Upcoming VRPA & National Events

FEATURED TOPICS

UPDATES YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS!

1st VT State Pickleball Championship Tournament- August 11-13!

UPDATE - we are modifying this year's tournament to take place all in one weekend, so there will be no regional qualifiers. All divisions will play the weekend of August 11-13th. We will be setting a max number of teams per category and will announce the day & time of each soon.

Please help share this flyer and this information packet with Pickleball players in your community!

The primary registration deadline has been modified to July 28th. After this date, divisions will be evaluated for size and combined as needed. No registrations will be taken after August 4th.

The VRPA is teaming up with Pickleball enthusiasts, Parks & Recreation departments, and other volunteers to introduce a new VT State Pickleball Championship Tournament that will serve as a new fundraiser for the VRPA.

For more information, take a look at the info. flyer here.

Registration is now open to those that are interested in participating. Please help share this information with the Pickleball groups in your area.

VT State Track & Field Meet - July 22, 2023 - sign up your athletes now!

We are so excited to host our annual state track & field meet again this summer!

The VRPA/St. Johnsbury 2023 State Meet will take place on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at St. Johnsbury Academy.

Athletes ages: The athlete's age group is determined by his/her age as of December 31, 2023. Athletes aged 7-15 on December 31, 2023 are eligible to participate in the meet this year. If the athlete was a freshman in high school during the current 2022-23 school year then they are not allowed to compete.

The top 6 athletes in each event will get a ribbon handed out at the conclusion of each event the day of the meet.

Submit your Commitment Forms now to help us plan for how many teams will be there in July!

More details and registration information to come!

80th VT Conference on Recreation & Trails Symposium - Attendee registration now open!

The 80th Vermont Conference on Recreation will take place on Wednesday & Thursday, September 27th & 28th at a new location - the Killington Grand Resort Hotel in Killington, VT. Join us to celebrate our 80th!

We are also teaming up this year with the VT Trails & Greenways Council to offer a Trails Symposium as part of the conference this year.

Exhibitor Registration is still open! Pricing increases after May 30th. Only 11 vendor table spaces left!

Attendee Registration - now open!

Book your hotel rooms today as well!

July is Parks & Recreation Month! - VRPA Fundraising Raffle information

July is right around the corner, and we are so excited to celebrate Park and Recreation Month with you! This year's theme - "Where Community Grows" - celebrates the vital role park and recreation professionals play in bringing people together, providing essential services and fostering the growth of our communities. Be sure to download the Park and Recreation Month toolkit today, which includes fact sheets and key messages, template outreach materials, sample social media posts, graphics and more to help promote the power of parks and recreation in your community.

The VRPA will be holding its annual July fundraising raffle campaign again this year as well!

Contribute a raffle item from your agency to help! Reach out to Jess about items you're willing to donate.

Share this flyer with your community members!

NRPA Annual Conference - October 10-12, 2023 in Dallas, TX

We are looking forwrd to getting together with thousands of fellow park and recreation professionals at the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas on October 10-12.

Registration is now open. Be sure to register early so you can take advantage of the early bird discount. Register on the NRPA site: https://www.nrpa.org/conference/registration/

Park Planning & Maintenance Academy - August 7th - August 10th, Aurora, CO

The Southwest Park & Recreation Training Institute is offering a 2.5 day training for park planners & maintenance professionals this August in Aurora, CO!

The link to registration - www.swprti.org/ppma

Participants register for one year at a time. Year 1 and 2 are set curriculums. Graduate Year is different each year it is presented so all can return if they want. CEU's are offered for each year as well.

Cost is $450 and on the website we list what all that includes, including some meals and bus transportation.

The hotel cost is separate, but does include a shuttle to and from the airport and breakfast. Only two dinners are on their own, but restaurants are within walking distance of the hotel. No need for a car.

The dates start on the first Monday of August every year. We start Monday night with a welcome reception at the hotel.

More information on the flyer here.

2023 Park Foundation School - Registration now open! August 20-24, Wheeling, WV

The Park Foundation School is a unique professional management school for those who want to start, build and strengthen their 501(c)(3) park foundations, friends groups, and other nonprofit organizations that support parks and recreation agencies.

This school is also for parks and recreation agencies that are contemplating creating a park foundation. It is offered in cooperation with the National Association of Park Foundations and North Carolina State University.

The 2023 Park Foundation School is August 20-24 at Oglebay National Training Center in Wheeling, WV. See this informational flyer for school curriculum details. 

Click here to register.

CPRP & CPRE - Virtual Exam Prep Course

The VRPA is working with the Illinois Park & Recreation Association to provide our members with an opportunity to take a CPRP or CPRE virtual prep course.

The next session of the Virtual Prep. Course will take place in 6 different virtual sessions September 21st - November 2nd.

Cost is $95 for the course and $80 for the book.

More prep course details and dates available here.

Save the VRPA flyer for this to have the code to register at the IPRA member rate

NPRA's Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE) certification establishes a national standard for managerial, administrative, and executive park and recreation professionals. Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) is a national certification program through NRPA, and is designed for park and recreation professionals that wish to put their career on the path to success. 

Who Should Attend: Professionals with CPRP certification seeking high-level administrative opportunities are encouraged to pursue CPRE designation to demonstrate leadership in all aspects of managing a park and recreation department. 

Financial Sustainability Certification Program

- November 13-15th, 2023

Participants can earn up to 1.5 CEU's for enrolling and participating in this program. Program fee of $350 includes 2.5 training days including food. This is a terrific opportunity for professional members from New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts.  

As park and recreation professionals, we are privileged to be the stewards of taxpayer dollars. Each and every day we get to spend their money. What a responsibility! 

We hold in our hands the power to impact communities by how we manage these resources. How we spend, how we generate revenues, and how we work to create a financially sustainable future for our organizations and for the field of parks and recreation.

Together we can create a movement to strengthen financial acumen in parks and recreation - one person and one agency at a time. This eye-opening and engaging experience will be one you won’t forget.

Click below for more information about the course!

IPRA Webinar Series - Back for 2023!

The Skills Development Webinar Series provides park and recreation, conservation, and forest preserve district professionals with access to monthly professional development opportunities from the comfort of their home or office.

Register as an individual or an agency and gain access to 11 webinars, one per month February thru December, that showcase nationally-known speakers and industry leaders. This unique program is designed to meet the needs of park and recreation professionals by providing subscribers with the option to participate in live webinars or access on-demand recordings. Space is limited, and participants must designate Wednesday or Thursday at the time of registration.

The 2023 lineup includes influential speakers and timely topics, so team up with your colleagues and come join us for some high-quality and interactive learning!

Be sure to use the VRPA Discount code to receive $100 off registration!

Click Here for the VRPA flyer

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