Peer Learning Opportunity for Environmental Sustainability

Parks across the country are striving to meet the needs of their local communities while navigating unique and ever-changing environmental circumstances. NRPA is offering a 16-week immersive, cohort-style program for park professionals with a vested interest in equitable environmental resilience that are ready to take the next step or not sure where to begin.

Park agencies are invited to apply alongside a partner community-based organization to increase their knowledge, understanding and application of environmental sustainability planning and practices through technical assistance, practical application, and peer networking opportunities to support them as they develop and implement community-driven sustainability practices at parks. 

Benefits at a Glance

# of Participants

10 park agencies and their community-based partner

Dates

June 12 - Sept 18, 2024

Bi-weekly sessions

Cost

Free for Park Agencies

$10,000 stipend to the park agency’s participating community-based organization

Level

Introductory to Intermediate

Who Should Apply

Rural and suburban park agencies at early stage of sustainability planning or implementation

Benefit

Peer cohort learning and personalized coaching with experts

Value

There is no cost to participate. NRPA will offer 25 hours of technical assistance through group workshops and individual support, as well as access to tools, resources and a strong peer network. 

What To Expect

  • Eight live, 3-hour virtual workshop sessions hosted bi-weekly over four months.
  • One 1:1 coaching session for agencies and their CBO partner.
  • Additional asynchronous trainings, professional development, peer-to-peer support and networking opportunities.
  • $10,000 stipend for each participating Community-based Organization (CBO) partner to support their time in the program and collaboration with park agency.
  • Opportunities for national visibility through NRPA and partner publications.

Key Topics Covered

Attainable park-specific sustainability actions

Equitable planning frameworks and sustainability assessment principles

Best practices for strategic relationships and capacity building 

Collaborative evaluation tools

Integrating adaptability into plans and supporting staff

Authentic storytelling techniques for environmental sustainability

Opportunities to Join

NRPA will be hosting three cohorts. Space is limited in each session — we welcome you to apply.

  • Cohort 1: Application opens February 22, and closes April 18, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Program runs from June 12 to September 18, 2024.
  • Cohort 2: Application launches September 2024 and program begins January 2025.
  • Cohort 3: Application launches February 2025 and program begins June 2025.

How to Apply

Click here to apply for Cohort 1 of the Sustainability in Practice program.

Click here for more information about the program, or visit our FAQ page here.

 

Apply Now

Apply by April 18, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. to be considered for this first cohort.

 

Have Questions?

Watch our quick 10-minute Informational Webinar or register here for our live Informational Office Hours on March 13 at 2 p.m. EDT to ask question directly to NRPA staff regarding this program or application process.

For more information or questions, please contact NRPA’s Resilience Team at resilience@nrpa.org.

News Stories