May 2017 VRPS Presidents Newsletter

VRPS

The Virginia Recreation and Park Society The Virginia Recreation and Park Society is a private, non-profit professional organization, founded in 1953 and incorporated in 1956.

Its purpose is to unite all professionals, students, and interested lay persons engaged in the field of recreation, parks and other leisure services in the Commonwealth of Virginia, into one body.

President’s Newsletter VRPS Resource Group Highlights

Training Opportunities

Aquatics & Senior Resource Groups

SRG Fall Conference, Sept. 21

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Summer Survival, June 10 CPSI, September 13-15

May 2017

AFO Certification, Oct 25-26 page

October 21-24 page 6

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The VRPS Board of Directors would like to announce the 2017 Executive Board: President - LaTanya Turner, CPRP Vice President - Kirk Kincannon, CPRP Treasurer - Aaron Reidmiller, CPRP Lay Member- Rita Miller Executive Director - Jim Stutts, CPRP, CAE

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LTI Update

NSA Update

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Notes from the President

2017 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards

2017 VRPS Annual Conference

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Board Liasons EVENTS

2017 Annual Conference - LaTanya Turner, CPRP, Jim Stutts CPRP, CAE 2017 Virginia Senior Games - Rita Miller, Jim Stutts CPRP, CAE Special Events Conference - Doug Blount, Bill Sgrinia, CPRP 2018 Leadership Training Institute - Margaret Thorne 2018 Annual Conference - Katey Legg, CPRP

SERVICE AREAS The VRPS Board encourages you to share your GOOD NEWS Central - Aaron Reidmiller, CPRP with us! We want to know and we are listening!

Southwestern - Bill Sgrinia, CPRP

Northern - Blythe Russian

Western - Jane Shelhorse

Eastern - Arlana Fauntleroy, CPRP

The VRPS Board is committed to keeping our members informed RESOURCE GROUPS and engaged, so we would like to take this Aquatic - Blythe Russian Senior - Jane Shelhorse ASK opportunity to invite each member or THE Park Operations & Special Interest Groups - Arlana Fauntleroy, CPRP a potential member to……

BOARD

COMMITTEES

Awards & Citations - Bill Sgrinia , CPRP

Foundation - Jim Stutts CPRP, CAE

Student Initiatives - Lakita Watson, CPRP Legislation - Jim Stutts CPRP, CAE

If there is anything members are not sure of and would like to Professional Education Arlana Fauntleroy, CPRP know please send your ASK THE BOARD information to the 2017 Nominations & Elections - Margaret Thorne Board of Directors via email to board@vrps.com.

Revenue Opportunities & Fee Structures - Blythe Russian page

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Resource Group Highlights Aquatics Resource Group The ARG is off to great things for 2017! Before the world of outdoor pools gets too crazy the ARG has already hosted a Roundtable at the Prince William County Schools Aquatic Center, taught an Aquatic Facility Operators course at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center and met several times to plan out a fantastic fall. We will be having a strong aquatic presence at the 2017 VRPS annual conference, already planning many educational offerings and more importantly awesome socials….networking opportunities. Watch for workshops coming in the fall, and keep an eye out for other exciting opportunities as we reach out around the state to improve aquatic operations and water safety awareness.

Submitted by Sandy Kellogg, Aquatic Operations, MVRC/FCPA

Senior Resource Group

Do you work with Seniors? If so, you should consider joining the Senior Resource Group! This group of professionals share ideas and resources that pertain to working with seniors. They are energetic, organized and fun! They have even developed their own slogan ” L.I.F.E. Living Inspired and Focused= Empowered Professionals” and logo. Right now the group is busy, busy, busy planning their fall conference “Keys to Empowerment.”

Mark your calendar now, for September 21st from 8:30AM – 2:00PM. Held at the Reston Community Center, the conference will highlight some available resources, plus offer an array of topics pertinent to seniors. Registration will begin June 10th and the early bird (by July 17) is only $45 for VRPS members.

You don’t have to wait for September to become involved in the Senior Resource Group. They are always looking for new members! I know, you are thinking “I don’t have time to go to another meeting,” but they meet by conference call, which works great with everyone’s hectic schedule.

