Spring 2023/ Volume 11, Issue 1

About

GP RED is a 501(c)3 organization founded in 2008.

GP RED’s mission is to fill the gaps in Research, Education, and Development for health, recreation, land management, and allied educators and professionals. We help the professionals who help communities thrive by providing innovative management strategies and knowledge.

eNews Staff

Editor: Robby Layton, PhD

Initiatives

Healthy Communities Research Group (HCRG)

Operation Recreation Response (ORR)

REDLine Survey

Research Briefs

GP RED National Think Tank

Active Living Conference

SHIFT Summit & Awards

Emerging Leaders Program

Organizational & Leadership Development Workshops

Safe Routes to Play

USFS Children’s Forest Corridor Project

Whole Measures for Parks & Recreation

Youth Engagement Strategies Workshop

RED Staff:

Donna Kuethe, CPRP, Executive Director

Teresa Penbrooke, PhD, CPRE, HCRG Director

Amanda Walker, MA, Research & Education Manager

Robby Layton, PhD, FASLA, Senior Research Associate

Katie Muncie, Social Media

Message from the Executive Director

Greetings!

GP RED has had an exciting and productive 2022 and is well on the way to an even better 2023 as we continue to Convene – Connect – and Collaborate! With the return of in-person convenings, GP RED organized, implemented, and managed the very successful 2022 SHIFT Summit and the 2022 GP RED Think Tank. GP RED’s convenings are not only educational and great opportunities to connect with leaders from a wide set of disciplines, but the places where they are held are a highlight of the experience for attendees and fun. In 2022, Fort Collins, Colorado and Raleigh, North Carolina were wonderful local hosts and provided us with great venues for SHIFT and the Think Tank respectively. Our 2023 offerings are described below. We hope to see you at these events!

We continue to move forward on the ORR (Operation Resiliency Response) Initiative, which began in 2014, to prioritize the need for parks and recreation agencies to be prepared for, and able to respond to and recover from emergencies and disasters. As such, the long anticipated, comprehensive ORR Manual is in final editing. This manual and the resulting, accompanying trainings, presentations, sessions, workshops etc. promise to be an invaluable tools for parks and recreation practitioners, agencies and the communities they serve. In addition, the ORR coalition is actively seeking out alliances and partnerships to expand our message reach and trainings.

GP RED provides very valuable information for “those who help communities thrive.” This is accessible right on our website. Research Briefs, REDline Surveys and all 26 episodes of our educational GP RED Presents are available at www.gpred.org.

I would like to extend a personal thank you to all the members of our Operating Board and Advisory Board for their vision, dedication and support. I’d like to especially thank Lora Polowczuk who has stepped down from the Operating Board, and John Henderson and Darin Loughrey who have stepped down from the Advisory Board, for all their amazing input, contributions, and hard work for GP RED. We are better and stronger because of your service to this organization, and you will be missed! As a result, a couple of Board positions are available if you are interested in applying.

All of our initiatives and convenings require time and money to make them happen, and we welcome your support for these, whether through sponsorships, donations, or volunteer time and expertise. Please see our website and/or contact me at donnak@gpred.org to learn more about how you can help.

Donna J. Kuethe, CPRP

Executive Director, GP RED

ALC 2023: Active Living Conference

The 2023 Active Living Conference is coming right up at the Natcher Conference Center on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Campus in Bethesda, MD. GP RED is the co-host and convening coordinator for the event. The conference runs from March 13th through 16th and will feature papers and presentations on the conference theme of Expanding Active Living Applications beyond Chronic Diseases to Synergistic Epidemics. The format includes oral presentations, Lightening Talks, and a poster session. Initiated in 2004 as a cutting-edge venue for active living researchers and practitioners to share research and information, it has become the premier multi-disciplinary conference for sharing the latest research, policies, and practices that advance activity-friendly communities for everyone. This year the conference is returning to an in-person convening, and it is shaping up to be a fantastic event! More than 200 people have already registered as of this writing. Come and be a part of this vibrant and engaging gathering! For more information go to the link below or contact Amanda Walker at amandaw@gpred.org

https://www.gpred.org/about-active-living/

SPECIAL NOTE: The Journal of Healthy Eating and Active Living will partner with GP RED this year to produce a special issue devoted to the research, practice, and policy on active living presented at the conference.

The next cohort of the Parks and Recreation Emerging Professionals Program (PREPP) will start in September 2023. PREPP is a 15-month accelerated online learning platform designed to help current parks and recreation professionals who may have a degree in another field, or those sharp individuals who have at least three years of experience in parks and recreation, but may not have a Bachelor’s degree, become more familiar with necessary parks and recreation skills, background theory, and leadership concepts to progress to the next level in our field.

The curriculum is designed to address the executive competencies needed for mid to upper levels of administration, and those covered by the CPRP and CPRE national certifications. The program is co-sponsored by GP RED and the University of Colorado School of Public Affairs Institute. See the PREPP website for more information, or email teresap@gpred.org with any questions.

The 2022 SHIFT Summit was a great experience!

Save the Dates to Attend the 2023 SHIFT Summit September 10 – 14th in Bend, Oregon!

The 2023 Summit will be held September this year in Bend, Oregon. For more information go to https://www.gpred.org/shift/ or contact Teresa Penbrooke at teresap@gpred.org

Participants at the 2022 SHIFT Summit in Fort Collins, Colorado enjoyed glorious autumn days with brilliant blue skies and vibrant fall color. This 2022 theme for the Summit was Transdisciplinary Integration of Nature and Wellbeing, with a focus on advancing equitable access to preventive health through nature and the outdoors.

