PRPS Weekly News

We wish all of our friends and members a safe and happy holiday. Thank you for your continued support to PRPS. The PRPS Office will be closed on Wednesday, December 25, and Wednesday, January 1.

Conference Information

67th Annual State Conference

March 22-26, 2014

Seven Springs Mountain Resort

Here are a few session highlights:

First Lady Obama's "Let's Move!" Campaign
Awesome Apps and Cool Tools Every Park and Rec. Pro Needs to Know
Four Step to Improve Youth Sports Coaching
Green Your Parks: Stories From the Field
Surviving the Dreaded Deposition
Building Partnerships for Successful Urban Park Forestry
Park Rehabilitation: From Conception to Completion
Accessible Trails: Universal Access and Recreation for Everyone
Grants - You Want One...I've Got One! Here's What You Need to Do

For more conference details and pricing, click here.

Early Bird Discount:

Full Conference Discount for PRPS members =$285

($40.00 off regular price!) 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.

Call for Proposals - Therapeutic Recreation Institute

Deadline is December 31, 2013

46th Annual TRI

Circle of Life

June 4-6, 2014

Double Tree Resort, Lancaster, PA

For the TRI session proposal form, click here.

For information on exhibiting at the 2014 TRI, click here.

Therapeutic Recreation

Ann Eubank, VP of Community Initiatives, UsersFirst

Rehab Therapy

On January 1, 2004, Congress may "cap" or limit the amount of money that can be used for therapy - like it's not low enough already. So Congress has less than 30 days to fix critical therapy care for people with disabilities.

We all want healthcare costs to come down, but not on the backs of people with disabilities. Many Americans with complex diagnosis like quadriplegia, paraplegia, Parkinson's cerebral palsy, ALS, and multiple sclerosis, are sure to benefit greatly from ongoing therapy.

Don't let Congress mess this up. Click here to tell your Representatives and Senators to stop Medicare from cutting rehab therapy services.

District News

DIII Ski & Snowboarding Socials/Meetings

Shawnee Mountain - Wednesday, January 11

Blue Mountain - Tuesday, February 11

Jack Frost Mountain - Tuesday, February 25

For more information and to register click here.

DII Ski Social

Roundtop Mountain - Wednesday, February 19

Click here for the flyer and to register.

PRPS Recognition and

Awards Program

Our awards program has been revamped for 2014. Click here to see the revised awards and criteria, as well as our new, simplified nomination form.

Nominations are due January 31, 2014.

Student Scholarships

The Larry G. Williamson, Robert Crawford Memorial, Delores Andy, and John H. Jones Memorial Scholarships are generously contributed funds allowing four student to attend the PA Recreation & Park Society's 67th Annual State Conference free of charge.

To download the scholarship qualifications and applications, click here.

The filing deadline is February 28, 2014.

DCNR Training

DCNR new logo

DCNR Grant Workshops for Recreation and Conservation Projects

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Bureau of Recreation and Conservation 2014 grant program for public recreation and conservation projects opens Jan. 15, 2014 and ends April 16, 2014. In partnership with the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society, DCNR is offering free, in-person grant workshops at six locations across Pennsylvania in February.

Camp Hill - February 5 Conshocken - February 6

Nanticoke - February 19 Boalsburg - February 20

Wexford - February 25 Clarion - February 26

Click here for more information or to register. Pre-registration is required. For questions about these events, contact Linda Manning at linmanning@pa.gov or call (717) 783-4736.

Online Sustainable Park Design Tool

Is your community interested in saving park maintenance and energy costs; or would you like to learn how your park can reduce stormwater impacts? If so, check out Pennsylvania's Interactive Sustainable Park Design Model which can be found here. This online tool presents opportunities that communities and organizations can use to protect and enhance natural resources, save energy and maintenance costs, improve water quality, connect people to nature, as well as other practices to enhance our public spaces for the benefit of society and the environment.

Any questions, please call Ashley Rebert, DCNR, at 717-772-3322.