PRPS Weekly News

Playground Safety Award -

Final deadline is on Monday!

Purpose of the Award: To recognize public park agencies that have established outstanding playground safety programs.

The deadline for the Playground Safety Award has been extended to February 24, 2014. Click here for award criteria and application.

Conference Information

March 22-26, 2014

67th Annual State Conference

Seven Springs Mountain Resort

New for this year, we will offer a Closing Session on Wednesday, March 26 from 8:45 am - 10:00 am. The speaker is Christopher Ridenhour, Director of Employee Engagement, from Liberty Lutheran. Christopher provokes audiences to consider how to interpersonal relationships impact our Customer Service and/or Cultural Change initiatives.

Life At the Attitude Adjustment Center

The most recent stress studies indicate that 24% of adults identify their stress levels as severe - and over half report moderate to high. Further, family practitioners report that 66% of doctor visits are for stress-related symptoms such as headache, neck pain, irritability, fatigue, and sleeplessness. Every one of our thoughts generates physiological changes that contribute to negative responses to stress. With over10,000 moments of decision each day, our ability to stay positive and optimistic can create a new less-stressful reality with our colleagues and residents. This is the perfect session for anyone seeking to reconnect with the young, energetic, and optimistic professional they used to be.

For the more information on our conference, click here.

Click here to register online! Registration is available online or call the PRPS office at 814-234-4272.

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PRPS Conference Photos Reminder

If you have any photos for our conference slide show, presented by Park Bench Productions, please send to Chris Lessig at c.lessig62@gmail.com.

We would love to see some before-and-after photos or anything that represents going "Back to the Future."

Student Scholarships Available -

Hurry, you don't want to miss this opportunity to attend our conference for FREE.

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

To download scholarship qualifications and applications, click here.

The filing deadline is February 28, 2014.

DCNR Grant Workshops -

We only have two workshops left. Register now!

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 January 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.

These workshops will provide in-depth information on projects eligible for DCNR's grant funds, how to develop competitive "ready-to-go" applications, eligible applicants, and matching fund requirements. Participants will also receive guidance and updates on the eGrants application process and have an opportunity to interact with Bureau staff.

Wexford - February 25

Clarion - February 26

For those who registered for the February 5 workshop that was cancelled due to weather, please attend a webinar covering the same information on Wednesday, March 5, from 10-11:30 AM.

To register for the workshops or webinar, click here.

New DCNR Grant Webinars

Assembling a Competitive Partnerships Program Grant Application

This webinar is for any organization wishing to submit a PA DCNR Partnerships Program Application in 2014. It will be held on Friday, March 7 from 10:00 am until 11:30 am.

During this session we will provide an overview of PA DCNR's Partnerships Grant Program and steps applicants can take to prepare a competitive 2014 grant application. Time will be spent discussing the grant application and required supplementary documentation.

No pre-registration is required. Participants should follow these instructions to join the online meeting: (Now available from mobile devices!)
1. Click here to register.

2. If requested, enter your name and email address.
3. If a password is required, enter the meeting password: Part14
4. Click "Join."
To gain audio, provide your phone number when you join the meeting. The system will call you back.

To join by phone only (not preferred), call the number below and enter the access code.
Call-in toll-free number: 1-877-668-4493

Access code:640 223 852

Partnerships Project Administration
This webinar is for organizations with open Partnerships Project contracts. Potential program applicants on Friday, March 21, 2014 from 10:00 am to 11:30 am.

During this session we will review Partnerships Program administration policies and procedures. We will discuss administrative responsibilities of both the grantee and the state. We will discuss how to find and properly fill out payment request forms. Mini-grant program administration will also be covered. We will also cover how best to communicate with and submit forms to your Bureau Project Manager.

No pre-registration is required. Participants should follow these instructions to join the online meeting:

To join the online meeting
1. Click here to register.
2. If requested, enter your name and email address.
3. If a password is required, enter the meeting password: Part2014
4. Click "Join".
To gain audio, provide your phone number when you join the meeting. The system will call you back.

To join by phone only (not preferred), call the number below and enter the access code.
Call-in toll-free number: 1-877-668-4493
Access code:644 694 853

Therapeutic Recreation Workshops

Dementia Taskforce Workshop:

A Practical Guide for Planning and Programming for Persons with Dementia

.6 CEUs available

Each workshop will cover a wide range of information, from disease process to programming and care planning for patients.

This workshop is ideal for anyone dealing with dementia patients on a casual or daily basis.

March 3, 2014 (This workshop is only on March 3. There was an error in our brochure.)

Norcom Community Center, Philadelphia, PA

March 6, 2014

Masonic Village at Sewickley, Sewickley, PA

For more details or to register online, visit our website at www.prps.org.

PRPS Trainings, District Events, and Other Training

For the full PRPS Training Update, click here.

District III

Ski and Snowboarding Socials/Meetings

February 25, 2014 - Jack Frost Mountain

For more information, click here.

District II Annual Business Meeting and Workshop

March 12, 2014 - York College of PA

Weinstock Lecture Hall, Willman Business Center

Click here for the brochure.

Online registration will be available tomorrow on the PRPS website.

Swimming Pool Re-Certification

March 22, 2014 - Seven Springs Mountain Resort

April 15, 2014 - PRPS Office

April 28, 2014 - Greater Plymouth Community Center

Swimming Pool Management 101

April 8, 2014 - PRPS Office

April 9, 2014 - Greater Plymouth Community Center

Department of Agriculture Pesticide Exam

April 9, 2014 - PRPS Office

April 10, 2014 - Greater Plymouth Community Center

Certified Playground Safety Inspector Course

May 12-14, 2014 - Cranberry Township Municipal Center

For a list of other training outside of PRPS, click here.

Webinar

I'm a Get Outdoors PA Community Partner - Now What?

March 13, 2014

10:00-10:30 am

Cost: Free

If you're a Get Outdoors PA Community Partner looking for guidance, this is the perfect webinar for you! Receive concrete recommendations on how to enhance your current programs, market those offerings and more! Spend 30 minutes with us and you'll leave with specific steps for the enrichment of your programs, we will take the abstract to exact-register now by clicking here.

Audience: Get Outdoors PA Community Partners

Grant Opportunities Available

Below are several grant opportunities offered by various organizations that could support your organization in making healthy eating and physical activity choices.

National Recreation and Park Association
Deadline: March 6, 2014
Grant funds are now available to support children's health through park and recreation out-of-school time programs. These one-year grants are expected to range from $25,000 to $35,000. Additional in-kind nutrition literacy materials valued at $10,000 will also be provided to each grantee.

Champions for Healthy Kids
Deadline: March 15, 2014
Through the Champions for Healthy Kids program, the General Mills Foundation will award 50 grants to nonprofit organizations working to improve nutrition and physical fitness behaviors for youth.

Partnership for Better Health Grants
Deadline: Rolling
The Partnerships funding priorities include promoting healthy lifestyles and enhancing access to quality health care. They seek to foster a variety of nutrition, physical activity and tobacco cessation programs, policies and systems. These grants promote healthy community design, and champion programs and services to ensure healthy youth development.

Walmart's Community Grant Program
Deadline: December 31, 2014
Walmart's Community Grant Program makes grants of $250 to $2500 available for hunger relief and healthy eating programs. Many local organizations, inluding schools, are eligible to apply.

SAVE THE DATE - 46th Annual TRI

46th Annual TRI

Circle of Life

June 4-6, 2014

Double Tree Resort, Lancaster, PA

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