Parks and recreation professionals will gather Oct. 14 through 16 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C., for the 2014 National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Congress and Exposition. Participants will have the opportunity to advance their field-related education in citizen/advocacy; public relations; environmental stewardship; planning, design and maintenance; professional development; leadership and management; customer service and revenue; recreation programming; healthy lifestyles and sports; and employee/volunteer management.

In addition, they will have the opportunity to see new and innovative products and services; nearly 400 exhibitors will display their wares on the trade show floor. Go here for more information.

Choose from dozens of education sessions



On Tuesday, Oct. 14, a class titled “Building a Healthy Community with Let’s Move! Cities, Towns, and Counties” will focus on the development of long-term, sustainable strategies that promote improved nutrition and increased physical activity. The workshop will share how local parks and recreation departments can take a leading role in achieving the five goals of Let’s Move! The session will provide examples from three communities that have achieved national recognition for increasing access of their citizens to physical activity.

Also on Tuesday, Oct. 8, attendees can learn about kids and nature at a session titled “Connecting Kids Back to Nature: Urban Wildlife Program.” The session will explain how to combine local history, hiking, crafts and teambuilding to create a comprehensive outdoor program that uses the natural surroundings.



Other sessions at the 2014 Congress include:


•    Alternatives to Gangs from Pre-K to Ex-Cons


•    Effect of a Park-Based Afterschool Program on Obesity-Related Health Outcomes


•    How to Win: Partnering Within Your Community


•    Encouraging Outdoor Youth Activity with a Fishing Program


•    Awesome Apps and Cool Tech Tools


•    LRS Aquatic Recreation: Panel


•    Mentoring Professional Recreators


•    Parks Without Borders


•    Secrets to Working with Difficult Parents, Coaches, and Athletes


•    Engaging Youth through Skateparks


•    Customer Service Boot Camp: Back to the Basics


•    Successfully Facilitating Programs that Aren’t Yours


•    Be More Dog: Marketing to Pet Parents


•    Return of the Naturalist



Speed Sessions



Returning for 2014 at the NRPA Congress is a series of speed sessions: 20-minute events designed to energize and inspire. The session titles include: “Camera Tricks for Cell Phones,” “Next Generation Trail Maps: Mobile and Desktop,” “A Walk in the Park: Local Parks as Walking Destintions,” “Turning Your Movie Night Into an Event,” and “Why Natural Playgrounds?”



Speakers



The 2014 NRPA Congress and Exposition Opening General Session will feature a panel of speakers.



Robert Garcia (photo at right) is the founding director and counsel of The City Project. As an attorney who engages, educates and empowers communities to achieve equal access to public resources, he was given the KCETLink and Union Bank Local Heroes awards in 2013. He has influenced the investment of more than $41 billion in underserved communities. He received the President’s Award from the American Public Health Association, and was named one of the Top 100 Green Latino Leaders by PODER Magazine in 2013.

Maya Rockeymoore (photo at left) is the president and CEO of the Center for Global Policy Solutions, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit dedicated to making policy work for people and their environments. A former adjunct professor in the Women in Politics Institute at American University, she has also served as the vice president of research and programs at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF).

Rockeymoore has been a senior resident scholar at the National Urban League, chief of staff to Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY), a member of the professional staff on the House Ways and Means Committee, and as a CBCF legislative fellow in the office of Congressman Melvin Watt (D-NC). Her areas of expertise include health, social insurance, income security, education, women’s issues and youth civic participation. 
 



Congress Live!



For those unable to attend the 2014 Congress in person in Charlotte, NRPA is presenting its Virtual Congress Live! with no travel cost and the ability to watch remotely from your home or office. The program fee includes:



•    10 education sessions,


•    Presentations from speakers, and


•    Chance to earn up to 1.0 CEUs, which is half of the required Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) certification renewal.

In the video, Charlotte and Mecklenburg County officials invite parks and recreation professionals to attend the 2014 NRPA Congress this October.

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