Education Sessions

Wednesday, November 4, 2026

• Mastering the Art of Persuasion—From Team Huddle to Town Hall - James Moore, Jared Moore

• Conference Kickoff: Making the Most of IPRA - Parker Irwin, Clinton Chamberlin, Allison Reed

• Jobsite safety: keeping residents and construction personnel safe - Bruce Molter, Jacob Becker, Zak Trowbridge

• A Playground Powered by Community - Adam Barnes, Alan Rosenwinkel

• From Tantrums to Triumphs: What Every Parks and Recreation Professional Should Know About Child Development - Katie Herron

• Morning Practices to Help You Feel Kicka** - Sally Pelto-Wheeler

• Creating Vibrant Trail Experiences - Alysia Larson, Andy Chapman, Hannah Baxendale, Phillip Arden

• Small Staff, Big Strategy - Dustin Kleefisch

• Parks as Economic Engines: Driving Talent, Investment, and Community Growth - Jonathan Blake

• Student Panel: Winning Strategies for Recruiting and Retaining Seasonal, Part-Time Staff, and Interns - Julie Knapp

• Water Management for Splashpads: How to choose. - Lisa d'Entremont

• Leading Beyond Your Style: The Power of Adaptive Communication - Mayra Presley

• Being a Naturalist is Natural -Lora Helmick

• More Than ChatGPT: How AI Help Rec Departments Deliver Exceptional Experiences - Chris DesRoches

• Nature Play by Design: Creating Engaging, Affordable Play Experiences with Natural Materials - Amy Hayes, Cecil Penland, Leslie Witkowski

• Small Agency, Big Impact: Fundraising That Fits - Meghan Mustin

• Building Smarter Parks with BOT (Build Operate Transfer) - Bruce Molter, Greg Martz

• So You want be a Parks Professional - Things They Don't Teach You in College - Allison Reed, Clinton Chamberlin, Parker Irwin

• Renovating Aquatic Facilities: Practical Strategies for Modernization, Safety, and Guest Experience - Adam Janesz, Kilie Smith, Tommy Freeborn

• Priced-right Parks that Perform: Revamping Neighborhood Parks with Personality - Catherine Puckett, Fawn Johnson, Kyle Lueken

• Right-Sized Recreation: Designing for Real Needs, Not Headlines - Madison Bell

• Ready to Respond: Emergency Procedures + Safety Strategies for Parks + Recreation Professionals - Angie Wolfram, Jennifer Brown, John Lampe

• Save Time and Money with Native Plants - Charlie Elliott

• Small Department IPRA Board Session -

Thursday, November 5, 2026

• KEYNOTE – Healthy Community Builders: Why People – And Parks – Change Lives - Julie Jones

• How Hard Are Your Program Spaces Working? Using Data to Improve Your Return on Investment - Leon Younger, Travis Transbarger

• Accelerating Your Career in Parks & Recreation - Allison Reed, Clinton Chamberlin, Parker Irwin

• Beyond the Playground: Designing public spaces that genuinely attract and retain teens. - Eric Tomeo

• The Parks and Play Lightning Lab - Featuring 15 Studies that Made an Impact on Play & How You Can Use Them! - Clay Chafin, Kristy Anderson

• STEM from Here: Growing Future Educators in Parks - Emily Trisler, Kara Mackey

• Digital Tools and Trends Shaping Parks and Rec Marketing - Pete Brown

• Leveraging Private Funding for Habitat Restoration in Indiana Parks - Heather Bobich

• Suburban Future, Rural Past: Accommodating Growth and Preserving Heritage Through Park Design - Caleb Ernest, Jacob Lafever

• Parks Pricing Strategies: Community Good vs Cost Recovery - Nathan Kane

• Why Playground Projects Fail: It’s Usually Decided Before Install - Nicolas Breedlove

• Show Me the Money: Sponsorships and Fundraising for Parks and Recreation - Emily Buuck

• More than a Vendor: Stop Selling. Start Collaborating - Philip Cornelius, Sally Pelto-Wheeler

• Big Fun, Small Budget: Ideas Under $100 - Clinton Chamberlin

• Design and Communication Essentials Using AI for non-Marketing Professionals Promoting Recreational Programs - James Moore, Jared Moore

• Echo Hollow Nature Park: Expanding a Local Nature Park to a Regional Destination - Matt Woolard, Ryan King

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

• Turn Your Playground Dreams into Reality: A Guide to Fundraising + Grants Q&A - Jenny Cash

• Is your Aquatic Center Financially Efficient? - Nathan Kane

• Growing More Than Volunteers: Building a Culture of Service in Parks & Recreation - Amber Lane, Riley Kuhns

• These Babies Are Booming: Tapping Into the Toddler Market - Emily Trisler, Kara Mackey

• Who's Got This? Building Strong Partnerships for Safer Community Events - Jennifer Esterline

• Data-Driven Trails: Measuring and Communicating the Impact of Trails—and a Preview of the 2027 Indiana Study - Clay Chafin, Kristy Anderson

• Small Team, Big Impact: Aligning People, Process, and Purpose - Madison Henderson, Will Lacey

Friday, November 6, 2026

• Leading From The Deep End: Lessons In Calm Leadership From The Pool Deck - Ryan Harrison

• Accessible Play: Bringing Inclusive Sports to Parks & Recreation - Lauren Peterson, Michelle Kimpel

• Sponsorships - Starting from Scratch - Nathan Kane

• Building for Every Generation: Designing, Operating & Maintaining a Multi-Generational Recreation Center - Frank Parisi, Leon Younger

• Beyond the Park: Turning Community Resources into Real Partners - Clinton Chamberlin

• Beyond Security - How AI Cloud Surveillance and Access are transforming Parks and Public Spaces - Chris Gilbert

• Marketing for small depts on a small budget - Pete Brown

• Being Intentional Gets It Built: Managing Outcomes, Trade-Offs, and Operational Risk - Leon Younger, Philip Parnin

• Building Community Through Events of Every Size - Kelli Austin, Olivia Sanchez, Demetrius Kennedy

• Lessons from Leadership: Navigating Transitions That Shape Parks and People - Andre Denman, Chris McConnell, Sarah Evans

• Your Skatepark Can Be Adaptive Inclusive! - Miki Vuckovich

• From Inspections to Intelligence: Closing the Playground Safety Gap - Jared Darlington

• Remodeling a Leathers Playground - Ashley Crady, Jason Keeney