1. Massachusetts Recreation and Park Association
Speaker Introductions
-Education Background
-Current Job Info
-Interest Areas, Executive Board role
Student Presentation
2013

2. What It is & What It isn’t
There are some common misconceptions about
WHAT Parks and Recreation really is and the value within the profession.
WHAT IT IS
Professional & casual work setting
Special Events and Program Management
Educated Professionals
Up and coming young professionals
Active and fun!
Play Local Initiative
WHAT IT ISN’T
NOT the brown suit and hat
Dodge Ball Class
“Anyone can do it” profession
Stagnant
Slow and boring
Parks & Rec Comedy
Here today to speak with you about why you SHOULDN’T rule parks and recreation out of your future career choices
Professional & casual work setting
-Small town vs city department settings (salary, goals, etc)
Special Events and Program Management
Fourth of July Parades, Boston Tree Lighting, Youth Sports, Teen Center, Seasonal trips, etc.
Educated professionals
-strengths in alternative funding, program facilitation, politics, event planning, financial management, marketing, etc.
-Bachelors/masters degree programs, CPRP, NRPA Leadership schools
-The Profession is becoming more professional because of the degree programs that Universities and College are offering.
-With that said, it is not an easy profession to get into…not just “anyone can do it”
-The more professional connections you have and the more organizations that you are a part of the better
-The profession is very interconnected…we help each other!
Up and coming young professionals
The face of P&R is changing and growing- many new young professionals coming out of college and being hired for
Active and Fun
Every season is different
Constantly evolving
Always looking for fresh ideas and energy
A quote that appeared in the MRPA Review in January 2003:
It costs approximately $30,000 to incarcerate a juvenile offender for one year. If that money were available If that money were available to Parks and Recreation, we could:
Take him swimming twice a week for 24 weeks, and give him four hours at the zoo plus lunch, and enroll him in 50 community center programs, and visit the nature center twice , and let him play league softball for a season, and tour the gardens at the park twice, and give him two weeks of tennis lessons, and enroll him in two weeks of day camp, and let him play three rounds of golf and act in one play, and participate in one fishing clinic, and take a four-week pottery class, and play basketball eight hours a week for 40 weeks….
After which, we could return to you $29,125 and one much happier kid
THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNTIIES IN PARKS AND RECREATION AND IT IS UP TO US TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE REMEMBER TO PLAY LOCAL!
Our National Parks attract 88% more people than Disney World and Disney Land.
Visits to state, regional and local parks exceed on billion annually.

3. Massachusetts Recreation and Park Association
Non-Profit, Membership Driven Organization
Advocate for Parks and Recreation through public policy and local government
Encourage and promote continuing education and training for Park & Rec Professionals
Provide services and resources to members and communities
Foster high standards of professionalism
Non-Profit Membership Driven Organization
Volunteer Executive Board
Advocate for Parks and Recreation through public policy and local government
Legislative Training
Public Policy
Town Government and Politics
Encourage and promote continuing education and training
Annual Conference
Regional CEU workshops
CPRP– playground inspector, pool inspector, etc
Provide services and resources to members and communities
Year round programming for local towns and cities
Foster high standards of professionalism
Accredidation

4. Who Comprises MRPA? 500+ Members 11 Person Executive Board
Recreation Professionals in many different settings:
Park and Recreation Directors -Educators
Recreation Therapists -Students
Aquatics Facility Managers
Specialty Programmers
Council on Aging/Senior Centers
Commercial Members (USTA)
Membership:
P&R Departments
School Programs
Commercial vendors
Town Administration
Politicians
Public works
Executive Board: 11 volunteer positions
-introduce speakers, how we got to the positions we are in now
-here today as a resource for students
-Speaking on behalf of all state run Park and Recreation Associations

5. National Visit a Park Day
What Can MRPA Do For You?
Career Development
Professional Mentor
Regional Meetings
Internship/Practicum/Event Planning
Student Profiles
Continuing Education Opportunities
Annual Conference -Awards
Regional CEU Workshops
Certification Trainings
Certified Park and Recreation Professional
Playground Inspector, Pool Inspector, etc
Family Event Nights
National Visit a Park Day
Summer Concert Series
5k Road Races
Career Development:
P-rofessional Mentors Depending on your interest area, there is a P&R professional that can mentor you
-6 regions: Cape and Islands, Central, Metrowest, Northeast, South Shore, West that host meetings.
Stay update on current Park and Recreation Trends (facility development, programming, inclusion/TR, event planning, parks maintenance, etc)
-Always in need of students for event planning, internships, jobs, etc. **Jess present the Student Profiles that are coming on the site soon.
Event Planning NEEDED:
**NATIONAL VISIT A PARK DAY: April 8th
**Sudbury wants students to run a family game day/game night
**5k
**Summer Concert Series
**Parades
etc
Continuing Education Opportunities:
State Conference and Trade Show *show the registration form and the preliminary program
-Networking/mentor pairing
-Room Host
-Career table
-Vendors: interest in sports programming, lighting, turf, apparel, etc. Meet vendors that do this!
Certification and Training:
Park and recreation Professionals DO have training and certifcations in their respective interest areas. Playground inspector
Pool inspector

6. Annual State Conference & Trade Show
Large Annual Conference and Trade Show
2013: Hyannis, MA
2014: Sturbridge, MA
Nearly 200 attendees
Affordable, Resume Builder
Two days worth of sessions
Including TR Sessions
Vendor Fair
Student Opportunities:
-Room Hosting -Professional Mentor -Career Table
1x/year, MRPA hosts one large, professional conference in MA.
Alternates locations
Over 30 sessions within 4 tracks:
Aquatics
Therapeutic Recreation
Programming
Administration
Professional Mentor:
If you register for the conference, we will pair you up with a recreation professional in your interest area.
event planning TR
Commercial Membership/companies
Student Opportunities:
Room Hosting
Internship Posting
Event ideas/marketing ideas (brochure table)
ATTENDING CONFERENCES AND MEETING PEOPLE, EVEN IF ONLY FOR A FEW HOURS, IS A VALUABLE AND IRRIPLACABLE WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU STAND OUT IN THE EYES OF POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS. There are thousands of students out there that are going to be apply for the same jobs you will be applying for. You must make yourself stand out and placing yourself in conference setting and meeting professionals is a way to do just that.
Silent Auction
Awards Ceremony
Over 25Speakers
Session Tracks

7. Clinton Parks & Recreation
MRPA CONTACT INFORMATION
Anna Wood, M.S., CTRS Adaptive Sports &Recreation Specialist Teen Center Director Sudbury Park and Recreation 40 Fairbank Road Sudbury, MA
Jessica Brodie, CPRP
Director
Clinton Parks & Recreation
560 High Street
Clinton, MA 01510