RECREATION ... AMUSEMENT OR TREATMENT

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE IS
written in an attempt to present some ideas concerning the purpose of recreation within rehabilitative programs. Advocates of "new and innovative" rehabilitation methods have been critical about the purpose of recreation as it is presently used in many programs. It seems to the critics that recreation is often used to keep the inmates, students or patients happily occupied so they are less inclined to cause trouble. In other words it "buys the peace." The focus of this report will be on the New Salem School Camp a correctional facility for juvenile delinquents ages 16 to 20 years.

New Salem School Camp is a minimum security facility operated by the Juvenile Division of the Illinois Department of Corrections. The camp is located adjacent to the New Salem State Park about two miles from Petersburg, Illinois. The camp was originated during the mid nineteen fifties under the old Illinois Youth Commission. The camp was designed after the idea of the "CCC" Civilian Conservation Corps. That is, it was thought if you take "youth in trouble" out into the great out-of-doors where they could breathe fresh air, eat three square meals per day and work hard on rugged conservation and forestry projects in the spacious state parks that all their social evils would be "cured." However, it was found that too many of the "cured" youths were coming back into the system as second, third and fourth time offenders. Upon a closer look at the camp system it was found that the "camp" idea has validity but the programs needed to be more relevant to the needs of its city and ghetto youth.

The greatest impetus to modernize the camp programs has come since the formation of the Illinois Department of Corrections, January 1, 1970. At that time the Illinois Youth Commission and the Department of Public Safety were combined into the new code department. The Youth Commission is now the Juvenile Division and Public Safety, the Adult Division of the Department of Corrections.

The youth assigned to the New Salem School Camp are generally 16, 17 and 18 years of age. A few "students" are from down state cities such as Peoria, East St. Louis, Danville, Champaign, Decatur and Springfield. The remainder — about 85%, are from the City of Chicago. The majority of commitments are for auto theft, armed robbery and gang activities. The youth are extremely peer oriented, streetwise and "hard core" (histories of chronic institutionalization) delinquents. With these characteristics in mind, programs have been developed which utilize the dynamics of this group. In other words, students are directly involved in programs that emphasize the positive aspects of group behavior. Each youth is assigned into a group immediately after arrival at camp. Here he is given much of the responsibility for his own behavior. The involvement of the individual in the group is essential for his adjustment to the total program. The group plans and controls its activities.

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If a negative situation occurs during a group activity it reflects upon the group therefore it will be handled by the members.

The primary goal of the staff at New Salem is to return our youth to their home communities as contributing adults. Naturally, we are attempting to prepare these youth so that they never return to a correctional program. Our major emphasis has been on personal counseling, vocational counseling and training and on-the-job work experiences within the communities of Petersburg and Springfield. The recreation program has been secondary in the past but is presently being studied and its purpose is being redefined.

The recreation program at New Salem School Camp has consisted of a part-time (20 hour/week) Educator who plans and supervises the following schedule:

Mondays—Attend basketball game in Springfield

Thursday—Volunteer worker teaches art

Fridays—"A" Group—Swimming in Springfield

"B" Group—Dance in Springfield

"C" Group—Stay in camp

Saturdays — Afternoons — Bowling in Springfield

Evenings—Movie in Petersburg

Sundays—Play basketball at Springfield Boys Club

Special events are planned as the occasion arises—profits from the youths commissary are placed in a recreation fund and checks are written for tickets to special shows, professional football/basketball games and other similar events.

Activities during the summer months are broader in interest range and more frequent. Examples of summer activities are:

fishing, boating, softball games (with area teams), crafts, go-carting, hiking, summer theater (Springfield Muni-Opera), musical shows, camp's rock and roll band and special events.

The above schedule may seem impressive upon first glance; however, if one examines the program he will find mostly amusement activities. A study of the purpose of these activities will yield comments like: "keep the kids busy or they will be into all kinds of trouble," "let's have good activities and keep everybody happy," "these guys will cause you some trouble if they get bored," and "a good program is a busy one." The fallacy of a good amusement program is that while it reduces tension and anxiety it does make youth more comfortable in their environment. The purpose of rehabilitation is not to make one comfortable with his situation but rather create anxiety about the situation and attempt to effect behavior change that will minimize the opportunities to return to the institution. One can back up about 20 or 30 years to a point where correctional employees openly beat youth in the state institutions because "they are here to be punished." Needless to say this created anxiety about the situation. However, fear, resentment and hate were the only results of this "physical" approach because kids kept returning again and again.