Here are the upcoming “meeting” dates you may join before the fall conference:

May 19 – Location TBD

June 16 - Conference call @ 10 a.m.

August 11 – Conference call @ 10 a.m.

September 8 – Conference call

If you want more information, you can email Jane Shelhorse (jcshelhorse@Fredericksburgva.gov) the Board Member liaison for the Senior Resource Group, or contact the group’s dynamo of a Chair, Karen Brutsche.

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Training Opportunities Register now, before these opportunities pass you by!

Certified Playground Safety Inspector Course and Exam September 13-15, 2017 – Leesburg, VA Phone: 804-730-9447

FAX: 804-730-9455

Web: www.vrps.com

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Email: vrps@vrps.com

NEW for 2017!

Park & Recreation Days June 23 – July 31, 2017

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$

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For additional information contact: The Virginia Recreation & Park Society

804-730-9447 • www.vrps.com

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© 2017 Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Intimidator ® 305 takes its name from Dale Earnhardt, “the Intimidator”

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© Peanuts Worldwide LLC, peanuts.com

© 2017 Cedar Fair, L.P. KD17-243

More Training Opportunities

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2017 VRPS Annual Conference

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Leadership Training Institute

2018 Leadership Training Institute Registration Open

Happy Spring! Now I know what you are thinking…..is this “chick” crazy talking about 2018

already? This is a year away! Well…. yes, I am crazy about this career-enhancing leadership opportunity that you do not want to miss!

2018 Leadership

Wintergreen Resort

Training Institute April 15-17, 2018

Whether you are a rookie or veteran professional, you will have a great experience on the mountain – oh you want to know how – well let me tell you…. * Be prepared to Learn and enhance your leadership * Be Transformed by your experience and the many “new friends” you will meet * Be Inspired and motivated to be a leader in our profession and your organization OK, at this point you are thinking you do not know me so these are just words. Good point! This is my challenge to you – go talk to those who have attended this premier Leadership Institute and ask them about their experience and how it has impacted them personally and professionally. Then ask yourself if you are committed to be part of the LTI Class of 2018.

Don’t miss out! Get ready to step outside your comfort zone and be a part of this leadership adventure. I can’t wait to see YOU on the mountain in 2018! contributed by Amy Woodson, 2018 LTI Co-Chair

NSA Update

The Northern Service Area hosted an educational workshop on March 21st at Herndon Community Center. Greg Cronin, an award winning author, staff trainer, program specialist, and camp consultant with over 30 years of management experience presented to 23 attendees.

The morning session: Add Super to Your Vision covered the very important topic of staff supervision. We learned about Management style Communication skills, QTIP, First impressions and much more. Those that wanted to have a little fun stayed for the afternoon session: Games, Teambuilding, and Time Fillers. In this informative and interactive workshop we learned how to be good facilitators of games and teambuilding activities. Participants received some great ideas to take back and use with staff and campers and of course we had to try out some of the games!

It was an incredibly fun and educational day. Thank you to Greg Cronin for taking time to come and share your knowledge and expertise with other professionals and to Town of Herndon Parks and Recreation for hosting us.

The next Northern Service Area workshop will be held September 27th at Stacy C. Sherwood Center following our meeting. The topic will be Therapeutic Recreation and Inclusion. contributed by Sheri Conrad

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The VRPS Foundation is looking for auction items

Please consider donating a round of golf, a museum visit

or other great local finds!

Then, bid on your favorite items at the 2017 VRPS Annual Conference, while raising money for a great cause!

Email your donation commitment rgsager@hanovercounty.gov

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2017 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards

The James City County Department of Parks and Recreation’s Freedom Park MultiUse Trail received a gold medal for implementation of the 2013 Virginia Outdoors Plan. Planning for the 1.2 mile, paved trail located in the county’s most historically significant park, began with public input meetings and citizen focus groups. The trail provides surrounding neighborhoods and schools opportunities for exercising and connecting with nature. When designed to follow the existing logging road, time and money was saved along with valuable natural habitats. The trail was designed at a slight grade to reduce runoff and control erosion. In addition, stormwater reduction strategies were incorporated into the design. The trail was surveyed for threatened plants and wildlife, and was realigned 700 feet to avoid a threatened plant. Additionally, use of a bike wash station fed with rainwater is encouraged to prevent the spread of invasive species. James City County Parks and Recreation offers educational classes and walks to teach citizens about the ecologically sensitive areas of the park and trail, enhancing the community’s value of environmental stewardship. Mostly, Freedom Park offers opportunities for walking and biking, two of the state’s highest outdoor recreation needs.

The Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards were presented at Environment Virginia, an annual conference at the Virginia Military Institute. Tom Faha, Director of DEQ’s Northern Regional Office in Woodbridge, presented this years’ awards at the conference in Lexington Tuesday, April 4, 2017. Awards were given in four categories: Sustainability, Environmental Project, Land Conservation, and Implementation of the Virginia Outdoors Plan.

This recognition marks the second time awards have been presented to localities meeting the 2013 Virginia Outdoors Plan goals and objectives. This category is important to Environment Virginia attendees because without personal outdoor experiences and opportunities for environmental education, many accomplished professionals, the public, and our elected officials would not prioritize environmental protection.

Five localities were recognized for parks and recreation related projects: Fairfax County Park Authority, James City County, Town of Halifax, City of Suffolk and Roanoke County.

The Fairfax County Park Authority was recognized with a gold medal for an environmental project, the Huntley Meadows Park Wetland Restoration. This recognition marked the first time a parks and recreation department received honors in the environmental project category.

Huntley Meadows Park includes over 1,500 acres located in the county’s Hybla Valley. The largest park in the Fairfax County Park Authority system, Huntley Meadows is home to a historically significant house, forests, meadows, and wetlands. The parks’ wetlands play a vital role in the overall health of the watershed by holding water which keeps river levels stable, helps filter surface water, and absorbs water during storms to prevent flooding. The wetlands at Huntley Meadows were becoming less effective due to the deposition of silt and debris, the colonization of invasive species, and beaver activity. The project’s innovative design allowed resources to be saved and for the regrowth of native plants. The Huntley Meadows Park Wetlands Restoration is a success because of the return of rare species and the growth of stewardship education in the community. The park now hosts educational groups and is enjoyed by the community.

Gold medal winner, Town of Halifax, was recognized for the Banister River BluewayKing’s Bridge Landing Access. The Town of Halifax worked to improve King’s Bridge Landing with the replacement of the iron truss bridge. A key component of this access is a welcoming entrance to the town’s historic courthouse. The replacement of an iron truss bridge as part of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Banister River Route 360 bridge

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replacement project included improvements complementing the town’s historic character. The Town of Halifax worked with numerous organizations including the Dan River Basin Association, local civic groups, and interested citizens to secure VDOT Enhancement Grant Funds for the construction of the improvements. An overlook of the historic river navigation structures now allows river access for a canoe launch. Now part of the Southern Virginia Wild Blueway, the launch was installed by the Roanoke River Basin Association-Upper Reach. As a result of this project, the Town of Halifax is realizing an increase in eco-tourism including water recreation, water sports, and an interest in local scenic areas.

The Sleepy Hole Park Fishing Pier and Canoe and Kayak Launch located in the City of Suffolk received honorable mention for implementation of the Virginia Outdoors Plan. This project provides important access for recreation and water safety courses provided by the park to the citizens of Suffolk. This public access launch site offers scenic views along the Captain John Smith National Historic Water Trail. The project includes conservation education and planting native species along the adjacent river bank. Over 100 volunteers were recruited to enhance the adjacent resource

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protection area buffer along the river. Volunteers planted more than 170 native trees and shrubs to reduce runoff from the park to the Nansemond River. Sleepy Hole Park provides saltwater fishing and water access and supports community goals for healthy living.

Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism received honorable mention for the Explore Park Adventure Plan. Adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway, Explore Park is a 1,100-acre park property with a 99-year lease for operation and management by Roanoke County.

Stakeholder input, including a survey involving over 1,000 citizens, is the cornerstone for the park’s future. Roanoke County will focus on expanding recreation opportunities such as hiking and biking trails, river access, overnight camping, and educational programs. Park development will be based on the park’s unique environmental and cultural history - preserving the park’s natural beauty. As a result of community involvement, Explore Park has become a top priority for regional economic development and tourism.

Contributed by Meghann Quinn and Janit Llewellyn Allen

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