We have 269 education sessions, Off-Site Institutes, workshops and Speed Sessions planned for the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference to be held this October in St. Louis, Missouri. Meh, you say? Well, a prestigious assortment of more than 500 experts, evangelists, inspirational practitioners and thought leaders are hard at work preparing their dynamic presentations. Still not impressed? For those of you who have “been there and done that,” trust that there’s much, much more in store for 2016.
We’ll feature cutting-edge content in our Glass Room and re-tooled Learning Lab (both located on the exhibit hall floor), and, for the first time, two mobile workshops that combine classroom and time outside in the field. Here are three examples of ways to enjoy your learning experience at the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference, outside the traditional classroom.
Urban Monarch Conservation Mobile Workshop
8 a.m.-4:15 p.m. Wednesday, October 5
Cities and urban metropolitan areas are vital in the fight to save the monarch butterfly. St. Louis and the surrounding region have led the way for cities nationally with an inspired all-hands-on-deck effort to save the monarch. This special mobile workshop brings together some of the top experts in the country, including Dr. Chip Taylor, head of Monarch Watch at the University of Kansas, and Dr. Karen Oberhauser, head of the monarch lab at the University of Minnesota, to talk about the status of the monarch today and how urban areas can implement wide-ranging conservation, education and public engagement strategies to contribute to effective conservation. Participants will tour innovative examples of how to create new habitat for monarchs. The workshop will begin with an education session, followed by a visit to a pollinator-friendly nursery, a monarch tagging-and-release demonstration and more. Lunch and all program materials are provided. Registration is strictly limited to space available, so sign up early.
From Reimagining the Civic Commons to Rebuilding Civic Infrastructure
One of seven Glass Room Sessions — Exhibit Hall floor, Thursday, October 6
Shawn McCaney, director of creative communities and national initiatives at the William Penn Foundation, helps participants understand how an innovative public/private partnership between the William Penn Foundation, the Knight Foundation, the Fairmount Park Conservancy and the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department spearheaded an effort to reimagine civic assets and triggered a $500 million citywide effort to reinvest in parks and recreation infrastructure.
Learning Labs that Support NRPA’s Conservation Pillar
Exhibit Hall Floor, Friday, October 7
Pollinate Your Park
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Pollinator species are in decline across the country. In this session, participants will engage in the conceptual planning of a new pollinator garden from start to finish. Learn how to select an appropriate site, choose the right pollinator plants for your region and engage volunteers of all ages in planning, installation and citizen science.
Green Infrastructure Think Tank
1 p.m.-2 p.m.
What is green infrastructure and why does it matter to your community? Spend this session discussing how to incorporate green infrastructure practices into your park landscapes and how these practices will benefit your community.
Fun and Games with Wildlife Explorers
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Get a hands-on look at Wildlife Explorers, NRPA’s easy-to-implement curriculum that aims to connect elementary-aged students to nature. Session participants will explore the curriculum and learn creative ways to incorporate play into the nature discovery program by learning (and playing!) a variety of environmental education-themed games to complement individual lessons from the Wildlife Explorer program.
Browse a full schedule of all the education opportunities that are available.