The modern counseling method uses anxiety as a treatment tool. Anxiety is created by making the individual answer or account for his own behavior. In this manner he must be responsible for himself—the result when this is achieved is usually responsible behavior. Also incorporated within the treatment method is education and training. A responsible citizen needs some marketable skills to survive in our competitive society. It is the purpose of the Department's programs to provide some of these basic skills.

The camp program has emphasized vocational education, training and job experience in the past and presently continues to expand in this area. However, the purpose of recreation has become an important issue. If recreation is used strictly as amusement then it conflicts with the rehabilitative approach. But if recreation is planned and organized to supplement counseling and vocational training it will help reinforce the impact of the total program on each youth. It is with this idea that a new approach to recreation is being attempted. This is the treatment approach.

The basis of the new recreation program is the theory that the youth who are committed to the Department of Corrections have limited skills in area of recreational activities. This is largely due to limited opportunities for recreational activities with their home neighborhoods. Since exposure to these activities is restricted, few youths have an opportunity to develop skills necessary for enjoyable participation. It is theorized then that if youth have limited access to recreational programs and little skill to enjoy those which are accessible then participation will be limited. If participation is

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NEW SALEM

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limited what are the many youth who have so much free time doing to escape boredom? The monthly intake records of the Chicago Police Department will give a clue about the relatively small percent who get caught.

If one can assume that patterns of behavior of youth during their free time can be traced in some to anti-social and distructive results it would seem that training which encourages the constructive use of leisure time will keep some youths from entering or re-entering the correctional system. The staff at New Salem made the assumption that if the youth at camp are taught recreation skills— especially in the activities which arc accessible to Chicago area youth then these young men will be more likely to utilize their leisure time in a constructive manner.

The new recreation program named "Leisure Education" was proposed to and funded under Title I. The purpose of this program is to teach leisure time activities relevant to the needs of our youth.

The attainment of activity skills in new areas of interest should open up more opportunities for enjoyment. Generally, when a person learns skills he gets some reward from the attainment of new levels itself. For example, almost every swimming program this writer has seen uses a multi-level approach to motivate kids to continue participation and development. For each step achieved there is a new and more challenging one to conquer. When the individual achieves each step or level he experiences satisfaction and enjoyment. This builds self-concept and is therapeutic in itself. As the person becomes more confident in an activity he enjoys it more and this improves participation. It is felt that through the greater participation our program goal will be realized. Recreation is an educative process when used in this manner.

The second aspect of recreation as a treatment tool is to offer the amusement type activities as earned rewards for involvement in the educational and vocational programs — and as reward for responsibility. The staff have developed a point system that will be tried during the month of March to give this approach a trial period for the purpose of evaluation. If it proves to be successful the reward system will be expanded to include all of the activities presently available. The purpose of this approach is to remove all amusements from those who do not earn it. In other words, those youth who would prefer to sit back comfortably and "do their time", will not be able to participate in comfortable tension reducing activities. The enjoyable activities will be reserved for those who have been involved in anxiety producing situations and need rest and relaxation.

The reward system will be based on points which may be earned by involvement in the educational and vocational programs. The idea is to reinforce responsible behavior patterns and reward skill attainment. The leisure education program is included in the list of creditable activities. The camp will not force participation in any activities other than group meetings (counseling) and work. A report will be written in about six months with an evaluation of this new approach.

In conclusion, the purpose of recreation has been defined within the New Salem School Camp program as having a treatment role more than one of amusement. It should be noted that tension reducing aspects of recreation are important and is being utilized in the camp program. The main emphasis is on Leisure Education. The activities which are being taught under this part of the program are suggested by the youth to insure their relevancy. The staff at New Salem feel that recreation is beginning to take a more important role in the total rehabilitative program as a result of the recent changes.

It is hoped that those who have ideas that expand on the information presented will drop a line to the camp and share their thoughts and experiences. Address: New Salem School Camp, Lincoln's New Salem, Illinois 62659.

Illinois Parks and Recreation    20    March/April, 1972