5.2 Program Formats

Every program or event has some kind of “format” – the way in which the program is designed, organized, or arranged for the participants. The format (or formats – you may find yourself using more than one!) you choose to structure or frame your program will be informed by the nature and scope of the program you are designing, the resources available to you, as well as the program’s goals and objectives. When it comes to selecting a format, it is important to keep participant needs and expectations front and centre to ensure the best possible outcomes for the program.

Camps

Recreational camps typically run for a set duration, usually over several days or weeks, and usually over the summer months when children are out of school. In Canada, camps are most often geared to children and teens, but occasionally, camps are offered for adults, as well. ‘Traditional’ camps offer a variety of activities such as outdoor living skills, canoeing, sports, arts and crafts, adventure-based challenges like high ropes and low ropes, and team-building exercises.

Day Camps run throughout the summer months and during school breaks, offering traditional camp activities (hiking, games, arts & crafts) and non-traditional activities [computer-coding camp, STEM (Science, Technology. Engineering, Mathematics) camps, theatre camps] at a set location, usually between the typical business hours (8:00 A.M.-5:00 PM) Monday to Friday (hence “day” camps). Day Camps are often run by non-profit organizations and municipal parks and recreation departments.

Overnight Camps, also called “sleepaway” camps, are summer camps that offer camp activities in a communal setting, with participants – campers – sleeping away from home on the camp property for usually somewhere between 1-3 weeks. Overnight camps are most often run by non-profit and private organizations. Canadian Camps are pro-social in nature, meaning they provide opportunities for developing and cultivating camp skills while promoting a camper’s physical, mental, and social well-being. As Michael Brandwein, Chicago-based author, keynote speaker and camp expert, said at the 2009 Ontario Camps Association (OCA) conference, “Camps are construction zones for building better people”. (Brandwein, 2009).

Classes, Workshops, and Instructional

These are structured sessions focused on teaching specific skills or sharing knowledge related to a particular recreational activity. Instructional formats are very common in recreation and include classes, seminars, workshops and clinics. As the goal of an instructional format is to teach a skill (or skills) to the participants, classes or workshops are usually highly structured, with the expert Instructor or leader exercising a great degree of control over the timing and method of instruction. Examples include art classes, cooking workshops, or dance lessons.

Clubs

Recreation clubs (ie, chess clubs, homework clubs, angling clubs, book clubs, athletic clubs…) serve as hubs for enthusiasts of a particular activity to come together, share their passions, and engage in the specific recreational activity. Clubs provide opportunities for social interaction and networking. Clubs usually hold regularly scheduled meetings, which are opportunities to connect with others to enjoy the activity together, exchange tips and advice, and build friendships. Clubs contribute to the enrichment of individuals’ lives by fostering skill development, social connections, and a sense of belonging within a community of like-minded individuals.

Drop-in Programs

These are informal recreational activities that participants can enjoy without having to commit to a long-term schedule. Casual or “drop-in” participation encourages spontaneous involvement by participants within a specified time period (e.g., 6:00 P.M.-8:00 PM) of unstructured play or activity. Examples of the drop-in format include pick-up sports, large and small group games, open swim sessions, trade shows or conference-type events, or community center activities.

Fitness Programs

Structured exercise programs designed to improve physical fitness and overall health. This can include group fitness classes, personal training sessions, themed fitness classes (i.e., Zumba, Tai Chi, yoga, spin class) or outdoor fitness boot camps.

Leagues, Tournaments, and Competitions

Organized competitions are called leagues or tournaments when participants compete against each other in a specific sport or game. This format often includes regular matches or games leading up to a final tournament or championship. In a competition format, the performance of an individual or a team of individuals is compared to the performance of another individual or team against an established criteria or standard. In the field of recreation, not all competitions are sport-related. There can be karaoke competitions, cooking competitions, Euchre tournaments, costume competitions, trivia competitions and more!

Outdoor Adventure Programs

Outdoor Adventure programs involve participating in outdoor activities such as campcraft (fire-lighting, weather-prediction, expedition skills), overnight wilderness camping, hiking, rock-climbing, canoeing, kayaking, geo-caching, sailing or orienteering. These programs often focus on promoting environmental stewardship and cultivating and developing specific outdoor skills. Most often held at specialized facilities like Outdoor Education Centres, Camps and Wilderness Resorts.

Outreach

Sometimes, people cannot attend a recreation program or event at a designated recreation or leisure facility due to a barrier: poor health, lack of money, lack of time, lack of transportation or psychological reasons. The outreach format can eliminate these barriers by bringing a specific recreation-based activity or activities to the people where they are, such as a school, retirement home, or personal dwelling. Examples of the outreach format include therapeutic recreation services, professionally facilitated team-building sessions, and instructional sessions.

Recreational Trips (Field Trips, Field Excursions)

Often identified with travel, tourism, outdoor recreation and adventure-based recreation. Recreational Trips are organized outings and visits to destinations such as recreation facilities, nature parks, amusement parks, museums, zoos, casinos, shopping malls, or historical sites. Some trips may include transportation, guided tours, and admission fees and can range in length from an afternoon at the mall to a multi-day backcountry wilderness expedition.

Service and Volunteer Opportunities

Recreational activities that involve people willfully and voluntarily contributing to the development and pleasure of others. Sometimes, the focus is on preserving or conserving a natural space or area. Service and volunteer opportunities are most often offered through non-profit or charitable organizations. In this format, participants enjoy the benefits of volunteering and helping others while giving back to their communities. Examples include beach and park cleanups, habitat restoration projects, coaching children’s sports, volunteering at local parks or shelters, or volunteering with an organization such as London and Area’s Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization.

Special Events

Special Events are one-time or occasional events designed to provide a unique recreational experience to those in attendance. Special Events can include festivals, themed parties, holiday celebrations, or community-wide events like fun runs or charity walks. Other examples include carnivals, banquets, shows, exhibitions, fairs, and any other activity or combination of activities that don’t fall into any of the other format categories. Note the difference between a “program” and an “event”: Programs (camp programs, clubs, fitness programs, etc.) tend to run in sessions and over multiple weeks or months. On the other hand, events tend to be shorter – an afternoon, an evening, a full day (possibly 2-3 consecutive days, like a music festival) and have a distinct beginning, middle and end.

Virtual Programs

Explosive advancements in technology has allowed many recreation programs to be now be offered virtually. Examples: Online recreation classes, virtual tours, Esports tournaments, fundraisers, virtual fitness challenges and more. Advanced digital technology has revolutionized recreational activities and has people engaging in online gaming, social media interactions and virtual communities, transcending geographical boundaries. Digital platforms offer cultural exchange and collaboration opportunities in recreation and creative endeavours such as fitness classes, music, art, and storytelling.