Call for Conference Proposals

Education Sessions:

• 1-Hour Education Sessions* - Either individual lectures or up to four-person panel discussions that deliver a selection of relevant and timely topics. 
• 20-Minute Speed Sessions - Short, individual lectures designed to engage and inspire, covering a variety of park and recreation trends. All Speed Sessions are both pre-recorded AND presented on-site.

NRS/Research Sessions: 
All NRS session types consist of translational research and scholarship, data-based research, completed studies, and/or scholarly/conceptual discussions. NRPA Research Session proposals are required to submit an abstract along with their submission and will undergo a separate cycle of peer review by the NRS Committee Leaders.

Types of research sessions include:

• 1-Hour Research Talks*
• 30-Minute Research Talks
• Poster Presentations

*All 1-hour education and 1-hour research proposals will be asked if they are interested in pre-recording their session as a part of virtual conference, in addition to giving the session live at conference. Virtual conference session slots are limited, and accepted sessions who are willing to participate as a part of virtual conference may still be accepted as in-person only. Sessions accepted to be a part of virtual conference will be notified in the spring of 2024.

Who Should Consider Submitting Proposals?  

• Park and recreation professionals, educators, and students. Current students and college instructors are encouraged to submit their research projects as Research sessions and/or poster presentations.
• Park and recreation vendors, contractors, and related groups 
• Speakers and educators aligned with NRPA's Three Pillars of Health and Wellness, Equity and Conservation 
• Planners, landscape architects, public health administrators, city and county managers, naturalists 

All education and speed session proposals are reviewed by the Conference Program Committee. NRPA Research Sessions will undergo their own process of peer-review by research scholars.  

Reviewers assess submissions using the following criteria:  

• Originality: Sessions that demonstrate new, inspiring, and impactful ways of thinking and doing.  
• Relevance: Sessions that are immediately useful, applicable, and resonant with  attendees 
• Overall Quality: Sessions created and delivered by presenters that strive for clear communication, accurate content, and engaging learning. 
• Diversity: NRPA defines diversity as “differences in racial and ethnic, socioeconomic, geographic, and academic/professional backgrounds; people with different opinions, backgrounds (degrees and social experience), religious beliefs, political beliefs, sexual orientations, heritage, mental or physical ability, learning style gender identity and life experience" (definition adapted from Racial Equity Tools). NRPA is composed of members that represent different races, ethnicities, gender identities, abilities, ages and backgrounds. Conference sessions must reflect this diversity in the pool of presenters delivering sessions.  
• Inclusion: NRPA defines inclusion as “authentically bringing traditionally excluded individuals and/or groups into the processes, activities, and decisions/policy making in a way that shares power, recognizes and celebrates differences, ensure that people feel welcome and everyone has the equitable access to opportunities" (definition adapted from Racial Equity Tools). Sessions should address or be inclusive of multiple perspectives and how different needs can and should be addressed.   

Questions about what it's like to be a conference speaker? View the 2023 Conference Speaker Workshop to hear tips and tricks from the Conference Program Committee and the NRPA Education team!