Karla Henderson
Professor Emeritus - Leisure Behavior, Gender & Diversity, Organized Camping
Bio
Education
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ph.D. 1979
- Education, Recreation, Park and Leisures Studies
Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. M.S. 1976
- Education, Guidance and Counseling
Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. B.S. 1974
- Physical Education (K-14)
Current Research Interests
Physical Activity, Youth Development, Organized Camp Experiences, Qualitative Approaches, Gender, Diversity
Recent Courses Taught
- PRT 700 Advanced Theories
- PRT 705 Qualitative Approaches to Research
- PRT 501 Research Methods
- PRT 500 Theories of Leisure
- PRT 595 Active Recreation and Community Health
- PRT 801 Writing Seminar
Selected Presentations
Henderson, K. A. (December, 2012). Promoting health through physically active leisure. Keynote presented to International Sports Sciences Conference in Denizli, Turkey.
Henderson, K. A. (October, 2012). Women faculty and the social-cultural nexus in higher education. Paper presented at the NRPA Leisure Research Symposium in Anaheim, CA.
McNutt, L., Bocarro, J. B., & Henderson, K. A. (October, 2012). Physically active grandparents and influences on children’s perceptions of aging. Paper presented at the NRPA Leisure Research Symposium in Anaheim, CA.
Henderson, K. A. (October, 2012). Women and leisure. Presentation to World Leisure Organization Congress in Rimini, Italy.
Henderson, K. A. (October, 2012). Public participation and volunteerism. Invited panel presentation to World Leisure Organization Congress in Rimini, Italy.
Henderson, K. A. (July, 2012). Justice in leisure research: Have the easy questions been answered? Keynote presentation to Leisure Studies Association Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Henderson, K. A. (May, 2012). Ecofeminism and just leisure. Paper presented to the Social Justice Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Henderson, K. A. (March, 2012). The contributions of recreation and leisure to active living(Keynote Address). Leisure and Recreation Association of South Africa (LARASA) in Durban, South Africa.
Smith, C., Santucci, D., Xu, S., Cox, A., & Henderson, K. A. (November, 2011). Women’s perceptions of careers and expectations in parks and recreation. Paper presented at the NRPA Leisure Research Symposium in Atlanta, GA.
Oakleaf, L. & Henderson, K. A. (November, 2011). Homophobia, heteronormativity, and identity management for LGBT summer camp staff. Paper presented at the NRPA Leisure Research Symposium in Atlanta, GA.
Henderson, K. A. & Bialeschki, M. D. (November, 2011). Trends and issues in US camps. Paper presented to the International Camping Congress in Hong Kong.
Henderson, K. A. (March, 2011). Parks, physical activity, and health. Paper presented to the Intermountain Research Symposium in Park City, UT.
Bialeschki, M. D., Henderson, K. A., Browne, L., & Hickerson, B. D. (February, 2011). Conducting field-based research: Possibilities and pitfalls. Paper presented to the International Conference on Outdoor Leadership in Estes Park, CO.
Bruton, C.. Floyd, M., Bocarro, J., Henderson, K. A., Kanters, M., & Casper, J. (February, 2011). The role of partnerships for health in parks and recreation. Paper presented to Active Living Research Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA.
Henderson, K. A. (November, 2010). Contributions of parks to health and active lifestyles. VI International Parks Forum. Bogota, Columbia.
Henderson, K. A. (November, 2010). Promoting community-based physical activity in North Carolina: Perceptions of public park and recreation directors. VI International Parks Forum. Bogota, Columbia.
Henderson, K. A. (October, 2010). The future of leisure studies. Paper presented to the National Park and Recreation Association Butler Lecture in Minneapolis, MN.
Henderson, K. A. (October 2010). Physical activity and African American women: Change and ways of knowing. Paper presented to AAKPE Annual Meeting in Williamsburg, VA.
Henderson, K. A. et al. (August, 2010). The future of leisure studies in the US. World Leisure Congress in Chuncheon, South Korea.
Henderson, K. A., Shaw, S., & Freysinger, V. (August 2010). The state of research on women’s leisure. World Leisure Congress in Chuncheon, South Korea.
Henderson, K. A. (August, 2010). Gender and identity (Invited keynote). World Leisure Congress in Chuncheon, South Korea.
Floyd, M., & Henderson, K. A. (April, 2010). Investigating places for active recreation in North Carolina communities. Paper presented to Healthy Park, Healthy People in Melbourne, Australia.
Hickerson, B.D., & Henderson, K. A. (February, 2010). Impact of the physical environment and organizational design on youth camper physical activity. Paper presented to the American Camp Association Research Symposium in Denver, CO.
