If you would like to be notified when the 2027 NRPA Annual Conference Call for Session Proposals opens on October 7, please click below to submit an interest form:

2027 NRPA Annual Conference Call for Session Proposals Interest Form

Call for Session Proposals

The NRPA Annual Conference brings together thousands of people across several different fields including parks and recreation, conservation, health, landscape architecture and city planning. We aim to fulfill the needs of our diverse audience by providing a range of topical and engaging education sessions presented by top leaders in their professions. We are looking for speakers who can resonate with our attendees’ passion for parks and recreation and inspire even greater impact in communities nationwide.  

Who should consider submitting proposals?  

  • Park and recreation professionals, educators and students
  • Park and recreation vendors, contractors and related groups
  • Speakers and educators aligned with NRPA's Three Pillars
  • Planners, landscape architects, public health administrators, city/county managers and naturalists

Important Dates

  • Session Proposal Submission Window: October 7 - November 30, 2026
  • Session Decision Notifications: February/March 2027
  • NRPA Annual Conference: September 28-30, 2027, George R. Brown Convention Center (Houston, Texas)

Additional Information

Session Formats

1-Hour Education Sessions: Either individual lectures or up to four-person discussions that deliver a selection of relevant and timely topics. (1-4 speakers, including moderators/panelists)

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 for the NRPA Virtual Conference AND presented live on-site. (1 speaker)

Proposal Review Process

All education session proposals are reviewed by the NRPA Conference Program Committee (CPC). The CPC is a dedicated group of park and recreation practitioners and professionals from around the country, representing varying  regions, specialties, and content areas.

CPC 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.

We welcome proposals from all backgrounds and experience levels — no professional speaking experience is required! We are committed to putting access at the center of our work and supporting park and recreation professionals in creating fair and just park and recreation systems. Each session proposal will be reviewed with consideration for accessibility, representation and community impact. We encourage speakers to incorporate a variety of perspectives when crafting their session content and when selecting speakers.

Speaker Benefits

The NRPA Annual Conference’s educational offerings are made possible by dedicated professionals and volunteers from across the field. All speakers receive a complimentary education package, with the option to add additional conference items and events at a discounted rate.

Presenting at the NRPA Annual Conference is a voluntary, unpaid opportunity. Speakers whose sessions are accepted will not receive compensation for their participation.

Tips for Successful Proposals

Tips for Writing Successful Submissions

Check out our in-depth tips for writing successful submissions HERE.  

What is the Conference Program Committee looking for?

Topics

  • Relevant to the field / timely.
  • Sessions that are broadly applicable (i.e. avoid niche topics).

Crafting your Submission 

  • Write a catchy title!
  • Check your description for clarity; more isn't always better.
  • Clear, concise objectives that support your description. 
  • Know your audience: Who are you hoping will attend your session?

Topic List

NRPA's Conference accepts proposals of all types, but we specifically ask that proposals match at least one of the following topics:

Access for All

Accessibility

Accreditation

Advocacy

AFO

Aquatics

Arts and Culture

CAPRA

Career Development

Communication

Community Engagement

Conservation

CPRE

CPRP

CPSI

Customer Service

Data and Evaluation

Environmental Resilience

Funding

Health and Wellness

Hiring

Homelessness

Leadership and Personnel Management

LGBTQIA2S+

Marketing and Public Relations

Military Recreation

Natural Resources Management

Networking

Neurodiversity

NRPA Member Development

Older Adults

Operations and Maintenance

Partnerships

Planning and Design

Playgrounds

Recreation Programming

Revenue Development

Safety and Security

Social Media

Sports

Technology

Workforce Development

Youth