The purpose of this study was to investigate whether recreation is a context for fostering resilience in at risk youth. Five at risk youth were recruited from past relationships with the researcher and with the help of local child-serving agencies. The researcher was also a participant in the inquiry. The youth were selected because they had experienced significant life adversity in their past but were deemed resilient because they had exhibited positive outcomes over a period of time. The research was guided by a Phenomenological paradigm. Two qualitative and one quantitative data collection methods were used. Data collection consisted of the completion of the Protective Factors Scale (PFS) questionnaire, email questionnaire/journaling and personal interview. These were used to capture the full, lived experience of the participants. Results were analyzed using the measurement tool provided with the PFS and NVivo qualitative software. Axial coding was used to identify higher order themes and synthesizing was used to merge stories and experiences. The data revealed five higher order themes that are discussed in detail. Recommendations for future research are presented and implications for practice are discussed.

This study examined the metabolic and thermal responses of 14 firefighters during four repeated work bouts of treadmill exercise in a thermoneutral laboratory, working at an intensity similar to typical firefighting tasks (30-34 ml·kg-1·min-1), while wearing firefighting protective equipment and breathing from a self-contained breathing apparatus. Each work bout consisted of treadmill walking at 93.8 m·min-1 and 8% grade for 8 min followed by 4 min of passive rest. Oxygen consumption remained unchanged between all four work bouts (p>0.05). Ventilation increased significantly (p<0.05) during the first three work bouts from 57.1 (±3.1) to 68.7 (±2.7) L·min-1. Percent heart rate reserve increased significantly (p<0.05) during each work bout, from 76.0 (±1.8) % HRR during the first to 97.2 (±1.1) % HRR during the fourth work bout. Core temperature increased significantly (p<0.05) during each work bout from 36.87 (±0.07) to 38.87 (±0.10) °C from the first to the fourth work bout, as did some of the psychophysiological measures.

Tittle: Handball in physical education for students of the 2nd of primary school and secondary school Author: Klára Kadlecová Department: Department of physical training Supervisor: PaedDr. Ladislav Pokorný, Katedra tělesné výchovy Pedagogické fakulty Univerzity Karlovy v Praze, M. D. Rettigové 4, 116 39 Praha 1 Supervisor's e-mail adress: pok.lad@email.cz Abstract: This thesis deals with the issue of teaching handball at the 2nd level of primary schools and grammar schools in the Vysočina region. The thesis is divided in two parts - theoretical and practical. The theoretical part is devoted to the concept of teaching handball within the General Educational Program, it is also devoted to the psychosomatic pecularities of adolescents, physical education and handball didactics. The practical part is focused on interpreting the results processed on the basis of questionnaires, which dealt mainly with the form of handball education and with the material and spatial possibilities of teachers in the Vysočina region. The practical part also includes a suggested model of teaching handball, together with the results of the initial and final students testing. Keywords: Handball, education, primaryschool, secondaryschool, physicaleducation

Health Canada has published national physical activity guidelines, which are included in their 27-page Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living. To date, the use of these guides as motivational instruments for physical activity promotion has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not reading the guide 1) increased motivational antecedents to engage in regular physical activity, and 2) increased regular physical activity intention and behaviour over a one month period. Participants included 130 randomly sampled Canadian adults (18 years or older) from Victoria. British Columbia, who were randomly mailed packages consisting of either 1) a questionnaire and a copy of Health Canada's guide, or 2) just a questionnaire. Questionnaire items pertained to participants' socio-demographics, physical activity behaviours (Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire), and physical activity motivation (Theory of Planned Behaviour). One month following the completion and return of the first questionnaire, participants were sent a one-month follow-up questionnaire pertaining to their physical activity behaviours throughout the previous month. A manipulation check of randomization between conditions suggested no differences in demographics, prior physical activity, or knowledge of the guide (p > .10). Results revealed significant interactions between the guide condition and physical activity status on instrumental behavioural beliefs (F 2.1 L2 = 6.65, p < .01, n2 = 0.05), and subjective norm (F 2,115 = 5.72 p < .05, 92 = 0.05), but no other factors were significantly different (p > .10). It was concluded that among physically inactive people, receiving Health Canada's guide may increase some informational/motivational constructs, but key motivational antecedents (affective attitude, perceived behavioural control) and outcomes (intention, behaviour) seem unaffected.

