Thursday, May 3
Theme: Play, Recreation, Wellness
Meydenbauer Center
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- 8:00am-9:00am - Section Meetings - to be announced
- 9:00am-10:30am - Opening Keynote
- 10:30am-11:00am - Exhibitor Break
- 11am-12:15pm - Breakout Sessions
- 12:15pm-1:45pm - Trade Show (includes lunch)
- 2:00pm-3:15pm - Breakout Sessions
- 3:30pm-4:45pm - Breakout Sessions
- 5:00pm-6:00pm - Banquet Pre-social,
- 6:00pm-8:00pm - General Meeting & Awards Banquet
Youth Staff Teams: Rallying through Tough Times • 11am-12:15pm
Presented By: Ken Wong, Teen and 50+ Program Administrator, Redmond and Nancy Chang, Program Coordinator, Redmond
Providing quality youth programs is dependent on the quality of your staff. But how do managers and supervisors maintain a strong team during difficult times? This session will provide you with the strategies for leading your youth staff teams through the toughest of times. Participants will define their management style, identify creative ways to invest in staff and learn tips for navigating tricky staff transitions. Return to top
A Higher Level of Inclusive Playground Design - Fun for All • 11am-12:15pm
Presented By: John McConkey, Market Research and Insights Manager, Landscape Structures Inc
The playground should be a place for laughter, friends, and fun — for everyone. Playgrounds are a place for play and learning, where children develop physical and cognitive skills and where they build valuable social relationships. Unfortunately, traditional inclusive playgrounds do not meet the needs of a growing population of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Research shows that children with ASD strongly benefit from sensory-rich play experiences, though traditional inclusive playgrounds tend to focus only on accessible design and age or developmentally appropriate play activities. Learn about how intentionally designed sensory-rich playgrounds engage the senses, providing a therapeutic sensory diet, and enabling children to build confidence, imagination and social skills. Return to top
Your Park - Tobacco Free! • 11am-12:15pm
Presented By: Caroline Hughes, Project Officer, Public Health - Seattle & King County and Scott Neal, Tobacco Prevention Program Manager, Public Health - Seattle & King County
Across the nation, outdoor spaces such as parks, trails, playgrounds and beaches are becoming tobacco-free. In fact, as of July 1, 2011, more than 500 tobacco-free park policies have been approved! Locally, a collaboration of King County agencies applied for and received a grant to implement tobacco-free parks policies and many policies have already been implemented. Join this interactive session to learn more about this pilot project including model policies that can be used by your agency in addition to implementation strategies and lessons learned. Return to top
Creative Ways Kids Can Serve • 11am-12:15pm
Presented By: Silvana Clark, professional speaker, Clark and Co
Many adults feel children are the "gimmee" generation, only thinking about themselves. Learn over 22 ways your parks and recreation department can help youth discover the personal satisfaction that comes with volunteering. Understand the research surrounding the benefits of volunteer work, along with practical ideas on volunteering to help people, the environment and animals. The presenter is the co-author of the book, "77 Creative Ways Kids Can Serve." Return to top
What's your Brand? • 11am-12:15pm
Presented By: Vince Arditi, Owner, Arditi Consulting and Mollie King, Recreation Manager, city of Troutdale Oregon
Branding has evolved to become a concept of identification and quality for products and services. To create marketing and sales opportunities, we need to establish our brand. This session will provide a template for developing the value, quality, consistency and exclusivity that will make your programs successful and profitable. Learn how the presenters have increased revenue using simple value-for-money ideas in an area of Portland with great ethnic diversity and economic challenges. Return to top
Adaptive Recreation Programming for All Abilities • 11am-12:15pm
Presented By: Parker Ayers, Adaptive Recreation Specialist, Metro Parks Tacoma and Kodi Smith Doty, Sr. Recreation Coordinator for Specialized and Adaptive Recreation, Metro Parks Tacoma
Goal ball, wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball are just a few of the paralympic sports offered at Metro Parks Tacoma. Learn how providing recreational services to people of all abilities is another source of revenue and a fun way to connect to your diverse population. Session participants will have an opportunity to experience adaptive equipment and learn more about offering adaptive sports programs in their communities. Return to top
Disaster Strikes! Your Role in Emergency Management Planning • 11am-12:15pm
