Coming mid-June 2024! Be curious, not judgmental. Approach difficult conversations head-on and empathetically, not to assign blame but to better understand and create a welcoming work culture internally and inclusive experiences externally. The learning product "Uncomfortable Conversations in Parks and Recreation" delves into navigating the challenging discussions that surface in park and recreation settings and beyond. 

Leveraging insights from lived experiences on six continents with global organizations such as Disney, Olympics and TED / TEDx and utilizing communication lessons and social psychology, this course is designed for individuals working or volunteering in these areas. The curriculum emphasizes how to handle topics like inclusivity, environmental stewardship and cultural awareness with sensitivity and effectiveness.  

The goal is to empower learners with strategies for constructive dialogue and empathy, ultimately fostering an environment in park and recreation spaces where everyone feels welcome and a sense of belonging. This is vital for promoting community cohesion and ensuring equitable access to public amenities. 

This talk is available for 1 year after release date.

Learning Objectives:

1. The learners will be able to implement effective communication strategies to facilitate open and respectful dialogues about sensitive issues in park and recreation settings, ensuring conversations are inclusive and productive. 

2. The learners will be able to apply principles of empathy and cultural competence in their interactions with colleagues, stakeholders and the community, fostering an environment of understanding and respect within park and recreation management. 

3. The learners will be able to apply equity-focused assessment techniques to identify and mitigate systemic barriers within park and recreation environments, ensuring facilities and services are accessible and welcoming to all community members. 

Join the membership team for a brief overview of NRPA membership at the top of the hour followed by the opportunity to ask questions about your benefits, getting involved with NRPA and much more. NRPA membership hours will take place the second Thursday of each month at 1pm ET. We invite all everyone to join!

• June 13 - 1:00 PM EDT
• July 11 - 1:00 PM EDT
• August 8 - 1:00 PM EDT
• September 12 - 1:00 PM EDT
• October 10 - 1:00 PM EDT

In the realm of social media, it all starts with content creation. But how do you quantify the results of your posts? It's important to collect data and format it properly for future use and potentially expanding your skills. With more than three years of social media management experience, the leader of this session will provide useful information for beginner-level content creators on formatting your data and understanding what information is most important to glean from with analytics. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Learners will better understand basic analytic terminology and the metrics to track at the beginner level. 

2. Learners will be able to craft summaries of past post-performance data to share with their team. 

3. Learners will gain insight on which overlooked analytics to track and watch to improve content. 

This talk is available for 1 year from release date!

Find previously live Park Access Network content here! Parks and recreation create stronger, more resilient communities that can adapt to and better recover from environmental, social and economic challenges. However, significant racial and socioeconomic disparities affect access to parks, including the number of quality parks, proximity of parks and connection to safe, inclusive, culturally-relevant parks and programs. Moreover, Black, Indigenous and people of color and low-income communities receive fewer resources and support to prepare for, respond to and recover from the impacts of climate change.

Park and recreation professionals have the tools and resources to lead localized, anti-racist solutions that advance the multitude of benefits derived from equitable park access and climate-resilient park systems. The Park Access Network is an open community bringing together diverse professionals to facilitate conversations and best practices among peers to drive systemic changes that advance equitable and resilient park access.

Join us in the pursuit of creating a welcoming and diverse park and recreation system that reflects the ideals of the communities it serves. Our approach involves a targeted investment in each community and laying the foundation for transformative change, heightened engagement and the cultivation of mutual respect. This endeavor is dedicated to identifying and meeting the specific needs of all constituents, ensuring that our services are inclusive and comprehensive. Attendees will have the invaluable opportunity to be guided by a panel of three professionals, which presents a wealth of diversity in education, cultural backgrounds and professional experiences. Together, we will explore innovative strategies for professionals and their organizations to invest in services that truly cater to the diverse tapestry of people within their communities, fostering a more connected and inclusive society. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn how to effectively use your provided services to reinvest in your diverse constituents, employees, community partners and policymakers.

2. Gain new ideas and strategies to avoid categorizing services, instead developing and investing in a range of diverse community services to meet the needs of all residents.

3. Identify tools that will help you develop an organizational philosophy to guide your services, basing it on the idea that all people need opportunities that inspire and improve their quality of life.

This talk is available for 1 year from release date!

