休閒活動是人類在餘暇或自由時間從事有趣、愉快或滿意的活動，它既不受別人的強迫，亦不是為了待遇、金錢或其他酬勞所獲得。通常它被認為是一項有益健康的活動，但並非經常如此。它亦被指為是一種紀錦文化的方式。

十九世紀以前，在殖民時期的美國，雖然受傳統及宗教思想的束縛，人們仍然表現出需要休閉的意顧，放球和高爾夫、唱詩、針織、繪畫及紙牌遊戲被認為是許可的。至於空拳擊、門藥品、賽馬等活動均在不鼓勵之列。

進入十九世紀，美國政府鼓勵人民追求休閒活動，當時活動的晶質不佳，有些活動充滿著野蠻、粗暴和危險性等。不過若干都市亦出現了戲劇、交響樂團、職業運動聯盟組織和興建公園等。

南北戰爭時期的美國，軍人休閒活動初具雛形，然還脫離不了醇酒和美女。

十九世紀末葉，受工業革命的影響，來自農村的大量勞工集中都市的工廠內工作，婦女始開離開家庭參加生產行列，職工休閒活動因而萌芽。

第一次世界大戰前後，職工及軍人休閒活動繼續長，有關當局開始專業人員的訓練工作，有關社團組織亦紛紛成立，休閒活動逐漸專業化。

美國有史以來最嚴重的一次輕擠不景氣時期始於1929年，但當時的羅斯福總統重視休閒活動，所成立的工廠企業計畫管理組織，雇用了數以萬計曾受專業訓練的勞工去發展社區休閒活動。至1938年參與工作的人多達五百萬。其中包括很多失業工人在內。

第二次世界大戰雖然是一場勞命傷財，破毀性極大的浩劫，但對美國的休閒活動而言，封是建設最多的時期，在國內外增加的休閒活動設施，為一千二百萬軍人提供良好的臨藹，戰後供平民使用，軍民打成一片，軍民關係貢獻良多，各大專院校亦紛紛開設促進休閒活動課程，專業人員素質日高，各政府部門亦成立休閒活動單位，大量興建蜈樂場所及公園，為今日美國休閒活動蓬勃發展奠下穩固的基礎，擁有良好的設備和專業人員的指導和設計，無怪美國人民對休閒莊動的酷愛，達到如醉如痴的地步，影響所及不僅生活晶質得以提高，並足以厚植國力，安定社會。

Recreation is something anyone can engage in during ling lsisure of free time for the fun, pleasure, or satisfaction it provides， It is out of compulsion by others， nor for purposes of salary， financial gain， or other reward. Generally, recreation is recognized with the word "wholesome,"but not always.It has been ldentified in some form or shape with cultural activies.

Before nineteenth century， even under the tradition-bound and religiously limit,the colonials of America found outlets for their recrecreation needs.Cricket，golf， poetry， singing，needlepoint,paining and card games wrer allowed while boxing,horse racing,cock fighingwere discouraged.

The government of America in the nine-teenth century gave freedom and stimulf to the growth of recreation prusults, though much of it was rough,toughdownright dangerous and poor in qualities.Despite the raucous prallty of the period, this century also say the explosive gorwth of theatres，concert orchestras,city parks and the establishment of America's first professlonal sports leagues also can be seen in this century.

In the Civil War military recreation had the crude begining， though it was still thought to substantial drafts of liquor and women.

The Industrial Revolution during the late mineteenth century caused massive flows of workers from farms. Many women leave ther home and worked in the factories. The industrial recreation took its first halting steps.

Before and after World War I,industrial and mllitary recreation grew continuiously. The authorities concerned perceived the needs of training professional leaders. Some professional organizations were established. Recreation was considered as a professional career.

The deepest economlcal depression In the history of America began in 1929. Ironically,President Frankiin D. Roosevelt established a host of task forces and projects to stimulate sagging economy that plunged the nation into one of its most devastating wars and catapulted the recreation movement forward. The WPA employed thousands of trained recreation workers to developing art centers sports programs,music,crafts,dance,outdoor recreation,and a host of similar activities. Participants in 1938 numbered more than 5million,and this included many unemployed men and women.

The World War II was the largest,cost-liest and most debilitaion war of all time and catapulted the recreation movement forward.Military recreaton personnel established facilities and programs at bases around the world for the 12million men and women in the mlitary.After World War
II ended,Hundreds or large sports and recreation complexes were scattered across the nation at military and naval bases,soon to be absorbed by neighboring municipalities. Close involvement and cooperation between milltary base staff and program with their civilian counterparts in the surrounding community had become official Pentagon policy and was being strongly advocated. This is a new method for developing relstions between millary and civillan. At the same time，the number of colleges and universities offering undergraduate and graduate training,in professional recreation leadership grew sharply as municipalities rapidly establched locat departments of recreation or recreation and parks.

There are the factors of fast growth of recreation in America and the causes why the American people so love participationg recreational activitles that affectiong raising of living quality,harmonizing of social realtion and strengthening power of the naton.