Presented By: Dave DeHaan, Emergency Management Services Director, City of Everett Parks and Recreation Department
What is your role during a community disaster? How can your facilities and resources help the community recover and rebuild? Parks and recreation agencies control key community spaces and resources that are essential in the wake of a disaster. The key is planning ahead! Come learn how parks and recreation resources can be most effectively used during a disaster and what is expected of you as a "public servant." Case studies will be shared. Return to top
Reasonable Accomodations: Helping Volunteers Serve • 1:45-3pm
Presented By: Daniel Lassiter, Community Services Supervisor, City of Bellevue Parks & Community Services and Kim Indurkar, Community Services Program Coordinator, City of Bellevue Parks & Community Services
People living with disabilities volunteer for the same reasons as everyone else - to contribute to their community, meet new people and learn new skills. The challenge for many agencies is navigating the uncertainty of accommodations. This session will cover the definition of a qualifying disability, according to the ADA, and explain what that means in regards to accommodations. Session participants will learn how to determine if accommodations are needed and strategize on the best approach to ensure a successful volunteer experience. Return to top
Functioning Landscapes: Merging Parks and Infrastructure • 1:45-3pm
Presented By: Guy Michaelsen, Principal, Berger Partnership and Jonathan Morley, Principal, Berger Partnership
Increasingly we are expecting our parks and open spaces to do more, not only to serve our ever growing communities as parks and recreation facilities, but also to help meet environmental and infrastructure needs. This allows us to revisit parks as functioning landscapes that play ever more important roles in reshaping our cities. Landscape Architects Jonathan Morley and Guy Michaelsen will highlight several projects displaying differing approaches to merging parks and infrastructure into functioning and inspired landscapes. Return to top
Your Aging Population - New Approaches • 1:45-3pm
Presented By: Cathy VonWald, Community Services Supervisor, City of Bellevue, Parks & Community Services; Sharon Anderson, Human Services Coordinator, City of Kirkland, Parks & Community Services; and Carrie Hite, Director of Parks & Recreation, City of Edmonds
It is projected that the percentage of our nation's population over 65 years of age will increase to 20% by 2050. Are your programs and services prepared to serve this growing cohort? Do you know what the current needs are? The speakers will share two approaches to reviewing current services, identifying needs and shifting the service delivery model to meet those needs, while remaining relevant to the changing face of the aging population. Return to top
Effective Marketing without Tweets or Blogs • 1:45-3pm
Presented By: Silvana Clark, speaker, author, Clark and Company
No one denies the importance of social media. But lets not forget traditional marketing techniques that can be effective at increasing attendance and promoting your facilities. Get ideas on how to get local and national awareness of your programs and facilities. Discover over 25 low cost and easy to implement marketing ideas beyond Twitter and Facebook! Return to top
Effectively Connecting with and Serving Diverse Communities • 1:45-3pm
Presented By: Kevin P. Henry, Communications Coordinator, Cultural Diversity, City of Bellevue Parks & Community Services
Racial and cultural demographics are changing rapidly throughout the state. With this change comes the need for staff, officials and community members to be better equipped to serve, engage and understand the changing population. This workshop will provide valuable information on how to reach these goals through improved communication skills and increasing cultural competency. An interactive workshop, the session will feature a panel of speakers and examples of successful programs from around the region. Return to top
Literacy Tools for Recreation Programmers • 1:45-3pm
Presented By: Linda Ernst, Librarian & Author
The single most important activity for establishing the foundation for eventual success in reading, is reading aloud to children. Discover a treasure trove of ideas and resources that will add literacy elements to all of your youth programs. Join our presenter as she shares a wealth of information from her 30+ years experience in storytelling, early literacy instruction, booktalks, theater, and as a public children's librarian. Walk away with useful and creative resources and activities that you can add to your existing programs to enhance literacy development. Return to top
Adaptive Recreation Programming • 1:45-3pm