The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of five days of creatine supplementation on volume of work and anaerobic performance in vegetarian males and females. Twenty recreationally-active non-vegetarians (age 29.2 ± 9.6 yrs) and twelve vegetarians (age 28.0 ± 9.9 yrs) were tested on 5 x 10 RM seated chest press (total work) and 6 x 6 s all-out sprint (anaerobic performance) on a Monark cycle ergometer prior to and after five days of treatment. Treatment consisted of five grams of creatine monohydrate plus one gram of glucose or a placebo consisting of six grams of glucose dissolved in 250 ml of a warm liquid ingested four times per day for five days. Participants were divided in a double blind fashion to one of the four groups: non-vegetarians on creatine NVCr (n = 10); non-vegetarians on placebo NVPIa (n =10); vegetarians on creatine VCr (n = 6); and vegetarians on placebo VPIa (n = 6). Significant improvement was observed (p<0.05) in volume of work and anaerobic performance variables of peak power (PP), mean power (MP), anaerobic capacity (AC), and relative peak power (RPP) in NVCr and VCr. However, there was no significant difference between the vegetarians and non-vegetarians on Cr. Volume of work (total repetitions) also improved significantly in NVP1a and VP1a but to a lesser extent than the Cr groups. There was no significant change in anaerobic performance in the placebo groups. Furthermore, there was no significant main effect on anaerobic fatigue for any of the four groups. The results of this study indicate that acute creatine supplementation improved total volume of work and anaerobic performance in vegetarian and non-vegetarian participants to the same extent.

Although being physically active while exposed to nature may have synergistic health benefits and help develop environmental values, many youth today are inactive and disengaged from the natural environment. The purpose of this study was to explore adolescents’ knowledge, attitudes, skills, behaviours, and general perspectives on engaging with the environment through physical activity using a social marketing lens. Social marketing is a behaviour change strategy that involves the ‘use of marketing principles and techniques to influence a target audience to voluntarily accept, reject, modify, or abandon a behaviour for the benefit of individuals, groups, or society as a whole’. To address this purpose, three research questions were answered: what are youths’ perspectives of and experiences with physical activity in the natural environment; what strategies do youth recommend for engaging with nature as a way to be active, and; how do participants’ Photovoice projects on health and nature, including subsequent discussion of these projects, influence their conscientization of health in relation to nature? A purposive sample of eight grade 12 students enrolled in an elective sustainability and eco-education course participated in this study. Participants were asked to express their perspectives on being physically active in nature by completing a Photovoice project (including photos and captions) and engaging in group discussion. The action component of Photovoice was fulfilled through a presentation to the local school board. Thematic analyses of discussion transcripts, Photovoice projects, and presentation notes were guided by a social marketing lens. Themes described these youth in terms of relevant product, purchaser, price, place, and promotion for the subject of physical activity in nature. The youth believed engaging in nature through physical activity provided them with freedom, excitement, creativity, and relaxation, along with health and educational benefits, and had few or no disadvantages. Suggested strategies for engagement were framed in the shape of a tree to describe their applicability to youth at different present levels of engagement, ranging from simply spending time in nature (the roots), to challenging oneself by interaction with nature, thus resulting in better health (the branches). The Photovoice projects led to increased awareness of human-nature relationships for participants. Themes may inform decision makers of youth perspectives and thus guide development of future programs and initiatives in this area.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine social cognitive constructs as predictors of preoperative exercise (PE) in a sample of individuals waiting for total joint replacement (TJR) surgery using the framework of Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). Methods: Participants (N = 78) were individuals waiting for TJR at the two major urban centres on Vancouver Island, Canada who completed measures of the SCT (barrier self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, self regulation, task efficacy & sociocultural factors of pain, physical function and neighbourhood walking environment) framed for (PE). Results: Independent t-tests suggested no differences between type of surgery (hip versus knee), gender or age for PE (p<.05). Over half of the sample was considered inactive (55%) using a definition of physical activity as accumulating at least 30 minutes of exercise at a moderate or vigorous intensity at least 3 days per week in bouts of 10 minutes or more. Bivariate correlations relating to PE were significant (p<.05) between self regulation (SR) (.25), task efficacy for exercise (TEE) (.27) and pain (-.28). Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that SR (β=.17) and TEE (β=.20) explained 10% of the variance in PE behaviour, but were not significant predictors of PE independently. The addition of pain to the regression analysis added 4% of the explained variance, and remained the only significant predictor (p<.05) of Pe behaviour. Conclusions: SCT showed modest capability in predicting PE in this sample, suggesting further testing of theoretical models is warranted in this area. These findings highlight the influence of pain on exercise before TJR surgery, and support the importance of considering individual factors such as pain when designing targeted interventions to increase activity in this population.

