Education Sessions

The education sessions at the 2025 IPRA Conference & Expo offer a dynamic and diverse lineup designed to inspire, inform, and empower park and recreation professionals at every level. With topics ranging from inclusive play design and aquatic risk management to leadership development, community engagement, and innovative programming, these sessions provide actionable insights and fresh perspectives to help attendees tackle real-world challenges. Led by industry experts, thought leaders, and passionate practitioners, each session is a chance to deepen your knowledge, spark new ideas, and connect with peers who are shaping the future of parks and recreation.

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

  • Beyond Accessibility: Spaces for Every Body to Play and Recreate Natalie Mackay, Shannon Columb

  • Creating Engaging School Field Trips Rachel Felling

  • Importance of Aquatic Documentation Christopher Nawracaj, Nicole Drexler

  • Leadership, Organizational, and Cultural Management Essentials James Moore, Jared Moore

  • Future Proofing Your Agency – Building Parks and Recreation Services That Last Matt Eckerle, Philip Parnin, Travis Tranbarger

  • Putting It All Back Together – Your Park After a Disaster Kyndel Craig

  • Being a Naturalist Is Natural Lora Helmick

  • Training the Younger Generation of Professionals: Lessons from Interns Amy Gregg

  • How to Effectively Evaluate Ideas, Proposals, and Opportunities in Parks and Rec James Moore, Jared Moore

  • Collaborating with Local Government to Bring Unique Programming to Your Community Kevin Nuppnau, Natalie O'Hara

  • Creative Strategies to Boost Revenue for Events Katy Cummings, Meghan Mustin

  • Tennis For All: Leveraging USTA Resources for Community Impact Jason Suscha

  • Identifying and Managing Invasive Species in Public & Parks Settings Beau Green

  • Using the Parks Impact Report to Communicate Your Message (Presenter not listed)

  • Parkonomics: Exploring the Economics of Our Shared Public Open Spaces Jonathon Geels

  • Maintenance Practices That Help Our People Andy Kingsley, Kyle Stocks, Sally Pelto-Wheeler, Wil Rettinger

  • Overcoming Challenges in Your Organization and Elevating Your Career James Moore, Jared Moore

  • CapCut Workshop – Improve Your Video Production Skills Peter Brown

  • Every Tree Needs Strong Roots: Financial Planning for Life with a Career in Parks Nathan Kane

  • Program Like a Naturalist: Using Nature to Deepen Connections Siera Stuart

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

  • KEYNOTE – The Power of Kindness Scott Hutcheson

  • Belonging – Is It a Big Deal? Sally Pelto-Wheeler

  • Best Practices for Designing the Ideal Internship Julie Knapp

  • Inclusive Play Matters: Evidence-Based Design Best Practices for Play and Recreation Destinations Anthony Iracki, Ron Blake

  • Low Maintenance Sponsorship for Big Projects Nathan Kane

  • Outdoor Playgrounds and Fitness Spaces as Community Infrastructure Suzanne Quinn

  • Parkonomics: Part 2 Jonathon Geels

  • Parks & WRECKS: Lessons Learned Emily Trisler, Kara Mackey

  • Easy Marketing Wins: Build Your Story Engine Caleb Poer

  • Introduction to Mindful Birding Michelle Morton

  • Aquatic Center Revenue and Where You Might Be Missing Out Nathan Kane

  • Be in the Know – Rules and Regulations That Govern the Employment of Workers Under Age 18 Lacey Houle

  • Developing New Programs and Services That Are More Likely to Stick Bobbi Nance

  • More Than a Playground: Positioning Parks and Recreation as a Core Economic Development Strategy Jonathan Blake

  • Streams and Strolls: Designing Tomorrow's Blueways Trails Deb Schmucker

  • Operation VIP (Veterans in Parks) Brad Harper

  • CAPRA Accreditation Demystified: What It Is and Why It Matters Austin Hochstetler, Leslie Brinson

  • Biohacking Leadership Scott Hutcheson

  • Exploring Park Use Along a Socioeconomic Gradient: An Observational Study of Urban Greenspaces Esther Ayeni

  • Mindfulness Hiking/Forest Bathing Guide Mini Training Blair McKissock

  • New ADA Requirements, Their Impact, and GIS Collaborations with Parks Jasmine Hazelbaker, Joan Keene

  • Parks as a Catalyst for Community Growth and Development – Legal Considerations and Beyond Dan Shackle, Scott Krapf

Thursday, November 13, 2025

  • Building Champions: Leveraging Advocacy and Elected Relationships to Advance Parks and Recreation Jonathan Blake

  • 70 Programs in 70 Minutes – Part 1 Bill Ream

  • Protecting Amenities Without Compromising Experience: How AI Is Powering the Future of Parks Chris Gilbert

  • ADA Compliance Update Jennifer Skulski

  • Baby Boomers to Zoomers: The New Digital Age Jeff Goldberg

  • Beyond the Surface: Aquatic Risk Management & Compliance Readiness Michael McGarr

  • Innovations for Park/Trail Maintenance and Combatting Invasive Species Ashley Hitt, Chandler Bryant, Sarah Brenneman, Travis Cole

  • Say More Without Saying More Bobbi Nance

  • 70 Programs in 70 Minutes – Part 2 Bill Ream

  • Building Along the Banks: Delivering Resilient Recreation Facilities Adjacent to Waterways Bryan Grotz, Chip Orner, Kyle Lueken, Phil Cornelius

  • Resilient by Design: Leveraging Your Parks Master Plans to Cultivate Community Resilience Mark Beer, Ryan Cambridge

  • The Power of Partnership: Planning, Funding, and Designing Sheets Family Park Carmyn Hottell, Eric Yoder, Josh Barkley, Nathan Deig

  • When Projects Go Sideways: Lessons Learned from Our Bicentennial Gateway Project