RURAL YOUTH WHO ARE MOVING TO URBAN AREAS ARE NOT PREPARED TO PARTICIPATE IN URBAN TYPES OF RECREATION PROGRAMS. THE RECREATION SKILLS OF THOSE WHO HAVE LEFT THE FARM BUT ARE STILL IN RURAL SETTINGS DO NOT MATCH THE URBAN OPPORTUNITIES REACHING OUT TO THEM. THOSE STILL ON THE FARMS ARE GETTING RECREATION IDEAS THROUGH MASS MEDIA WITHOUT FINDING LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES OF EXPRESSING THEM. MUCH IS BEING ACCOMPLISHED IN SOME RURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC RECREATION AGENCIES, BUT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE. COUNTIES ARE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN RURAL RECREATION BECAUSE IN MANY CASES THEY ARE THE ONLY UNITS WITH ENOUGH PEOPLE AND TAX RESOURCES TO PROVIDE A VARIETY OF RECREATIONAL SERVICES. HOWEVER, MANY COUNTIES TRYING TO HELP RURAL YOUTH HAVE SERIOUS FISCAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS. STATES ARE NOT PLAYING THE IMPORTANT ROLE THEY SHOULD. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS BEGUN TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP, COUNSEL, AND FINANCIAL AID. IN 1963 THE RECREATION ADVISORY COUNCIL ENDORSED THE CREATION OF A SYSTEM OF NATIONAL RECREATION AREAS AND SET SELECTION CRITERIA. A LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND BILL PROMOTES OUTDOOR RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES. A FEDERAL LAND POLICY PERMITS STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO LEASE NEW PARKS OR RECREATION AREAS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERMENT. THE HOUSING ACT OF 1961 PROMOTES THE ACQUISITION OF PERMANENT OPEN SPACE LAND FOR PARK AND RECREATION PURPOSES. THE BUREAU OF OUTDOOR RECREATION COORDINATES FEDERAL OUTDOOR RECREATION ACTIVITIES. THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, IN TRYING TO CREATE NEW ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND TO UPDATE WASTEFUL AND OUTMODED PATTERNS OF FARM USE IN RURAL AMERICA, IS GIVING AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR LOCAL STUDIES TO DETERMINE STATUS OF AND NEED FOR RECREATION IN THE RURAL COMMUNITY, FOR PILOT PROJECTS TO SHOW WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH RURAL RESOURCES, AND FOR THE COOPERATION OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE AND ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE MORE RECREATIONAL LAND, SERVICES, AND LEADERSHIP FOR RURAL YOUTH.