2021 Conference Schedule at a Glance

Socially Distant Golf - Sign Up Now!

• Lake Padden Golf Course | Bellingham
• Mint Valley Golf Course | Longview
• Auburn Golf Course | Auburn
• Esmeralda Golf Course | Spokane
• Veterans Memorial Golf Course | Walla Walla

Welcome, Platinum Sponsor Northwest Playground  

Opening Keynote Address

Restoring Civility in the Workplace

Ken Nwadike, Jr., Free Hugs Project

Breakout Session Block 1

1A: Mind & Body Wellbeing in Crisis
Ken Nwadike, Jr

Cancelled
1B: Intersectionality Is Core to the Advancement of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EIB) - Here's Why
B Hill, Shanyanika McElroy
      EIB Level: Intermediate
      0.1 CEU  
      Equity & Inclusion, Leadership & Management

1C: Using Augmented Reality to Create Engaging Educational Experiences
Michele Cardinaux, Joel Krupa
      EIB Level: Beginner
      0.1 CEU  
      Programming, Leadership & Management

1D: WRPA Today, and WRPA Tomorrow – A Round Table Discussion About Planning for Our Best Future
Paul Simmons,  Guy Michaelsen
      EIB Level: Beginner
      Leadership & Management

WRPA Annual Meeting

WRPA Virtual Annual Meeting

The WRPA Annual Meeting is an event for all of the valued members of our association. Access is included for WRPA members who are registered for the Conference. Separate free registration is available for members who are not registered for Conference. 

Breakout Session Block 2

2A: Practical Planning with Equity at the Center
Shanyanika McElroy, Sarah Olson, MPA, Paul Simmons
      EIB Level: Intermediate
      0.1 CEU  
      Planning & Design, Equity & Inclusion

2B: Programming by the Numbers - Are You Serving Your Community Equitably?
Moshe Hecht
      EIB Level: Beginner
      0.1 CEU  
      Business Operations, Programming

2C: The Transformational Leader: Be Courageous. Be Authentic. Be Ready. 
Dethorn Young
      EIB Level: Beginner
      0.1 CEU  
      Leadership & Management, Career Development

9:00 AM —
9:05 AM

Welcome, Gold Sponsor Great Western Recreation

Breakout Session Block 3

3A: (PART 1) Bringing Anti-Racist Practices to Your Agency: Racial Identity Caucus
WRPA Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee

Pre-Registration for Session 3A and 4A are Now Closed! This session has a limited number of available spots (25 BIPOC and 25 White Ally) and requires additional registration. Participants can choose to take only this course or to take this course or they can also take part in Part 2 Session 4A.

Pre-Session Materials

      EIB Level: Intermediate
     0.1 CEU
      Equity & Inclusion, Leadership & Management

3B: Modifying Adaptive Recreation in a Virtual World

Kim Indurkar, Mary Boyle, Stephanie Ruiz-Carbajal
      EIB Level: Beginner
      0.1 CEU  
      Programming, Equity & Inclusion

3C: Top Trends in Parks and Recreation
Richard Dolesh
      EIB Level: Beginner
      0.1 CEU  
      Leadership & Management, Career Development

3D: The Great Symphony—How Water and Air Interplay in Natatoriums
Justin Caron
      EIB Level: Beginner
      0.1 CEU  
      Aquatics, Maintenance & Operations

Breakout Session Block 4

4A: (PART 2) Bringing Anti-Racist Practices to Your Agency: Caucus Train-the-Facilitator
WRPA Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee, Shanyanika McElroy, Brian Judd

Pre-Registration for Session 3A and 4A are Now Closed! This session has a limited number of available spots (25 BIPOC and 25 White Ally) and requires additional registration. In order to participate in this session, you MUST also attend the prerequisite course, PART 1 Session 3A.

Pre-Session Materials

      EIB Level: Intermediate/Advanced
      0.1 CEU  
      Equity & Inclusion, Leadership & Management

4B: Keeping Communities Connected - Virtual Programming During COVID19 and Beyond
Moshe Hecht, Katherine Ichinoe
      EIB Level: Beginner
      0.1 CEU  
      Business Operations: Customer Service/Marketing/Finance, Programming

4C: Demystifying Land Dedication, Development & Impact Fees
Jeff Milkes
      EIB Level: Beginner
      0.1 CEU  
      Business Operations, Planning & Design

4D: Swimming Through It—Defining Essential Aquatic Services During a Pandemic
Cory Hilderbrand, Lydie Gutfeld
      EIB Level: 
      0.1 CEU  
      Aquatics, Leadership & Management

Breakout Session Block 5

5A: How Parks & Recreation Can Support Mental Health Initiatives
Barbara Heller, Lauren Kiefert
      EIB Level: Beginner
      0.1 CEU  
      Programming, Equity & Inclusion

5B: Community Outreach & Engagement with an Equity Lens
Courtney Acoff, Delia Flores, Abigail Vizcarra-Perez
      EIB Level: Intermediate
      0.1 CEU  
      Equity & Inclusion, Programming

5C: The Sport for Everyone: How Junior Disc Golf Courses Get Kids Moving
Erin Johnson, Ryan Griffith
      EIB Level: Beginner
      0.1 CEU  
      Programming, Risk Management

5D: Riverfront Park Renaissance: Planning, Realizing & Programming a Treasured Park for New Generations! (While nimbly responding to a global pandemic!)
Guy Michaelsen, Garrett Jones
      EIB Level: Beginner
      0.1 CEU  
      Planning & Design, Leadership & Management

Break

WRPA Awards Ceremony

WRPA Awards Ceremony for 2020 & 2021 Recipients

Access is included for WRPA members who are registered for the Conference. Separate free registration is available for award recipients (and their guests) who are not registered for Conference.