The last day to submit proposals is September 25, 2026.
The Washington Recreation & Park Association (WRPA) invites passionate professionals, innovators, and emerging voices in parks and recreation to submit education session proposals for our annual conference. Questions regarding your submission should be directed to the WRPA Office.
Our conferences bring together professionals from across Washington and beyond to learn, connect, and explore practical solutions that strengthen parks, recreation, and community well-being. We are seeking engaging, relevant, and interactive sessions that provide attendees with ideas, tools, and strategies they can immediately apply in their agencies and communities. Sessions that encourage participation, discussion, storytelling, and real-world application consistently create the most meaningful and memorable learning experiences.
Becoming a WRPA speaker is an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of the parks and recreation profession while growing your own professional impact.
As a presenter, you will:
Share your knowledge and experience with peers across Washington State
Contribute to innovative practices that improve communities
Build your professional visibility and leadership within the field
Engage in meaningful dialogue with colleagues facing similar challenges and opportunities
Inspire and support the next generation of parks and recreation professionals
Our Audience
WRPA attendees represent the full spectrum of the parks and recreation profession, including:
Frontline recreation staff and program coordinators
Facility managers and supervisors
Parks maintenance professionals
Recreation and aquatics leaders
Agency directors and administrators
Commissioners and elected officials
Students and emerging professionals
Because of this diversity, we encourage sessions that are accessible, relevant, and valuable across multiple experience levels and roles.
What We Are Looking For
WRPA seeks dynamic, thoughtful, and engaging proposals that reflect the evolving needs of the parks and recreation profession.
We are especially interested in sessions that are:
Practical and Actionable
Attendees should leave with ideas, tools, or strategies they can immediately apply in their agencies.
Engaging and Interactive
We strongly encourage formats that move beyond lecture, such as:
Group discussion
Case studies
Problem-solving activities
Panel conversations
Hands-on demonstrations
Peer-to-peer learning
Relevant to Current Trends and Challenges
Topics should reflect real issues facing parks and recreation professionals today, such as:
Workforce development and retention
Community engagement and equity
Facility and asset management
Recreation programming innovation
Mental health and community well-being
Funding, budgeting, and advocacy
Leadership and organizational culture
Inclusive of Diverse Perspectives
We value sessions that elevate a range of voices, experiences, and approaches within the profession.
What Makes a Strong Session Proposal?
Successful proposals typically include:
Clear learning outcomes (what attendees will take away)
A focused, relevant topic aligned with parks and recreation work
Engaging delivery methods that encourage participation
Real-world examples, case studies, or lessons learned
A well-organized structure that supports learning retention
Selection Criteria
The WRPA Conference Education Committee reviews all submissions carefully to build a balanced and high-quality educational program.
Proposals are evaluated based on:
• Overall quality and completeness of the submission • Clarity of learning objectives and outcomes • Relevance to parks and recreation professionals • Practical application and real-world value • Level of engagement and interactivity • Presenter experience and ability to effectively deliver content • Contribution to a diverse and well-rounded conference program
WRPA strives to create a program that reflects the full scope of our profession and the communities we serve.
Commercial/Promotional Presentations
Presenters/speakers may NOT sell, raffle, or otherwise promote a product, service, or organization in which they have a financial interest.
Speaker Agreement
If your proposed education session is selected, the lead presenter will be required to sign a Speaker Agreement that may include thefollowing general information.
We Encourage New Voices
WRPA strongly encourages submissions from:
• First-time presenters • Emerging professionals • Diverse and underrepresented voices in the field • Practitioners sharing innovative or grassroots approaches
You do not need to be a polished public speaker to contribute valuable insight. If you have experience, lessons learned, or ideas that can help others grow, we want to hear from you.
Important Guidelines
To maintain the integrity and educational value of the conference:
• Sessions must be educational in nature and not promotional • Commercial sales pitches or product marketing are not permitted • Content should be accurate, professional, and appropriate for a broad audience • Presenters are responsible for the accuracy of their information and materials
Continuing Education Credit (CEUs)
Selected sessions may be eligible for continuing education credit. If your session is accepted, additional information may be required to ensure compliance with WRPA and credentialing guidelines.
What Happens Next?
If your session is selected:
• You will be notified by the WRPA Conference Education Committee • Additional speaker details and requirements will be provided • You may be asked to refine learning outcomes or format details • Final presentation materials may be requested prior to the conference • Speakers will receive conference participation details and expectations in the form of a speaker contract.
We appreciate the time and effort that goes into preparing a proposal and value every submission we receive.
Thank You for Sharing Your Expertise
WRPA’s strength comes from the knowledge, creativity, and dedication of professionals like you. By submitting a proposal, you help advance the parks and recreation profession and strengthen communities across Washington State. Questions regarding your submission should be directed to the WRPA Office.
We look forward to learning from your experience and ideas.
Speaker Proposal Form Outline
We recommend collecting all of the following information in preparation for submitting your proposal.
Proposals are ONLY for the 2027 Annual Conference & Trade Show from May 11-14, 2027 in Spokane, WA. Speaker requests for proposals for other WRPA events will be released as the various events are planned. Professional speakers, this conference has a very limited speaker budget and the selection committee prioritizes no-cost session proposals. We are not accepting any proposals over $1,500.
Name of the Conference Education Committee (CEC) member you have been working with (if applicable)
How Sessions are Scored
The Conference Education Committee is made up of approximately 20 volunteer WRPA members who work to recruit, solicit, evaluate, and select sessions for the Annual Conference. These members use a scoring rubric system to support consistent evaluation of all proposals. The scoring rubric consists of six areas:
This information will be used by the selection committee during the proposal review process, and will also be used in promotional materials, such as flyers, brochures, programs, etc. Please be clear and concise. Please also be creative! (Please limit to 300 words).