Presented By: Jennifer Spane, Recreation Supervisor, Pierce County Parks & Recreation; Kodi Smith Doty, Recreation Supervisor, Metro Parks Tacoma; and Jennifer Sergent, Companionship Coordinator, Pierce County Parks and Recreation
Every department needs to be ready to provide the basic adaptive solutions to all of their participants. Whether its special equipment, one-on-one assistance, or an interpreter, there are simple steps we can take to make our programs more accessible. The panel will present information on a variety of adaptive recreation programs from around the state including information on implementing an adaptive recreation program in your own community. Return to top
Youth Courts - You be the Judge • 3:15-4:30pm
Presented By: Helena Stephens, Recreation Program Manager, City of Bellevue - Parks & Community Services
Youth Courts are making a difference in the lives of youth all across this state. Washington law authorizes the use of youth courts as a diversion option for first and second time offenders. Youth courts can reduce repeat criminal behavior and educate youth on the impact of crime on the larger community. This session will explore a non-traditional recreation partnership for youth development, including how to offer "real time" options for youth to resolve community problems. This unique approach to youth leadership can have a lasting economic and social impact on your community. Return to top
It Takes a Village: Natural Resource Stewardship • 3:15-4:30pm
Presented By: Suzanne Anderson, Senior Wetland Ecologist, Otak, Inc.
Most Parks and Recreation agencies around the state are responsible for managing, preserving and restoring natural resource lands. And let's face it, it's a daunting task. The truth is, agencies can no longer go it alone. Effective and efficient natural resource management depends on the full support and involvement of the community. This session will highlight methods to educate your community on the importance of greenways, wetlands, streams, and waterways and will also showcase several programs that have established successful and sustainable volunteer stewardship programs. Return to top
America the Stressed • 3:15-4:30pm
Presented By: John de Graaf, Executive Director, Take Back Your Time
Now more than ever, our communities need park and recreation services. Americans report higher stress levels than citizens of 145 other countries. We are 40% more likely to suffer from chronic diseases in old age than are Europeans. Studies are finding that the key difference is their focus on leisure, community and time spent outdoors. We are a stressed nation. This session will explore the importance of advocacy and the role parks and recreation plays in turning these statistics around. Return to top
Keeping Your Wellness Program Healthy and Alive • 3:15-4:30pm
Presented By: Bob Pope, Recreation Coordinator, City Of Penticton, BC
The challenge of keeping participants engaged and interested in wellness can be the best part of your job! Join Bob Pope, Healthy Living Recreation Coordinator, as he shares examples from years of experience creating "hooks" and pop culture programming—all geared to keep people active and enthusiastic. This is marketing at a fun and creative level that any community of any size can adopt. The wellness initiatives, contests and programs presented will give you a brand that has people waiting for your next move. Catch the "spark" of Bob's methods on securing great donations and sponsorships for your own programs! Return to top
When Appointing Volunteers - Make No Assumptions • 3:15-4:30pm
Presented By: Byron Palmer, Vice President, SSCI
No matter the time, cost or hassles involved, thorough background checks that screen for all crimes, not just sexual offenses, are critical. The days of trusting volunteers for youth sports and other activities based on a smile and their willingness to help are over. Over 2,500 felonies and 9,000 misdemeanors were discovered throughout parks and recreation organizations in 2010. Is your organization taking the necessary steps to ensure that your staff, and your volunteers, have the proper background screening? Don't put your community's youth at risk. Join us to learn the nuts and bolts of criminal background screening and what you need to know before you hire staff or solicit volunteer help. Return to top
Cooperative Play Workshop • 3:15-4:30pm
Presented By: Jennifer Spane, Recreation Supervisor, Pierce County Parks & Recreation
Cooperative play is an amazing tool that can be used to heal, exercise, relieve stress and create an overall positive self-image. This interactive session will teach you fun cooperative play games that can be used in any situation. You will learn how to adapt these games by changing rules, equipment, and outcomes to fit the needs of your group. This is an interactive session, so get ready to play! Return to top