Henderson, K. A. (February 2010). Defragmenting leisure studies in the 21st century. Paper presented to Australia/New Zealand Leisure Studies Association in Brisbane, Australia. (Keynote)
Henderson, K. A. (October 2009). Minding your mission: Issues in camp management. Paper presented to Virginias ACA Section in Charlottesville, VA. (Keynote)
Henderson, K. A. (February, 2009). Camp research in the 21st century. Paper presented to the American Camp Association Research Symposium in Orlando, FL.
Henderson, K. A. (October, 2009). Leisure in the 21st Century (Keynote). World Leisure Congress in Quebec City, Canada.
Kaczynski, A. & Henderson, K.A. (October, 2006). A review of physical activity and parks and recreation literature. Poster presented at 2006 Cooper Institute in Dallas, TX.
Henderson, K.A. Leisure education and quality of life. (November, 2006). Paper presented to International Tourism Conference in Beijing, China.
Arab-Moghaddam, N., Henderson, K.A., & Sheikholeslami, R. (October, 2006). Women’s leisure and constraints to participation: Iranian perspectives. Paper presented to LRS in Seattle, WA.
Selected Projects/Grant Funding
Youth development in camps, physical activity policy, children and nature, older adults and NC Senior Games
Awards (Selected)
Lifetime Achievement Award from North Carolina State University (2012)
American Association of Park and Recreation Administrators Legend Selection (2012)
Doctor of Science (honoris causa) University of Waterloo (2011)
National Recreation and Park Association Literary Award (2010)
World Leisure George Torkildsen Literary Award (2010)
Senior Fellow in World Leisure Academy (2010)
SPRE Teaching Excellence Award (2009)
Reynold Carlson Lecturer Award at Indiana University (2008)
Jo Safrit Distinguished Lecturer for The Cooper Institute (Dallas, TX) (2007)
PRTM Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award (2006)
Esther Larson McGinnis Scholar at Illinois State University (2002)
North Carolina Recreation and Park Society Honor Award (Highest award) (2001)
AAHPERD Research Consortium Outstanding Paper (w. Barbara Ainsworth) in RQES Award (2001)
Visiting Fellow for School of Tourism and Leisure Management at Univ. of Queensland (AU) (2001)
SPRE Distinguished Colleague Award (1997)
Fellow in American Academy of Park and Recreation Administrators (1997)
University of Illinois Allen V. Sapporo Research Award (1997)
Senior Fellow in American Leisure Academy (1997)
Hedley Dimock National Camping Award (1996)
University of Minnesota Borghild Strand Distinguished Lecturer (1995)
Council on Outdoor Education Julian Smith Honor Award (1995)
University of Alaska Visiting Distinguished Professor of Outdoor Education (1995)
WLRA WICE Visiting Professor, Leewarden, Netherlands (1993, 1995)
Distinguished Visiting Professor at University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada (1993)
NRPA Franklin and Theodore Roosevelt Award for Research (1993)
JB Nash Scholar Award from AAHPERD (1993)
SUNY-Cortland Gold Metcalf Lecturer (1992)
Achievement Award from American Association of Leisure and Recreation (1991)
Elected Fellow in the Academy of Leisure Sciences (1990)
AAHPERD Research Consortium Invited Scholar Lecturer (1990, 2002)
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Ruth Diamond Levinson Lecturer (1989)
Regional Service Award, American Camping Association (1986)
Elected Fellow of the AAHPERD Research Consortium (1985)
Publications
- Applying Systems Thinking Approaches to Address Preventive Health Factors through Public Parks and Recreation Agencies , JOURNAL OF PARK AND RECREATION ADMINISTRATION (2022)
- It's both experience and context, and that's just leisure , JOURNAL OF LEISURE RESEARCH (2022)
- "Like precious gold": Recreation in the lives of low-income committed couples , JOURNAL OF LEISURE RESEARCH (2018)
- Camp Research: What? So What? What's Next? , JOURNAL OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT (2018)
- Serious engagement in sport and health benefits among Korean immigrants in the USA , INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUALITATIVE STUDIES ON HEALTH AND WELL-BEING (2016)
- All work and no play? The sociology of women and leisure , ANNALS OF LEISURE RESEARCH (2015)
- Family Leisure An Integrative Review of Research from Select Journals , JOURNAL OF LEISURE RESEARCH (2015)
- Exploring memorable surfing trips , ANNALS OF TOURISM RESEARCH (2014)
- Introduction to recreation services: Sustainability for a changing world , (2014)
- The Imperative of Leisure Justice Research , LEISURE SCIENCES (2014)