The importance of positioning parks and recreation as essential services to our elected officials is an oft-heard refrain. Happily, the information and inspiration you need to position your agency as part of the solution to the nation’s health epidemic can be found in the educational offerings at the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference.
Following are a handful of the more than 20 sessions in our Health and Wellness learning track and almost 50 interdisciplinary education sessions also aligned with that Pillar.
Park Prescriptions — Nature Is the Medicine: Park Rx, a new model of prevention and wellness, is a community health initiative whose mission is to “prescribe” time in parks to prevent and treat chronic disease and promote wellness.
Safe Routes to Parks: Learn how to facilitate the implementation of Safe Routes to Parks, including the benefits, partnerships, funding sources and key elements.
Seniors and Health
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by the middle of the 21st century, the number of Americans age 65 and older is expected to almost double. What is park and recreation’s role in providing service to this growing population? Educational offerings around this subject includes:
Trends in Senior Centers — Health and Wellness: Models of café, fitness/wellness, technology, lifelong learning, arts and engagement-centered facilities and programs will be discussed.
NRPA Research Session (NRS) — Social Outcomes for Older Adults: Come learn about the implications of social relationships on health in a community center, psychosocial influences on physical activity involvement among the elderly, and promoting team sport participation among older women.
Children, Teens and Health
Attend these sessions for a better understanding of the childhood obesity epidemic and how parks and recreation is part of the solution.
Empowering Youth to Tackle the Obesity Crisis: This session will reinforce importance of including youth in efforts to improve health and wellness in communities. An energetic strategic planning session will engage the audience in thinking, planning and fitness.
Play Forever Play Spaces: Forty-nine million people live in multigenerational households. As a result, new playground designs are emerging as communities look for ways to provide active living for the multigenerational family. This session will focus on the design of multigenerational play spaces and provide examples from around the world.
New to the 2016 Conference
Healthy Parks Tool — A Mobile Workshop at the Gateway Arch (pre-registration required, space is limited): This workshop will introduce participants to the new Healthy Parks Settings Tool, developed by the National Park Service Healthy Parks Healthy People program in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization. Enjoy a walk in the park and assess the health benefits of the newly renovated Gateway Arch grounds.
Health and Wellness-Themed Learning Lab: Join us for the following sessions in the Learning Lab on the Exhibit Hall floor:
Health and Wellness Meet and Mingle: Come meet with your peers, NRPA staff and partners to discuss the latest trends and hot topics in health and wellness for parks and recreation.
Get Inspired with NRPA’s New Foods of the Month Curriculum: Learn about new, fun, easy-to-use and free materials developed by NRPA that teach children about healthy eating.
Just Map It — Parks and Health: Get your visual brain working with a hands-on case study that will examine the intersection of health and the built environment.
No Equipment? No Problem! Creative Ways to Incorporate Physical Activity: Learn some great strategies for incorporating physical activity into your programming, even when you have limited resources and facilities.
Thanks to our conference program committee, NRPA staff and our wonderful volunteer speakers, we’ll help you to tell your health and wellness story at the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference. See you there.
Tom Crosley is NRPA’s Education Manager, Conferences and Schools.