For 50 years, NRPA has been dedicated to the advancement of parks, recreation and environmental conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all people. With all of the substantial progress made in the field, thanks to efforts of the people who have contributed to NRPA over the years, it is exciting to see what is in store for our future. We look to the new generations of leaders to champion NRPA’s mission. We have so much to look forward to, particularly with these five young professionals leading the charge.
Bo Hutchens, CPRP
Recreation Director, MWR SUBASE Kings Bay, Georgia
Bo Hutchens received a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management (2009) from Florida State University. He began working for MWR SUBASE Kings Bay as the Sports Coordinator that same year. After several promotions, Hutchens currently serves as recreation director, with oversight of fitness, sports, aquatics, community recreation and all park facilities. He is active in NRPA’s Armed Forces Recreation Network and is currently serving as its chair.
Why did you first get involved with NRPA?
I first became involved with NRPA at Congress in 2010 in Minneapolis. I attended several Armed Forces Recreation Network events and meetings where I was offered a chance to work with the leadership team as a volunteer. The opportunity, to me, was a chance to interact with professionals outside of my organization and grow both personally and professionally. I will say that the opportunities and experience I have gained through the involvement far outweighs the time I have put in.
What is one of the most memorable moments of your career thus far?
Without hesitation, the most memorable moment was hearing my agency’s name being called when we were announced as the Gold Medal winner last year [at NRPA Congress] in Charlotte. I have not won a Super Bowl, nor do I foresee that happening, but winning that award gave me the pride and sense of accomplishment that I think I would have winning a Super Bowl.
What are the most important issues facing parks and recreation?
I feel that parks and recreation faces a lot of the same issues that all professions face. Those issues include funding, changes in policy or rules, opportunities for growth, values and many others. Personally, I like to think that training myself to being as flexible and innovative as possible while clearly outlining my integrity and beliefs are the things I can control the most. I feel that if I do this, I can creatively overcome any obstacle in a way that I can sleep at night without remorse.
Shane Mize
Interim Assistant Director, Missouri City Parks and Recreation
Shane Mize is a husband and father of four, and is in his 11th year as a professional in the field. Mize has an undergraduate degree in sports, fitness and leisure management from Hardin-Simmons University and a master’s degree in recreation, parks and tourism administration from Western Illinois University.
What is one of your most memorable moments of your career related to NRPA?
I have been fortunate enough to participate in some unique opportunities because of NRPA…but my most memorable moment was to receive the Robert Crawford Award for the Young Professional of the Year. To be recognized by your peers in that fashion was a very gratifying moment. Not just for me, but for my agency, my former professors, and my family as well.
What do you feel is the greatest accomplishment of your career, thus far? And, what do you hope to accomplish in the future?
I was a part of the team that started the Young Professional Network (YPN). Going into year one, we felt the pressure of being successful right out of the gate to validate all the hard work NRPA staff had done for us. Fortunately, we had a full year before our first Congress. The first YPN meeting had easily more than 100 people in the room. I don’t remember the exact number, but the whole room was packed. That was a great moment. The YPN had arrived; we had been validated.
What would you like to see from NRPA in the next 50 years?
It would be great to see NRPA on the tip of everyone’s tongue when they think of parks and recreation. I would love to see NRPA be the premier location everyone went to when they think aquatics, youth sports, athletics, parks, recreation, facility management, tourism and field maintenance. That’s obviously a lot but that’s where we are headed and what I hope for the future of NRPA.
Lindsay Labas
Marketing Director, Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation
Lindsay Labas’ role as marketing director includes development, implementation and management of the organization’s comprehensive marketing and promotional strategies, including public awareness of brand identity, facilities, programs and services, and evaluation. Labas is a member of NRPA’s Young Professional Network and leads the team’s social media efforts.
Why is NRPA important to the parks and recreation field?
NRPA is an advocate for everything I do in my career and everything I enjoy doing in my spare time. It is my assumption that everyone feels this way.
What is one of your most memorable moments of your career related to NRPA?
There’s this great movie out there titled “Empire Records.” And in it is a quote which has stuck with me my entire life: “I do not regret the things I have done, but those I did not do.” This is my mantra. I wouldn’t be where I am today without taking risks, making change and being a “fixer.” [One] moment with NRPA took me from being a behind-the-scenes support person to someone who was standing in front of 100-plus individuals giving a presentation on a topic I didn’t study in college, but learned through job experience and key mentors. It was an opportunity presented to me that scared me and made me really nervous, but would open up doors I didn’t even know existed at the time. Becoming a resource for other agencies and marketing professionals has been a huge highlight and accomplishment for me.
What does the future of parks and recreation look like to you?
The idea of parks is hands-down one of the best ones we’ve ever had. My hope and vision is that the future of parks focuses on the preservation of the resources and wildlife found in those historical and cultural areas. Experiencing the wilderness is not something that we can share together in groups. It’s a way to escape and take in your natural surroundings. Following suit with national parks like Denali and Zion in their bus system efforts will help create a feeling of solitude, increase the wildlife viewing, and help create sustainable parks for people to enjoy, remember, and re-visit.
Keri Schwab, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration
Keri Schwab, Ph.D., completed her graduate work at the University of Utah in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Schwab’s current research interests focus on youth development, community recreation and scholarly teaching.
Why did you first get involved with NRPA?
I joined NRPA for many reasons. I got involved because I wanted to show support for the field via my membership, participate in and learn from NRPA’s ongoing education, research and advocacy efforts, and thought joining would keep me connected to the practitioner side of the field.
What are the most important issues facing parks and recreation today and going forward?
Logistically: funding. We all know securing funding is an ongoing challenge. Conceptually: staying connected as a field. Understanding the foundation that links our various sub-areas together is crucial to staying strong as a field. Programmatically: trying to ensure the value of what we do is known, felt and appreciated by the general public. Helping people reflect, share their stories and make meaning from leisure experiences is important so the public can see, feel and understand the value in what we do.
What would you like to see from NRPA in the next 50 years?
Continued growth — but growth in smart ways. Growth to meet the needs of members and the ability and willingness to adapt to changing populations, services, providers and needs. I would like to see additional funding for research on the benefits of recreation, and funding for marketing and sharing that information.
Carena J. van Riper, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Carena van Riper‘s research and teaching focuses on the human dimensions of natural resources, particularly conservation psychology. Van Riper holds a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, a master’s degree from the University of Vermont and a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University.
Why did you first get involved with NRPA?
I became involved with NRPA through the Lucille and Derby Dustin Future Scholars program. I was fortunate to have an opportunity to attend the 2008 NRPA Congress in Baltimore, Maryland, and used this experience as a tool for learning about and identifying possible Ph.D. programs. I [also] became involved because of the Leisure Research Symposium. Many of the topics explored at this meeting are relevant to my interests, help to inspire my research program and provide guidance on how best to connect people of all ages to parks and protected areas.
What are the most important issues facing parks and recreation today and going forward?
There are countless issues that demand attention. First, the most pressing issue, in my mind, relates to environmental impacts like climate change, the spread of invasive species and biodiversity loss that threaten environments that support outdoor activities. Secondly, I think the (dis)connection between people and the natural environment is of dire importance. I would like to see more research and teaching that foster human-nature connections and encourage people to lead active and healthy lifestyles. Transboundary conservation is probably the third most important issue from my perspective. Parks and recreation, among other disciplines, would be well-served to focus attention on identifying the factors and conditions necessary for reaching across political borders and building partnerships with local communities.
Catrina Belt is an Editorial Intern for Parks & Recreation magazine.