Identify the key ingredients for intentional, impactful, and informative programming. Recognize the importance of relevant programs that address both the immediate and strategic needs of your community. Create a guide using available tools and share it with fellow programmers.

Coming November 2026! Navigating Your Professional Journey: Pathways to Growth in Parks and Recreation" is a session designed to help parks and recreation professionals balance their current roles with career advancement. It will emphasize the importance of continuous learning, networking, and certifications, providing insights and tools for confident professional growth.

In a field that's always evolving, it can be challenging to tell which programming ideas are worth pursuing. This session explores how to distinguish between short-term fads and long-term trends in parks and recreation. Participants will learn how to evaluate emerging programs, align innovation with community needs, and make smart, sustainable investments that maximize investments and minimize waste.

Discover how elements of Positive Psychology and Authentic Leadership can help improve your workplace morale, wellness, and happiness.

Discover the latest aquatics trends shaping communities nationwide and learn how to design water amenities that are not only inviting but inclusive and engaging. This session offers fresh ideas and inspiration to help you elevate your aquatic spaces and stay ahead of the curve.

Parks and recreation professionals face the challenge of meeting evolving community needs with limited resources, making innovation essential for improving efficiency and user experience. This session will explore practical strategies—from small process improvements to advanced technologies—that enhance engagement, sustainability, and park management.

This session will cover how to create a dynamic Teen Leadership Program from the ground up. Topics covered include goal setting, identifying local resources and partners, and developing topics, materials, guest speakers, activities, and field trips.

This session will explore how to plan and execute captivating nighttime events that creatively utilize light, sound, and interactive elements to engage diverse audiences. Participants will gain insights into logistics, safety, and programming strategies that make after-dark events both magical and manageable.

Stress causes a lot of negative physical, psychological, and workplace impacts, and stress-related issues cost the US over $300 billion annually. Using laughter, positive psychology, and balloon animals, participants will learn new ways to think about (and maintain healthy) stress levels. This talk is offered free to NRPA Premier Members and wards 0.1 CEU!

Coming March 2026! This presentation explores the role of a Pool Manager and provides essential guidance on managing an aquatic facility, including customer service, public interaction, health and safety rules, lifeguard oversight, and weather policies. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of the key responsibilities and best practices for effective pool management.