to provide an in-depth investigation of those agencies that fall within the framework of "Commercial" recreation. This investigation focuses not only upon the leisure service delivery agencies themselves, but also the interrelationships that are present within the business environment. Commercial recreation will be viewed as the market sector response to the demand for enabling recreation goods and services. In order to fully understand the role that these recreation agencies play within this market, the issues of finance, marketing, management, and operations are discussed.

TEXT: Epperson. A.F. (ed.) (1986) Private and Commercial Recreation. State College PA: Venture.

COMPETENCIES: Note: Numbers in parentheses refer to the NRPA/AALR Accreditation Standards the competency meets or aids in meeting At the conclusion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Define and identify components of the Commercial sector of leisure services and facilities. (8.15)
  2. Describe the dynamics present in operating a commercial recreation enterprise. This includes understanding how the basic principles of recreation economics, financing, promotion, personnel management, and risk management play a role in such operations.
  3. Explain how public and commercial leisure service delivery organizations can be integrated for mutual benefit.
  4. Discuss the career preparation that is necessary to enter and grow within the commercial recreation field.
  5. Assess the leisure needs and resources of a population and make specific commercial recreation program recommendations for how to best plan programs and facilities to meet these needs. (8.20) (8.21) (8.22) (8.23)
  6. Understand the marketing and promotion principles related to commercial recreation and their importance. (8.28) (8.33)
MATERIALS USED: Readings, videotapes, guest speakers, field trips.

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION: This course will rely upon extensive field visitations as well as background information presented in class to gain a realistic understanding of the field of Commercial Recreation.

OUTLINE OF TOPICS:
  1. Introduction
  2. Sources of information for Commercial Recreation
  3. Leisure and how people use it.
  4. Recreation and leisure for profit.
  5. Tourism
  6. Travel
  7. Entrepreneurship
  8. Economic Feasibility Studies.
  9. Effective Marketing.
  10. Managing recreation enterprises.
  11. Trends and the future.
  12. Profiles of recreation industries.
  13. Marketing
CLASS POLICIES:
  1. Class assignments are due on the date specified. Each day an assignment is late will result in the subtraction of one letter grade.
  2. Regular prompt class attendance is required. If you are late for class, do not enter the room if class has started.
  3. Participation includes quantitative, relevant, and qualitative discussion of material. This is expected for a satisfactory participation grade.
  4. One absence is allowed. Each subsequent absence will result in one half of a letter grade subtracted from your final class participation grade.
  5. All class suggestions are encouraged. It's your class, if there's a topic you'd like covered, or an idea you'd like to try, see the instructor. All suggestions aid your class participation grade.
  6. Written assignments unless otherwise stated are to be properly referenced, grammatically correct, and typed. All suspicion of plagiarism will be turned over to the proper bodies. Please see the instructor with all concerns regarding proper referencing of ideas.
  7. Work for this class must not have been done for any other VWC class.
  8. Students may not make-up missed tests or assignments.
METHODS OF EVALUATING INSTRUCTOR'S EFFECTIVENESS: Standard college evaluation form. In addition, students will have the opportunity to complete a midterm evaluation and may suggest any changes at that time.