University Presentation Showcase: Graduate Division
Measuring Recreation Students' Attitudes About the Importance of Recreation and Their Self Reported Ability to Advocate for Recreation
Presenter Hometown
Berea, KY
Major
Recreation and Park Administration
Department
Recreation and Park Administration
Degree
Graduate
Mentor
Dr. Raglena Salmans
Mentor Department
Recreation and Park Administration
Recommended Citation
Beichler, Andy, "Measuring Recreation Students' Attitudes About the Importance of Recreation and Their Self Reported Ability to Advocate for Recreation" (2026). University Presentation Showcase Event. 3.
https://encompass.eku.edu/swps/2026/graduate/3
Abstract
Recreation students must be prepared to advocate for access to recreation for everyone. To advocate effectively, they must understand why recreation is important and consider how ready they are to speak up. This research was designed to measure what current recreation students consider important about recreation, their self-reported ability to advocate and whether they believe access to recreation is a human right. The survey showed that most students feel ready to advocate for access to recreation and that they believe that improved mental health and increased personal and community relationships are the most important benefits of recreation. Feeling ready to advocate is an important first step but it does not indicate whether they have actual advocacy skills. Students may need instruction to be effective advocates.
Presentation format
Poster
Measuring Recreation Students' Attitudes About the Importance of Recreation and Their Self Reported Ability to Advocate for Recreation
Recreation students must be prepared to advocate for access to recreation for everyone. To advocate effectively, they must understand why recreation is important and consider how ready they are to speak up. This research was designed to measure what current recreation students consider important about recreation, their self-reported ability to advocate and whether they believe access to recreation is a human right. The survey showed that most students feel ready to advocate for access to recreation and that they believe that improved mental health and increased personal and community relationships are the most important benefits of recreation. Feeling ready to advocate is an important first step but it does not indicate whether they have actual advocacy skills. Students may need instruction to be effective advocates.
