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 Don't wait to Register!
To avoid cancellation, we need 40 registrations by 10/31.
Certified Playground Safety Inspector Course and Exam
The Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) provides the credentials to inspect playgrounds for safety, ensuring that each playground meets the current national standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Learn more here, and register online now.
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District News
District  III Recreation Program Mini Expo
Looking to start some new programs? Want to try somewhere new for a summer camp trip? Click here to find out more information and to register.
Friday, December 13
9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Horsham, PA
Members $10 Non-Members: $15
After the expo, you are welcome to attend the Holiday Social at Horsham Pub from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm. The fee is $20 per person.
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Conference Update
67th Annual State Conference
March 22-26, 2014
Seven Springs Mountain Resort
Full Conference Fees
$325 Member
$425 non member
For more conference details and pricing, click here.
Early Bird Discount Details
Discounted full conference rate of $285 applies to PRPS members only. All other pricing options are excluded. Payment must be made in full by January 31, 2014 to qualify.
Exhibit Information
If you are interested in exhibiting at the conference, click here for more information.
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 Member Discounts
The winter season is quickly approaching.
Look for more information on the discounted ski tickets coming soon! If you have any questions, or are interested in participating in our community service discount ski ticket sales program, please contact Tracy at trobert@prps.org.
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Advertising Opportunities
If you are interested in advertising in the PRPS 67th Annual Conference Registration Guide, please contact Emily Schnellbaugh at eschnellbaugh@prps.org or (814) 234-4272. The advertising deadline is October 31, 2013. The conference registration guide will be coming out in November.
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DCNR Update
The Pennsylvania Trail Design & Development Principles: Guidelines for Sustainable, Non-motorized Trails publication is now available for free downloading from the DCNR Bureau of Recreation and Conservation's website. Prepared by Pashek Associates, this book provides statewide guidelines to encourage uniform trail construction, maintenance and signage. It also gives best practices to ensure continued maintenance and future sustainability of trails and related facilities.
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PA Therapeutic Recreation Society News - Reminder!
by Anne Wieland, CTRS, MHA
RT Licensure in Pennsylvania
There are over 700 "certified" Recreational Therapists (RTs) in Pennsylvania. Although certification ensures that basic competency of skills are met, it doesn't protect the public from harm. In the eyes of the law, "certification" is optional. This means that individuals who are not certified as a CTRS are still allowed to practice. In order to prohibit people who are not certified from practicing (and subsequently reducing the risk of harm to citizens), RT needs to be licensed.
Utah, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and New Hampshire have RT licensure and many other states (e.g., New York) have developed RT licensure bills that are under review. Both NCTRC and ATRA support RT licensure and are providing licensure help to states. An "RT Licensure Coordinator" has been identified in every state to lead the effort for their state. In Pennsylvania, Dr. Heather Porter at Temple University is the RT Licensure Coordinator. Under her direction, an RT Licensure Committee for PA was formed and the committee is working hard to move this agenda forward.
What we need YOU to do:
- Fill this survey: If you are a CTRS who lives in Pennsylvania, complete the RT Licensure Survey here.
- Sign the petition: Go here and electronically sign the petition for RT Licensure in PA. It only takes about 30 seconds to do this. Then, send this link to all of the people on your contact lists (family, friends, co-workers, Facebook friends and colleagues) and ask them to sign the petition. Politicians will not support this bill unless they hear from the people that this is wanted. Every time someone signs this petition ALL of the PA Senators and Representatives will receive an automatic email alerting them that another person has signed the petition. WE NEED LOTS OF SIGNATURES! THIS IS IMPORTANT!
- Send an email to Rep. Sabatina: Representative John Sabatina has already stepped up in support of RT licensure in PA and has requested a bill to be drafted. Send an email to Rep. John Sabatina simply saying "thank you for supporting RT licensure in PA" (jsabatina@pahouse.net). THIS IS IMPORTANT! The more words of "thanks" he hears, the harder he will work for us.
- Join the RT Licensure email list: Send Dr. Porter an email at hporter@temple.edu indicating that you would like to be periodically updated about RT licensure in PA (indicate your full name and preferred email address in the body of the email). Your name will then be added to the RT Licensure Update email list.
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PRPS Training
FREE Webinar
Get Outdoors PA: Discover Hidden Benefits!
Audience: Park & recreation organizations and land trusts interested in becoming Get Outdoors PA Community Partners and existing Get Outdoors PA Community Partners.
November 7, 2013
10:00 am - 10:15 am
As a Get Outdoors PA Community Partner, you have access to a lot of great materials. If you are a Partner, or are interested in becoming one, Participate in this brief webinar to learn how to use the public and private (Community Partner Only) sections of the Get Outdoors PA website, www.getoutdoorspa.org. When you utilize all of the newly created Get Outdoors PA tools, you will enhance your programs! Please join us!
Click here to register for the webinar!
(login information will be forthcoming)
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Certified Playgrou nd Safety Inspector Course
December 2-4, 2013 - Greater Plymouth Community Center, Plymouth Meeting
Register online here.
For the brochure, click here.
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Other Training
Register now for the last free webinar, this Saturday.
DCNR Fall Webinar Series
Community Parks and Recreation Board Fall Webinar Series
DCNR is offering free Saturday morning webinars in October. Tailored to the needs and responsibilities of local recreation and park boards and commissions, the webinars are open to anyone who has an interest in learning the roles and responsibilities of boards and commissions, as well as financing municipal parks and recreation. All webinars will be conducted on Saturday mornings from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
October 26, 2013: Master Your Budget (Part 2)
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Community Conservation Partnerships Grant Program Webinar
Funding Opportunities for Recreation and Conservation Projects
November 14, 2013
This webinar is FREE and designed for new applicants interested in obtaining grant funding for public recreation and conservation projects from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' (DCNR) Bureau of Recreation and Conservation grant program and the new Greenways, Trails and Recreation grant program managed by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development's (DCED).
This webinar will provide a general overview of both grant programs, eligible types of projects and applicants, matching fund requirements, and strategies on how to create a "ready-to-go" competitive grant application. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions about each grant program.
Click here for more information or to register.
For questions about these events, contact Linda Manning at linmanning@pa.gov or call (717) 783-4736.
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