New GOPA Webinar!

Programming to Celebrate National Bike Month in May: Upcoming Webinar Features Experts Offering Helpful Tips and Guidance

Consider offering a program in May to raise awareness for bicycling in honor of National Bike Month. To help you in the process, Get Outdoors PA will host a one-hour webinar with biking and program experts who will discuss basic skills, bike safety, interpretive tours, road and mountain biking and other recreational riding events. This webinar will also review program structure, audience, partnerships, instructors, promotion, gear and follow-up programs. Cost: Free (Continuing education credit available for $5 to $10, purchase when registering) Register here.

Partially funded by a grant from the Environmental Stewardship Fund under the administration of DCNR-Bureau of Rec. & Conservation.

Young Professional Scholarship

One of our members, David Milliren, made a generous contribution to establish the Outstanding Young Professional Scholarship. This scholarship recognizes and supports a young professional by covering $500 of the recipient's expenses to attend the PRPS Conference. Candidates must meet the following requirements:

A Parks and Recreation professional
Working in the field for three years or less

To apply, submit a resume and two letters of recommendation from a professional supervisor or colleague to trobert@prps.org.

Student Honor Award

A college student majoring in some facet of the field of recreation and parks will be recognized for outstanding, consistent contributions or leadership. Candidates for the Student Honor Award must meet the following criteria:

1. PRPS membership is not required

2. must be a full-time student (undergrad or grad level)

3. contributed to the field in one or more of the following

demonstrated leadership by initiating, developing and/or carrying out an innovative program among fellow majors or for a leisure agency
made an outstanding original contribution to the field through research, a novel approach to traditional methods or donation of other resource(s)
exhibited boundless energy and service as a volunteer or during the internship or practicum experience
served to advance the objectives and purposes of a park and recreation association on the local, state and/or national level

To apply, submit a letter of recommendation from faculty along with transcripts to trobert@prps.org.

Greenways & Trails Summit: RFP

PRPS and DCNR are currently seeking a host for the 2017 Greenways and Trails Summit. Proposals are being accepted from viable organizations interested in hosting the event. The selected host will work actively with PRPS and DCNR to determine the Summit's details. Review the 2017 Greenways and Trails Summit Request for Proposal for Host to obtain all proposal details.

The deadline for proposals is April 22, 2016. Submit to Emily Gates, Grants and Training Coordinator.

D1 Poker Prizes Reminder

It is that time of year again, and D1 is searching for some prizes for the Poker Tournament. Any and all donations are accepted. You can contact your vendors, or look around the office. All proceeds from the tournament go directly to PRPS. The tournament takes place Monday after the last session. If you have any questions or donations, contact Dave Hutner. Click here to download the flyer.

Nature Play Areas Request

DCNR is seeking photo examples of Nature Play Areas in public parks (large or small) for a presentation at the PRPS Annual Conference in Somerset and for a future magazine article. Nature Play Areas are unstructured experiences in a playscape with the look and feel of the natural environment. These natural and manmade playscapes, designed with the intent of bringing children and families back to nature, offer a wide range of open-ended play options that allow everyone to be creative and use their imagination. Please forward your photos to Cindy Dunlap cydunlap@pa.gov by Thursday, February 18.