Celebrated the second Saturday in June, NRPA's Family Health & Fitness Day campaign is a celebration of the essential role local parks and recreation plays in keeping individuals, families and communities healthy and active. This online learning event will describe the importance of Family Health & Fitness Day, including how this day promotes the lifelong health and well-being benefits parks provide. This webinar will also share best practices and tips around elevating the recognition of this celebration in local communities, as shared through the lens of NRPA's Marketing Specialist, Christina High. Lastly, this online learning event will share "from the field experience" from Sacramento County Regional Parks, which will share fun and creative ways park and recreation agencies can celebrate Family Health & Fitness Day in their communities. 

Visit NRPA's Family Health & Fitness Day webpage to engage with our resources around Family Health & Fitness Day. https://www.nrpa.org/events/fa...  

Learning Objectives:

1. The learners will be able to describe the essential role park and recreation professionals play in keeping communities healthy and active. 

2. Attendees will be able to plan, promote and implement programs and events in celebration of Family Health & Fitness Day in their own communities on June 8. 

3. Participants will be able to reference the Family Health & Fitness Day Outreach Toolkit for further information on planning, promoting and measuring the impact of Family Health & Fitness Day events. 

This talk is available for 1 year from release date!

This comprehensive discussion delves into vital aspects to empower park agencies in steering effective planning initiatives. Beginning with the essential question of why planning is crucial, the exploration covers key factors such as Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) accreditation, grant eligibility and funding prioritization, while providing an insightful overview of various plan types and emphasizing the significance of inclusive and equity-based planning. This online learning event further delves into engagement techniques geared towards delivering community-supported outcomes, followed by a focus on the technical analysis involved in a needs assessment. Subsequently, this discussion explores recommendations and policy development, delving into the intricacies of Capital Improvement Plans (CIP) and action planning. Additionally, it addresses crucial facets like implementation strategies and offers practical insights on how to initiate the planning process, including Requests for Proposal (RFPs), consultant hiring, in-house planning, scheduling and more. This comprehensive guide equips park agencies with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate and succeed in their planning endeavors. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn best practices for conducting an outcome-driven long-range planning process. 

2. Describe 3-5 tools and techniques that will ensure your park agency is successful in increasing community, political, and funding support for implementation. 

3. Identify ways to champion resiliency, economic vitality, equity, access, and community connections through planning and urban design. 

This talk is available for 1 year from release date!

In a world where 71 percent of the Earth's surface is water, the imperative for water conservation resonates daily in cities across America. This holds especially true for park and recreation departments that heavily depend on water for greenscapes, urban treescapes, facilities and programming. Uncover the success story of Spokane, Washington, where a pioneering funding solution was implemented, resulting in the preservation of millions of gallons of water annually. The initiative not only contributes to sustainable water usage but also elevates the overall quality of the park system, proving that strategic investment can yield both environmental and financial dividends. Join us in exploring this case study, where the seemingly paradoxical concept of spending money to save money and make money becomes a powerful strategy in the realm of water conservation for parks and recreation. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify water conservation opportunities, strategies and partnerships to form a water conservation plan in your community. 

2. Identify creative funding sources to build out your strategic capital plan. 

3. Identify ways to implement the plan and measure success. 

This talk is available for 1 year from release date!

Released April 2024! Celebrated the second Saturday in June, NRPA's Family Health & Fitness Day campaign is a celebration of the essential role local parks and recreation plays in keeping individuals, families and communities healthy and active. This online learning event will describe the importance of Family Health & Fitness Day, including how this day promotes the lifelong health and well-being benefits parks provide. This webinar will also share best practices and tips around elevating the recognition of this celebration in local communities, as shared through the lens of NRPA's Marketing Specialist, Christina High. Lastly, this online learning event will share "from the field experience" from Sacramento County Regional Parks, which will share fun and creative ways park and recreation agencies can celebrate Family Health & Fitness Day in their communities. 

Learning Objectives:

1. The learners will be able o describe the essential role park and recreation professionals play in keeping communities healthy and active. 

2. Attendees will be able to plan, promote and implement programs and events in celebration of Family Health & Fitness Day in their own communities on June 8. 

3. Participants will be able to reference the Family Health & Fitness Day Outreach Toolkit for further information on planning, promoting and measuring the impact of Family Health & Fitness Day events. 

Released March 2024! This course will introduce park and recreation professionals to the basics of how to use Microsoft Excel for data management and analysis. Participants will apply knowledge learned and gain hands-on experience with MS Excel by using a parks and recreation-specific case study with sample data.

After completing the training course, learners will have developed a deeper knowledge of the features of Microsoft Excel, including how to modify data within rows and columns, how to find missing or outlier data, how to write basic and more advanced formulas, how to analyze data in a table, how to create and understand pivot tables, how to use the "Analyze Data" feature, and how to conduct a more advanced analysis using the information shared in the course.