Recreation and leisure is a thriving industry with phenomenal growth, tremendous potential, and diverse career paths and options. Introduction to Recreation and Leisure, Second Edition, is a textbook designed for the first undergraduate course in a recreation or leisure program. With its 21st-century views of recreation and leisure services, it indicates future directions in the field and offers diverse international perspectives.

The second edition of Introduction to Recreation and Leisure
• presents historical, philosophical, and social aspects of the industry;
• offers fresh insights on community parks and recreation departments, youth and nonprofit agencies, commercial recreation, and tourism enterprises;
• describes how recreation provides fun, enriching, and educational programs and services for people of all ages; and
• exposes students to a variety of career options and supports them as they explore their interests and prepare for challenging careers in one of the leading industries of the 21st century.

Part I presents the history and philosophy of the field and its benefits to individuals and society. Part II introduces the sectors of the field and their delivery systems: parks, public recreation, nonprofit organizations, commercial recreation and tourism, therapeutic recreation, and unique groups. Part III presents the types of programming found in recreation and leisure services: sports; fitness, health, and wellness; outdoor and adventure recreation; and arts and culture. It includes a chapter on recreation and leisure as a profession and a chapter on international recreation.

In the second edition of Introduction to Recreation and Leisure, invited experts from around the world offer their perspectives on the industry. These authors are emerging and leading professionals and eminent scholars in leisure education. The new edition includes a web resource that supports students in the classroom as well as in the online setting with ways to explore the foundation of recreation and leisure and its opportunities for careers.