Peer Learning Opportunity for Environmental Sustainability

Parks across the country are striving to meet the needs of their local communities while navigating unique and ever-changing environmental circumstances. NRPA is offering a 16-week immersive, cohort-style program for park professionals with a vested interest in equitable environmental resilience that are ready to take the next step or not sure where to begin.

Park agencies are invited to apply alongside a partner community-based organization to increase their knowledge, understanding and implementation of environmental sustainability planning and practices through technical assistance, practical application, and peer learning opportunities to support them as they develop and implement community-driven sustainability practices at parks.

The American Academy for Park & Recreation Administration Announces the 2023 Externship Program!

National Recreation & Park Association Annual Conference

The Academy’s Externship Program enables outstanding young professionals 35 years of age and younger in the parks and recreation field to interact with and learn from  American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration members, and other individuals who attend the NRPA Conference and its associated meetings. Up to four Externs are selected each year, two of which are Ernest T. Atwell diversity externs. Externs are paired with Academy members who serve as mentors during the NRPA Conference as well as past externs who serve as buddies and assist in making the most out of the experience.

Read Complete Extern Flier & Application

A message from: National Recreation & Park Association (NRPA)

Sign Up for the Program

Register for the Webinar

Youth Outdoor Education and Recreation Programs The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) will begin accepting applications starting August 10 for grants that provide outdoor education and recreation programs for Washington youth. RCO is also hosting an Application Webinar onAugust 10 from 1:00-3:00 pm. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR, which will be recorded and posted on RCO’s website by August 12. Two grant programs will be covered during the webinar,No Child Left Inside (NCLI) and new this year, Outdoor Learning Grants. RCO strongly encourages potential applicants to attend the live webinar, which will cover information about the grants offered, eligibility requirements, deadlines, program changes, how to apply for the grants, and a Q&A session. No Child Left Inside This Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission’s funding program offers grants for outdoor-based education and recreation programs. The grant program intends to maximize the number of Washington youth who receive quality outdoor experiences, focusing on youth participants with the greatest need. The timeline is as follows:

• Applications Open – August 10, 2022
• Applications Due – November 1, 2022
• Grants Awarded – July 1, 2023
• Period of Performance – July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2025

For more information check out theNCLI web page and grant manual. Outdoor Learning Grants This Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s funding program provides grants for federally recognized tribes and outdoor education providers to develop and support outdoor educational experiences for students in Washington public schools. Grants are available to support existing capacity and to increase future capacity for outdoor learning experiences. Applicants must partner with a Washington State public school, state-tribal education compact school, or tribal school. Funding for this program is available now! Please notice the very tight application timeline below.

Hello All! The Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) is hosting three Webinars on August 10 from 9:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. You won’t want to miss it if you are thinking of applying for a grant for your trails, shooting range, or motorized boating project! The Webinar will include information about the grants offered, eligibility requirements, deadlines, program changes for 2022, and how to apply for a grant. We will focus on the following grant programs with a November 1, 2022, due date:

• Firearms and Archery Range Recreation Program (FARR)
• Boating Facilities Program (BFP)
• Nonhighway and Off-road Vehicles Activities (NOVA Education and Trails)
• Recreational Trails Program (RTP)

Register for the Webinars here: FARR,BFP,NOVA and RTP If you cannot attend the Webinar and are interested in applying for a grant, please register anyway. RCO will send you a link to the recording after it is posted on RCO’s Web site. We will open PRISM Online for applications on August 10.When you start your grant application, RCO will assign an outdoor grants manager to work with you. Click here to find your grants manager now. What’s New for 2022? Staff is updating RCO’s Web site, Applicant To-Do Lists, policy manuals, and other resources. Here are some of the changes:

Dear WRPA Members interested in Sponsorships,

I recently learned from Diane Brady from Metro Parks in Tacoma about the 4th Annual Sponsorship Mastery Summit in Seattle on September 28-30, 2022. This year it’s the only sponsorship marketing conference offered by the folks at Sponsorship Summit and is limited to 300.

2022 AAPRA/NRPA Mentorship Program

A message from: National Recreation & Park Association (NRPA)

Sign Up for the Program

Register for the Webinar

Washington Wildlife & Recreation Coalition’s (WWRC) Celebration of Community & Conservation

The celebration kicks off in TWO WEEKS. We are excited to celebrate with WRPA members again this year.   

As with all events and activities happening in 2020, WWRC is doing a few things differently this year.   In the past we have held an annual breakfast fundraising event which featured amazing speakers, inspiring award winners and statewide trail updates.   WRPA has always had a big presence at this event so we will want to get the word out so WRPA members can still participate in whatever way works best.   This year, from Monday, Sept 21 – Saturday, Sept 26, WRPA members can check the WWRC website here to watch daily videos and meet some amazing individuals dedicated to preserving Washington’s open space areas.    Also, instead of breakfast – a live interactive “happy hour” will be held - and you know that WRPA members love a happy hour!   The Virtual Happy Hour will be held Wednesday, September 23, from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.  Online via Zoom (register in advance to receive access link)

WWRC Annual Breakfast

Hello all – I hope you have saved the day and are planning to attend the Washington Wildlife & Recreation Coalition breakfast on September 19, 2019, at 7:00 a.m. in Seattle!

This is the 30th Anniversary of the WWRC so we’ll be celebrating the incredible work of the Coalition and all of our wonderful partners. The breakfast is free but they will ask for a donation to support their efforts. WRPA and WWRC are amazing partners who have together advocated and influenced for over $1.3 billion in state, local and private dollars through the WWRP program (that’s a lot of acronyms). You all know the wonderful work they do which helps us create healthy and vibrant communities.

The Leadership Development Network

The Leadership Development Network is hosting its next FREE Virtual Round Table discussion/meeting on Tuesday, May 21st in partnership with the Young Professional Network. Please add the date to your calendar, join us and share!  These discussions are somewhat of a mixture between a webinar and round table session featuring experts in the field discussing relevant topics and trends with the opportunity for interaction.

Here are the details for this Wednesday:

DOH Seeks Local Partners for the Washington Healthy and Active for Arthritis Management Program

The Department of Health (DOH) recently received a five-year grant from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), as a part of the “State Public Health Approaches to Addressing Arthritis” cooperative agreement and developed the Washington Healthy and Active for Arthritis Management (WHAAM) project. The goal of the WHAAM Project is to increase physical activity among people with arthritis as a way of reducing and managing pain, with a focus on non-metropolitan and Native American communities.

This goal will be accomplished by:

Join the Oregon Recreation and Parks Association for an Educational Event

More design charette than lecture, Park Planner Palooza VI is an opportunity for park planners and designers to receive training (and CEU credits), discuss cutting-edge planning initiatives, and view innovative projects with other park and recreation planners from around Oregon in a relaxed, informal atmosphere.