Not only is it a new year....make it a "new you" by investing in your professional development.  These trainings are all now open for registration.  Learn, grow, and meet new people.  Visit our registration page for more information.

• THIS IS IT - Summer Planning Extravaganza - Jan 11 Federal Way
• People Parks & Politics "How to Infiltrate Your Government" - Jan 25-26 Olympia
• Aquatic Facility Operator Course - Feb 2-4 Everett
• Athletic/Fitness Section Retreat, February 3-4 Cheney
• National Playground Safety Institute, March 9-11 Mercer Island
• WRPA Annual Conference & Trade Show, April 26-29 Wenatchee

The state Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously appointed State Parks Southwest Region director Don Hoch as the next director of Washington State Parks.  Hoch takes over the position Dec. 1 from retiring director Rex Derr, who served through the end of November.  Before coming to Washington, Hoch was area director of one of the largest county-operated outdoor areas in Georgia, with responsibilities that included human resources, financial and revenue management, employee and visitor safety, natural resources, maintenance, law enforcement and public relations.  More

Timothy Gallagher accepted an offer of employment with Greater Vancouver Regional District (Metro Vancouver) as the head of Parks, Environment and Planning.  The position will oversee regional planning, transportation planning, agriculture planning, air quality management and enforcement, watershed management and regional parks.  The position will focus and be responsible for the environmental sustainability program Metro Vancouver is promoting.

Susan Dolan, the Historical Landscape Architect at Mount Rainier National Park, will receive one of four Appleman-Judd-Lewis Award for excellence in cultural resource management. The Appleman-Judd-Lewis Awards were established in 1970 to recognize National Park Service employees who excel in cultural resource stewardship and management. More

Staying active can help you keep your independence and manage symptoms of illness.  Many seniors fear fitness activities due to chronic health conditions or concerns about injury or falls. Health problems or disabilities may keep you from getting active. Not knowing where to begin or what exercises are right for you can make starting a fitness program challenging.  No matter your age or your current physical condition, you can benefit from exercise.  Exercise is the key to staying strong, energetic and healthy as you get older.  More

What makes a community a desirable place to live? What draws people to stake their future in it? Are communities with more attached residents better off?
Gallup and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation launched the Knight Soul of the Community project in 2008 with these questions in mind. After interviewing close to 43,000 people in 26 communities over three years, the study has found that three main qualities attach people to place: social offerings, such as entertainment venues and places to meet, openness (how welcoming a place is) and the area's aesthetics (its physical beauty and green spaces).  More

NRPA is accepting grant applications for the Parks: Return & Restore program which creates and expands adaptive recreation programs for injured service members and veterans. Grants in the amount of $5,000 to $20,000 will be given and may be used for equipment, training, staffing, and program development.  This grant is funded by the United States Olympic Committee, Paralympics Division.  Applications are due on Tuesday, January 4th. More

Childhood obesity is more than a public health issue, says U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin. It's endangering the country's future work force.  Benjamin was in Nashville recently drawing attention to the problem of childhood obesity. Of Tennessee kids ages 10 to 17, 36.5 percent are overweight or obese, and Tennessee ranks 48th in the general health of its children.  More