Most installations have a variety of Morale, Welfare, and Recreation activities for Soldiers and their Families. Typical recreation and leisure programs include everything from sporting activities and outdoor recreation to music and theater programs, arts and crafts shops, tour and travel offices, and libraries. Many of these activities are free, and some have a very nominal charge for their use.

Depending on the size of the post, most centers provide athletic and training facilities that include exercise and weight rooms, saunas, and various sports-related courts. Family members may use the centers, with some age restrictions for things like use of weight training machines.

Besides having parks, playgrounds, and recreation areas on the installation, some installations operate travel camps, hunting areas, shooting ranges, and riding stables and trails. Others have facilities that include ice skating rinks, hiking trails, go-cart tracks, rappelling, marinas, fishing lakes, and adventure activities.

Almost all outdoor recreation centers have equipment checkout centers. They rent such things as bicycles, picnic and camping gear, trailers, fishing equipment, and canoes and kayaks at reasonable rates. One of the advantages of this rental system, besides low cost, is the opportunity to try out something several times without the commitment involved if you were to purchase your own equipment.

Don't worry if you are new to a particular activity. Many of the outdoor recreation offices have trained, qualified professionals who offer classes at basic and intermediate skill levels in many of the activities offered.

Army outdoor recreation programs are not limited to just on post or nearby activities. Many centers provide Soldiers and their Families worldwide opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors by offering outdoor activities and adventure—from sailing on the Chesapeake Bay to skiing in the Alps.

If you have a recreational vehicle the Army provides a great resource called Paths Across America. The program provides a guide to outdoor recreational opportunities with various levels of amenities, from gravel pads to paved pads with water, electrical hookups, sewage disposal, cable TV, and telephone access. It also offers professional staffs or hosts to take care of your needs. Many RV parks and campgrounds offer programs to help you take advantage other installation MWR activities and local area attractions.

Military outdoor recreation facilities typically include indoor and outdoor pools—depending on the posts location. Some places include small water parks complete with slides, swinging bridges, and sprinkler systems while others are the typical large outdoor pools you might see in many civilian communities.

Most military installations have a library. They will vary in size and features depending on the size of the post. Libraries offer a wide range of books, magazines, newspapers, cassettes, movies, videos, DVDs, and even game software for check out by authorized patrons. Most libraries have a coin operated copy machine, children's materials, microfilm/microfiche readers, printers, and computers with Internet access. Libraries often run special programs, such as reading for children, and many have special film events or groups that discuss best-selling books or special topics. And the librarian is always a special friend when you are doing research. Besides providing reference assistance, the librarian may also be able to get materials on loan from other libraries.

The Information, Tickets and Reservations office offers local and regional travel information and reservation services. Local tours, tickets for special events like sports and concerts, and tickets to regional and national attractions are also available. You can also schedule air travel and book a room at your destination. Tickets for attractions are normally priced well below what you would pay at the gate, even with a discount coupon.

Many posts have arts and crafts shops that offer both leisure time and instructional classes in a variety of art media including photography, pottery, ceramics, and woodworking.

For "shade tree mechanics," the post auto craft shop provides a place where you can perform self-help services on your vehicles. Professionals are available to help or advise you on your art, craft, or car project.

Just like in civilian communities, you'll find several different sports and sports leagues in which to participate. There are programs for youth, young adults, and adults that range from bowling, to Frisbee football, golf, basketball, softball and more. The post leagues usually culminate in an end-of-season tournament where trophies and bragging rights for the team are up for grabs. In many places the winner of post leagues also plays in civilian tournaments around the area of the installation. The sports and sports leagues are overseen by the MWR staff at most installation, so visit your local MWR office for information about sporting opportunities.

While MWR rents RV trailers, tents, and other camping equipment you don't have to go far to find a quiet place to camp or picnic. Many military installations have camp grounds in which to stay—which comes in handy when vacationing in different areas or traveling from place to place. Many of the grounds are equipped with picnic areas, group shelters, grills, playgrounds, and other amenities that you are used to seeing at a civilian equivalent. These facilities are clean, affordable, modern, and available to anyone with a military ID card.

Because military installations usually include lots of acreage, there are environmental offices located on each post that include a hunt control office. Many posts allow hunting on their unused ranges during different seasons—but you have to have a state hunting permit, and a post hunting permit. There are also different lakes and ponds on many posts where fishing is allowed with the proper license. But the hunting offices on each installation can tell you in which places you are allowed to fish, and if, where, and when hunting is allowed. They can tell you what game is available and when, what weapons are allowed during what season, what ponds have what fish, and what type of bait you may use.