This study examines the experiences of five teachers who lead and participate in adventure biking trips with students. The narrative case study was framed by the author’s autoethnographic writing: her personal narratives about leading adventure education trips, teaching experiences and reflections on the concept of learning. The meaning four other trip leaders made of their adventure biking experiences was investigated through conversational style interviews characterized by open ended questions and a list of issues to be explored. The purpose of the study was two-fold: to discover what meaning teachers make of adventure bike trip experiences and what happens when teachers collectively explore that meaning in relation to their teaching practice. The voices of the participants uncovered four meaningful elements of the trip experience: personal challenge, shifting perceptions of students and student learning, the opportunity to shed the teacher facade and positive collaboration with colleagues. As the participants collectively reflected upon these meanings they began to examine their in-school teaching practices in relation to the trip spaces. Tension between the two spaces opened up a dialogue where the participants began to challenge their teaching identity, enabling them to imagine their classrooms in a different light. The results of this study point to the need for teachers to have opportunities to participate in unique and novel teaching experiences (such as the adventure education trip) that hold within them the potential to initiate change in practice. In order to challenge education experiences, time and space need to be provided for teachers to reflect and develop teacher knowledge that can transfer into the development of positive, effective learning communities with colleagues and in their classrooms.

This investigation examined the acute physiological demand associated with a typical Freeride Mountain Bike (FMB) ride. Measures of cardiovascular strain (heart rate, RPE) and neuromuscular fatigue (quarter squat and handgrip MVICs) were assessed in 22 experienced mountain bikers during an observed ride on Mt. Fromme in North Vancouver, British Columbia. The ride involved an initial ascent of 350 vertical meters over horizontal distance of 5.93km, (mean duration 46.61 min). The descent covered a 350m loss in elevation through intermediate to expert level trails spanning a horizontal distance of 4.24km, (mean duration 28.55 min). Heart rate monitoring was continuous. Blood Lactate was assessed pre-ride, at the top of the ascent (mid-ride), and following the descent (post-ride). RPE was assessed mid-ride and post-ride. Handgrip and quarter squat MVICs were taken pre-ride and post-ride. An a priori alpha of .05 was set for all statistical tests. Both measures of neuromuscular strain decreased pre-post ride, equal to 2.8% in quarter squat MVIC and 6.1% and 4.3% in handgrip MVIC for the right and left hands respectively. Blood lactate increased from rest to mid-ride and decreased from mid-ride to post-ride. The mean heart rates (- 80% PHRmax) and RPEs (-14.5) associated with the ascent and descent were not significantly different. The acute physiological and ride pattern data indicate that FMB satisfies the American College of Sports Medicine's guidelines for increasing cardiovascular health and fitness.

Background: The incidence of childhood obesity and associated risk factors is increasing. Schools are an ideal vehicle for the delivery of obesity prevention programs for children and adolescents. Action Schools! BC - Healthy Eating is a school-based obesity prevention initiative that utilizes an innovative whole-school approach to target fruit and vegetable consumption. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of Action Schools! BC - Healthy Eating in affecting positive change in: 1) students' intake of fruit and vegetables, 2) students' knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding fruit and vegetables and 3) students' willingness to try new fruit and vegetables. Methods: Five schools that represented geographic, socioeconomic and size variation were recruited as Action Schools! BC - Healthy Eating intervention schools. A second set of five schools were selected as matched healthy eating usual practice schools. Student outcomes were measured at baseline and at 6-month follow-up using the following self report questionnaires: 1) 24-hour recall, 2) Food Frequency Questionnaire, 3) Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions Survey, and 4) Food Neophobia Scale for Children. Classroom logs and progress reports were used to assess implementation dose and fidelity. Intervention: Intervention schools established an Action Team and developed an individualized Action Plan addressing healthy eating goals across six Action Zones. Schools received the Action Schools! BC - Healthy Eating resources, a comprehensive training workshop, and ongoing facilitator support throughout the school year. Teachers were asked to implement school-wide activities and to deliver a minimum of 2 healthy eating activities and 1 tasting activity in the classroom per week. Results: Outcomes.- Usual practice schools had significantly higher servings of fruit (p=.0001), total servings of fruit and vegetables (p=.004), variety of fruit and vegetables eaten p = .020), and number of fruit and vegetables tried from a fixed list (p=.000I ) at baseline. There was also a significant difference in student ages between conditions at baseline (p=.0001). Significant differences between conditions over time while controlling for baseline levels were found for servings of fruit, total servings of fruit and vegetables, variety of fruit and vegetables eaten, and percent of fruit and vegetables tried from a fixed list. Number of total servings of fruit and vegetables increased (+.18) in Action Schools! BC - Healthy Eating schools while it decreased in the usual practice schools (-.79). Implementation Fidelity: Teachers implemented a mean of 64% of requested classroom dose, and school Action Teams implemented activities across 80% of the whole-school model. Conclusion: The Action Schools! BC model had a modest impact on fruit and vegetable intake, and appeared to be feasible. Due to a short intervention period, further implementation and evaluation are necessary to fully understand the effectiveness of this initiative.