Local park and recreation agencies play a vital role in the protection of the environment through green infrastructure, conservation of public lands, providing wildlife habitat and more. That’s why we’ve put together a list of some of the stellar conservation-focused education sessions offered at the NRPA Annual Conference this year. To help you plan, here are some of our attention-grabbing sessions that are sure to inspire ideas you can bring back home with you!

If you’re looking to grow relationships what will further your conservation work, check out our sessions focused on finding, creating, and strengthening partnership opportunities.

• Green Schoolyards Meet Health and Shared-Use Opportunities for Partnerships
  Tuesday, September 25 | 2:35 PM - 4:50 PM | Room: 144
  Many cities are looking to add more park space through shared-use agreements with school districts so that their residents have parks within a 10-minute walk. Participants will hear how a park department and child health nonprofit came to engage in green schoolyard programs in Grand Rapids and Chicago.

• How to Make the Most of Interagency Water Partnerships
  Thursday, September 27, 2018 | 9:45 AM - 11:00 AM | Room: 116/117
  As predominant land owners within communities, parks and recreation play an integral role in protecting our country's water resources and providing water education and recreation opportunities to the public. The session will discuss how municipal park and recreation leaders can work with water utilities to integrate nature-based solutions and elevate the role that parks play in improving water quality and creating resilient communities.

• Partnering with Land Trusts
  Thursday, September 27, 2018: 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM |Room: Wabash 3
  Learn how park and recreation agencies and land trusts are working together to protect land, engage their community and ensure that local conservation goals reflect the needs and culture of a diverse public.
  
  

Learn how to create more sustainable communities with these sessions:

• Support your Stormwater Management Goals with the National Green Infrastructure Certification (NGICP)
  Wednesday, September 26 | 4:15 PM - 5:30 PM | Room: 144
  This session will overview the NGICP, a national program aimed at creating a pool of credentialed field workers that possess the foundational knowledge to properly build, inspect and maintain green infrastructure stormwater practices. Participants will hear about an upcoming NRPA-funded opportunity to participate in the training and how a variety of different utilities and municipalities are using the NGICP to support their stormwater management and green infrastructure programs.

• How to use the Vibrant Cities Lab Website to Build an Effective Urban Forestry Program
  Thursday, September 27 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 | Room: 144
  A city’s trees, vegetation, and water are just as important as its roads, pipes, and power lines. In this session, participants will hear about the Vibrant Cities Lab, a free hub that merges the latest research with best practices and is designed to help practitioners incorporate urban forestry expertise into their objectives.

• The Power of Partnerships in Green Infrastructure Stormwater Management
  Tuesday, September 25 | 4:10 PM - 5:25 PM | Room: 140
  Partnerships around green stormwater infrastructure projects in parks can help to maximize the co-benefits that these projects provide to surrounding communities. This session will highlight three successful collaborations around green infrastructure projects between park agencies and their partners.
  
  

We all know how tiring it can be being stuck inside or sitting all day, so check out these conservation themed interactive sessions or mobile education opportunities to spice up your day! As a reminder, these sessions are not included with conference registration. To sign-up, please select the sessions during the conference registration process or go back and add it to your schedule by logging into the registration site.

• Mobile Workshop: Connecting People to the White River Through Riverside Park
  Tuesday, September 25 | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Off Site
  With development pressures, changing trends and budget challenges, communities are often disconnected from their local waterways. Learn about Riverside Park’s master planning process with an emphasis on restoring the White River, including promoting stewardship and appreciation for the river through recreational opportunities for residents. Join our adventure to envision the future Riverside Park through a leisurely bike ride and float down the river.

• Building Community Resilience in the Face of Disaster – The Extreme Event Game
  Session 1: Thursday, September 27, 2018 | 9:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Room: 145
  Session 2: Thursday, September 27, 2018 | 1:30 PM - 3:45 PM| Room: 145
  Cross-sector collaboration is critical for both resiliency planning and post-disaster recovery. During this interactive role-playing game, participants will get a taste of what it takes to build community resilience in the face of a natural disaster taking on the role of various community stakeholders. Players will work together to make decisions and solve problems during an engaging, fast-paced simulation.
  There is a $10 fee to participate in this session. To sign up, please select it during the conference registration process or go back and add it on by logging into the registration site.
  
  

We can’t wait to see you in Indy at these great sessions (and more)!

Michele White is NRPA's Program Manager.