Like us on Facebook
                      
                           
PA Recreation and Park Society
   PRPS Weekly News
Economic Impact of Local and Regional Parks in PA
      
The Nation's local and regional parks create nearly $140 billion in economic activity per year and support almost 1 million jobs in the United States!
 
In Pennsylvania alone, operations and capital spending at local and regional parks in 2013 created $1,628,999,305 (that's $1.6 Billion!) in economic activity and supported 12,480 jobs in the state.
 
Learn more and share the good news: http://www.nrpa.org/parkeconreport-state-charts/

Fall Membership Meeting
Co-Sponsored by George Ely Associates Inc., and Mid-Atlantic Products, Inc.
      
Approximately 70 of us gathered yesterday at the Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union headquarters in Harrisburg. We learned how to apply and extend the new statewide branding and marketing campaign, Good for You/Good For All in our local departments (www.GoodForPA.com). We also learned how to prevent identity theft in a session from PSECU's financial literacy program.
 
Besides advancing Member and Board business, our attendees also enjoyed networking during lunch while conducting Branch, District and Committee meetings. It was a very good and productive day for all!

red-award-banner.gif
Presenting the PRPS Recognition & Awards Program for 2016!

The Recognition and Awards Committee of your Society has created an opportunity to recognize those individuals, organizations and programs throughout Pennsylvania that are outstanding because of their leadership, creativity, and professionalism. Heroes in the field of recreation and parks will be honored at the Awards Banquet at the PRPS Annual Conference in March 2016. 

Nominations are welcome from ALL Society members, branches, and districts in the following categories. 
  • Outstanding Achievement Award in Honor of Fred Coombs
  • PRPS Distinguished Member Award in Honor of Robert D. Griffith
  • Outstanding New Professional Award
  • Agency of the Year Award*
  • Community Champion Award
  • Excellence in Recreation and Parks
All nominations must be submitted by January 15, 2016.
 
*The Agency of the Year Award is a new category for 2016.  This award will recognize exemplary accomplishments in positioning parks and recreation as an essential public service. The municipal park, recreation and/or therapeutic and leisure service agency to be honored can be from anywhere in Pennsylvania regardless of size or level of resources. 

More information on the 2016 Awards Program and links to the nomination forms can be found at http://prps.org/development/development-awards.html 
 
Do not delay.....submit your nominations today!
Choose the 2016 Trail of the Year
Deadline is November 27, 2015

null Think your trail is one of the best in the state? Submit a nomination to the Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee's 2016 Trail of the Year Contest There isn't much time left. The Trail of the Year will be announced in early 2016.
 
For more information on the nomination process or on Pennsylvania trails, visit www.explorePAtrails.com and choose the 2016 Trail of the Year slide.
Conference News - Attention Students
by Rob Lewis, PR Committee, PRPS Conference

Your Thanksgiving break is coming up and you know the questions coming your way; "How are your grades?" "How's the food?" "Anything you would like for the Holidays?"  Tired of telling your parents the same ole thing?  So how about this year, you tell them that you really would like to attend the Annual PRPS Conference at Seven Springs on March 13th-16th.  Convince them that this will be a gift that keeps on giving.  Not only will it provide you with valuable educational opportunities, but you will have invaluable opportunity to network with Recreation and Park professionals from all over the state.  This could even lead to internships and possible career placement.  Not only do you get all of that, but you will also have time to recreate on the mountain at Seven Springs Resort, skiing and boarding, plus you will eat really good food!  So don't forget, let your parents know your grades are good, the food is college food, and all you really want for the Holidays is to attend the PRPS Annual Conference. Click here to view the student fees.
District Events

Distict 1 
Challenge Fundraiser
This fundraiser will be held at the PRPS Conference. For more details on this fundraiser, click here

District 2 Winter Workshop    
January 27th, 2016 - York College of PA
8:30 am - 2:30 pm
Agenda: 
  • 9:00 am - 9:45 am District 2: Business Meeting
  • 10:00 am -12:00 pm Session 1: Employee Handbooks, I9's and Personnel Files
  • 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Lunch: Networking Opportunity with Students
  • 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Session 2: Social Media Roundtable
District 3
Recreation Program & Mini Expo
December 11, 2015 - Horsham, PA
Click here for more details and to register.

Ski & Snowboarding Socials/Meeting
January 13, 2016 - Shawnee Mountain
January 27, 2016 - Blue Mountain
February 9, 2016 - Jack Frost Mountain
Click here for more details and to register. 
Webinars on PA Recreation Plan Priorities now available online
DCNR new logo 
The four one-hour webinars that were held in October to provide details on each of the plan's four main priority topics (Health and Wellness, Local Parks, Tourism and Economic Development, and Resource Management and Stewardship) are now available for viewing. The Pennsylvania Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, Natural Connections, lays out a vision to create healthy and liveable communities throughout the state that support jobs that pay and successfully serves the recreation needs of those who live, work, and play in them.
Member Request - Software Programs
   
Spring Township is seeking information about municipal software systems that address all areas of municipal government including Parks and Recreation.
If you have such a system or have any information that would be helpful, please contact Judy Houck at 610-678-5399 or jhouck@springtwpberks.org.
Therapeutic Recreation Institute Call for Proposals
      
The 2016 TRI session proposal form is  available. The proposal submission deadline is January 31, 2016

The Therapeutic Recreation Institute will be held on May 31-June 3, 2016 at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel in Lancaster, PA. The theme is "The VOICE of YOUR Future."

Do Your Elected Leaders Get It?

As community health and wellness leaders, you know how essential parks and recreation are to the nation's health. But how about your elected leaders? Making the case to them about the measurable ways parks create healthy communities can be tricky. NRPA now has a comprehensive solution -- Making the Case: Parks and Health. This dynamic resource has substantive data and tools to help you talk about the health benefits of parks and recreation to the decision-makers, all backed by published research. We've got fact sheets, an infographics library, ready-to-use social media content, testimonials and more. Begin using Making the Case: Parks and Health and strengthen your communications.
Are You a Get Outdoors PA Community Partner? A second Mini-Grant will be available soon!
  
The second Get Outdoors PA Mini-Grant Program will open in early 2016. Grants of $1,500-$3,000 will fund equipment and training related to outdoor programming.  Some match is required.  Applicants must be Get Outdoors PA Community Partners approved in 2015 or earlier and be a local government entity or 501c-3 non-profit. The program is supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. If you're not currently a Community Partner, apply online today!

Upcoming PRPS/PTRS Trainings
November 20 - Beaumont at Bryn Mawr (You can register on-site).

December 2-4 - Celebration Hall, State College
May 3-5, 2016 - Cranberry Township
 
Therapeutic Recreation Fall Workshops (You can register on-site)
November 20 - Managing Behavior in Recreation Therapy, PRPS Office, State College
November 20 - Creating a Positive Vision for Leadership, Beaumont at Bryn Mawr, Bryn Mawr

DCNR Calendar of Events DCNR new logo
For a listing of DCNR events click here.
PA Recreation & Park Society, Inc.
2131 Sandy Drive, State College, PA 16801
814-234-4272