Successful recreation is much more than simply enjoying the sunset ...

A brief history
of the department
UW-L has offered recreation-related
degrees for more than 50 years.
Therapeutic recreation programming began
in 1973.
1945 — A double major in recreation and physical
education was first offered within the physical education
department.
1950 — Alice De Bower, one of the first recreation
faculty members, established the Recreation Majors Club.
1960 — Degree program in recreation developed; it
included concentrations in recreation program
leadership, and recreation and park administration.
1967 — The recreation and parks department formed
with nearly 100 full-time students.
1972 — Therapeutic recreation program initiated with a
proposal submitted to the university by William Otto,
chair of the department.
1973 — Shirley Bushell hired as the first therapeutic
recreation instructor.
1974 — Therapeutic recreation becomes the third
concentration of the recreation and parks major.
1988 — Department of Recreation and Parks receives
its first accreditation by the National Council on
Accreditation (NCA) of the NRPA/AALR with three
concentration areas: therapeutic recreation, recreation
and park administration, and recreation program
leadership.
1989 — Therapeutic recreation major approved by the
UW System.
1991 — Department’s new name is the department of
recreation management and therapeutic recreation.
1993 — Department of recreation management and
therapeutic recreation receives a second five-year
national accreditation by the National Council on
Accreditation of the NRPA/AALR in two majors:
recreation management and therapeutic recreation.
1998 — Re-accreditation of programs approved for
five years by the NCA of the NRPA/AALR.
2003 — Department reaccredited by the NCA of the
NRPA/AALR. Enrollment is 277 undergraduates and 25
graduate students.
The department’s philosophy
“The department of recreation management and
therapeutic recreation strives to provide quality learning
experiences which will enhance students’ ability to
contribute to the leisure development of individuals
within the community and the agency in which they will
assume professional responsibilities.”
Cover Story
Bill Carlson, ’69, left, established a fund-raising challenge that
has helped department chair George Arimond, right, and other
faculty encourage others to follow suit. Funds raised have helped
the department purchase state-of-the-art technology and
equipment, as well as providing needed scholarships and grants
to students.
Challenge offers reward
for department
Bill Carlson offered a challenge to recreation management
and therapeutic recreation majors in 1996: donate to the
department and he would, too.
The 1969 recreation management major challenged alumni
to donate at least $5,000 as a group during an annual appeal,
and he would match it. Carlson’s initial five-year pledge of
$25,000 in matches was eventually extended an additional year
for another $5,000. Alumni responded and met, or surpassed,
the challenge each of those years.
“Challenges are the way to go in fund raising,” notes Pat
Stephens, director of collegiate gifts for the UW-L Foundation.
“It’s a way for people to see their gifts doubling, so they are
more apt to give more than they originally planned.”
Carlson’s initial challenge sparked a succeeding fund-raiser,
too. A dozen alumni affiliated with the Wisconsin Parks and
Recreation Association recently pledged $6,000 as a group over
three years, and challenged others who graduated from the
department to do the same. That challenge, too, is finding
success.
Money donated goes to an unrestricted fund for the
department. It is used for scholarships, registration fees for
students to attend conferences, recreation technology
equipment, and research and faculty development.
Stephens says the recreation management and therapeutic
recreation department’s fund-raising challenge is unique on
campus. “It remains a remarkable success,” he says.
UW-La Crosse Alumnus/Winter 2003-04 5