The History of the National Academy of Recreational Therapists: 2011-2021

Authors

  • Bryan P. McCormick
  • David R. Austin Indiana University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18666/TRJ-2024-V58-I2-12213

Keywords:

Recreational Therapy, Honor Society, Future Scholars

Abstract

The profession of recreational therapy first established professional membership organizations in the 1940s and 1950s. The most recent national professional membership organization was developed in 1984, when the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) was formed. The National Academy of Recreational Therapists (NART) was established in 2011 as an honor society to recognize the most accomplished practitioners and educators in recreational therapy and to provide a clearinghouse for the exchange of ideas that would ultimately lead to the advancement of the recreational therapy profession. Efforts to establish NART began in 2009 when David Austin and Ray West drafted a conceptualization of the academy and its operations, as well as proposed a set of by-laws. A steering committee was subsequently established to review and approve by-laws for NART and to establish the Founding Fellows of NART. The central purpose of the Academy was the advancement of recreational therapy by recognition, education, research, scholarly activity, advocacy, and the provision of advice to decision makers. Since its inception NART has established and funded a Future Scholars Fund to support outstanding graduate students considering pursuing a terminal degree, as well as the Marcia Carter Scholarly Manuscript Award for the best annual publication in the Therapeutic Recreation Journal. Over its first 10 years, NART made revisions to its bylaws to refine criteria and categories for Fellows, and by 2021 there were 77 elected Fellows. The invited paper summarizes the first 10 years and considers a number of original goals that remain to be realized to support and advance this honor society. 

Author Biographies

Bryan P. McCormick

Professor
Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Studies
Indiana University

David R. Austin, Indiana University

Professor Emeritus

References

Austin, D.R., & Crawford, M.E. (2020). The history of therapeutic recreation: a history of two professions. Recreational Therapy: An Introduction (5th ed.). (pp. 31-42). Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

Austin, D.R., & West, R. (2011a). Introduction to the National Academy of Recreational Therapists.

Austin, D.R., & West, R. (2011b). The beginnings of NART. NART Newsletter, 1(1), 1-2.

National Academy of Recreational Therapists, Agenda for Membership Meeting (2017),

National Academy of Recreational Therapists (2011a, February 24). Board Meeting. Via telephone.

National Academy of Recreational Therapists By-Laws (2011).

National Academy of Recreational Therapist By-Laws (2021).

National Academy of Recreational Therapists (2011b, September 20). Membership Meeting, Indianapolis, IN.

National Academy of Recreational Therapists (2012b, October 13). Membership Meeting, Phoenix, AZ.

National Academy of Recreational Therapists (2013, October 1). Membership Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA.

National Academy of Recreational Therapists (2014, September 14). Membership Meeting, Oklahoma City, OK.

National Academy of Recreational Therapists (2015a, September 27). Membership Meeting, Albuquerque, NM.

National Academy of Recreational Therapists (2016, September 12). Membership Meeting, Chicago, IL.

National Academy of Recreational Therapists (2018, September 14). Membership Meeting, Grand Rapids, MI.

National Academy of Recreational Therapists (2019, September 15). Membership Meeting, Reno, NV.

National Academy of Recreational Therapists (2020, October 2). Membership Meeting, Zoom Meeting.

National Academy of Recreational Therapists (2021, September 16). Membership Meeting, Zoom Meeting.

National Academy of Recreational Therapists. (2022). Membership Roster.

National Academy of Recreational Therapists. (2011a). NART Newsletter, 1(1), 1-5.

National Academy of Recreational Therapists. (2012). NART Newsletter, 2(1), 1-2.

National Academy of Recreational Therapists. (2015). NART Newsletter, Fall 2015. 1-8.

National Academy of Recreational Therapists (2011b). “Sign-in Sheet” Inaugural meeting.

State of North Carolina, Department of Secretary of State, Articles of Incorporation, National Academy of Recreational Therapists (2011).

Published

2024-05-03

Issue

Section

Invited Paper