Session Title (Please limit your session title to 10 words or less)
Session Description (150 words maximum)
EXAMPLE: A shortage of funding and diminishing subsidies is the reality that many agencies are facing, yet the demand for parks and recreation services continues to climb. Sustaining programs and operations is a balancing act, but it's also an opportunity to engage a new business philosophy...entrepreneurialism! The speaker will share his experience working for two of the largest counties and transforming a subsidized operation into a successful entrepreneurial operation. Learn the keys to partnering with retailers, vendors and major corporations while still preserving the integrity of your parks system.
Learning Objectives: Learning outcomes or objectives are statements that specify what learners will know or be able to do as a result of attending the session. Outcomes are usually expressed as knowledge, skills, or attitudes. They help to:
Focus on learner's behavior that is to be changed
Serve as guidelines for content, instruction, and evaluation
Identify specifically what should be learned
Convey to learners exactly what is to be accomplished
Since the learner's performance should be observable and measurable, the verb chosen for each outcome statement should be an action verb which results in overt behavior that can be observed and measured. Sample action verbs are: compile, create, plan, revise, analyze, design, select, utilize, apply, demonstrate, prepare, use, compute, discuss, explain, predict, assess, compare, rate, and critique.
EXAMPLE: The participant will be able to identify and understand various entrepreneurial strategies available to public sector agencies
Session Type
An educational session (1 hour, 40-100 audience members)
Has this session been previously presented at a WRPA training?
Presenter Details
You can have up to three presenters total and all of the following information must be provided for each.
Presenter Name (optional)
Job Title
Company
Email
Phone Number
Presenter Bio (100 words maximum)
Optional Demographic Information
Presenters speaking experience includes:
Professional Speaker/Trainer
Does your presentation require multiple presenters?
Equity Level: Select the level of knowledge your audience should have around Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging to be full participants in your session.
Beginner: These sessions are for individuals who have little knowledge or are just beginning to learn about diversity, equity, inclusion, and cross-culture issues whether personally or professionally. They will introduce and stress fundamental concepts and approaches, offering participants time to work for understanding in a supportive environment.
Intermediate: These sessions are for individuals who have a working knowledge of diversity, equity, inclusion, and cross-cultural issues, and have begun exploring the concepts of privilege and anti-racism. These sessions stress the interconnection between fundamental concepts and new knowledge, techniques, methodologies, and skills. Individuals who are looking to explore what to do and how to apply their new knowledge and skills are the target audience for intermediate workshops.
Session Basics
Session Time Preference (breakout sessions, speed sessions, and network meetings will occur Tuesday, May 11 and Friday, May 14, 2027 in Spokane, WA, please select the day and time of day that you prefer to present during.)
Wednesday Morning
Wednesday Afternoon
Thursday Morning
Thursday Afternoon
Does not matter
Do you give WRPA permission to record your session?
Yes
No
Option to provide additional information for consideration by the selection committee.
Conference Room Set-up Requirements
Rooms are typically set up theater or classroom style for 40 to 100 people, depending on room size. Rooms are set standard with a screen and projector, a podium with one wired microphone, and an HDMI connection for laptops. Please tell us more about what you may need for your session to run smoothly.
Every effort will be made to accommodate speaker requests, but may be limited due to budget or availability of equipment. Speakers are required to bring their own PC compatible laptops and projector remotes as they will not be provided.
Room Needs
Lectern
Microphone (wireless mics available for keynote only)
Internet Access
Audio patch to play computer audio (your laptop must have a standard 3.5mm audio jack for this)
Other
None of the above
Laptop Policy Agreement - Speakers are required to bring their own compatible laptop or tablet etc. with an HDMI port and a projector remote (if required) as they will not be provided.
Commercial/Promotional Presentations Policy - Presenters/speakers may NOT sell, raffle, or otherwise promote a product, service, or organization in which they have a financial interest.
Honorariums & Travel Reimbursements:
WRPA works with a small budget to pay for speaker honorariums.
Please Note: Any proposal with a speaker who requires an honorarium will be reviewed separately from the other proposals and be held to different selection criteria based on budgetary and programmatic needs. If fees are not requested via this proposal form, it is assumed they will not be required or requested at a later date.
Please note, WRPA has the right to modify content, including session descriptions for marketing purposes.
Speaker Agreement
If your proposed education session is selected, the lead presenter will be required to sign a Speaker Agreement that includes the following general information:
I understand the following:
WRPA has the right to modify content, including session titles and session descriptions, for marketing purposes.
I may use the handout materials, presentation, visual aids and any other material prepared by me for the above mentioned presentation in any manner I desire, including publication.
Papers and illustrations will not be returned to me by WRPA.
In consideration of my acceptance to speak, I hereby grant to WRPA the right to:
Record, copy, and transcribe my presentation, including oral, written, and visual materials and to compile my presentation with other presentations as part of the event educational materials.
Redistribute my presentation and handout materials in any form or format including paper and electronic formats to any audience.
Take still photographs during my presentation that may be used for WRPA publicity or publications in any form or format including paper and electronic formats.
This release applies only to my presentation and materials and in no way limits my own use of my own materials. Any copyright of my presentation and materials shall continue to be my property or that of any other party. My presentation will not infringe any copyright or include any material that is libelous, scandalous, or an invasion of privacy.
Washington Recreation & Park Association
Facilitate connections, advocate for professionals and their agencies, and provide robust learning and skill advancement opportunities to equitably support recreation, culture, and park professionals.