Fort Collins Parks Community Services hosted multiple outdoor SHIFT Experiences that provided ample opportunities to get close to nature while learning about forest fire response and recovery, the urban tree canopy, forest therapy, and other topics. These complemented a full slate of presentations on research and practice held in the Lincoln Center over four days. Attendees included land managers, researchers, practitioners, educators, and conservationists, along with outdoor recreation, health, military, and nature therapy professionals who shared experiences, evidence, and ideas for enhancing the reciprocal relationship between humans and nature.

An important part of the event is the presentation of the SHIFT Awards. Nominees can be any initiative or organization that meets a set of criteria that focuses on making an impact on the promotion of access to nature and the outdoors for preventive health, and the winner is determined by a vote of the attendees. Summit participants for 2022 selected the following winners:

Healthy Parks Healthy Person TN (Organization)
Aara Holger – Whitewater State Park Naturalist for Minnesota State Parks and Trails and Founder and Board Chair of Project Get Outdoors Minnesota (Individual)

Sponsors for 2022 included City of Fort Collins Community Services, the National Park Service, BerryDunn, Colorado Parks and Recreation Association, Colorado State University, and RRC Associates.

Comments from the follow-up survey include:

“Fantastic job SHIFT crew! I really loved the overall vibe this year. It felt like people were really keen on listening to each other and providing thoughtful feedback and dialogue.”

“It was such an excellent cross-sector of relevant professionals with great insight and information to share.”

“Re-affirmed that nature and outdoor experiences should be in our mental and physical health toolbox.”

“The cross-industry networking was one of the highlights for me . . . I there was really a strongly fostered attitude of mutual respect this year that went a long way.”

2022 GP RED Think Tank a Success!

Thought Leaders and Topic Experts from across multiple disciplines around the country convened this past November 16-18 in Raleigh, North Carolina at the 2022 GP RED Think Tank to discuss issues and imperatives affecting our communities and our lives. The setting in Dorothea Dix Park proved to be a highlight of the event. As a historic site richly connected with the philosophy of mental and physical health through contact with nature and the outdoors, Dix Park provided the perfect setting for this gathering of leaders and educators in the fields of parks, recreation, conservation, trails, land management, public health, tourism, and alternative transportation.

The purpose of this invitational, interactive event is to identify, address, dissect, and dive deep to explore creative solutions to challenges and issues that face communities in the present moment.

Sponsors for the event included BerryDunn, North Carolina Recreation and Park Association, Maryland Recreation and Parks Association, RRC Associates. Special appreciation goes to the City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources department for providing the venue in Dix Park. Additional special thanks goes to Michelle Wells, Executive Director of the North Carolina Recreation and Park Association for organizing meals and handling many details and logistics. Committee members for the Think Tank worked hard to pull the event together and their efforts appreciated: Maureen Dougherty, Michelle Wells, Robby Layton, Art Thatcher, Teresa Penbrooke, Amanda Walker, Stephen Bentley, Tiara Chapman, Sheema Hai, Donna Kuethe and Lisa Wolff whose sponsorship and lead, assured that Adult Beverages were available for the evening reception!

As a true “Think Tank,” the event focuses on interactive discussion among the participants. This year’s participants indicated that the discussion of intersectionality was particularly productive, as were coalition building/collaborations, and emerging technologies.

Topics addressed included: The Value of Collaborations between Parks and Recreation and Tourism Intersectionality – What is it and Why does it Matter; The Expanding Role of Parks and Recreation as Social Services, Parks, Recreation and Libraries Walk into a Bar…, Competing with the Private Sector for Seasonal Employees and Emerging Technologies. Topic Experts were as follows, Whitney Knollenberg, Tracey Crawford, Lakita Frazier, Justin Cutler, Donna Kuethe, Art Thatcher, JR Clanton, Daniel Betts, Teresa Penbrooke, Aaron Hipp, and Kailyn Haskovec.

Some of the comments from the Think Tank are as follows:

“It was like attending a master’s class on the topics! I truly enjoyed the opportunity to listen and learn and then participate in exercises and discussions.”
“I find the most useful aspect of the Think Tank is approaching issues and challenges from diverse perspectives, knowledge, professions and communities.”
“The presentation and learning format model was awesome!”

The GP RED Think Tank is held every other year in different locations around the country. Planning is underway for the 2024 event. Attendance is by invitation, and if you would like to attend the Fall 2024 event, and/or if you would like to be involved in the planning of the Think Tank please let GP RED know by contacting our Executive Director Donna Kuethe at donnak@gpred.org.

Find more information on the Think Tank!

GP RED Presents...

GP RED Presents is a free YouTube channel designed to connect research and education to help professionals solve community problems. The full library of GP RED Presents is available on the GP RED website.

Thank you to Those Who Serve!

Retiring Board Members

As was mentioned in the Executive Director’s Message, we extend a very sincere thank you and wish the best of luck to those Operating and Advisory Board members who have decided to retire from their Board service to GP RED. Their positive impact on the organization is impressive.

GP RED wishes to offer its immense gratitude to Lora Polowczuk for her service on the GP RED Operating Board. Lora has been instrumental in advancing GP RED’s internal systems and procedures as well as its initiatives, and we wish her the best of success in her future endeavors!

Advisory Board member John Henderson has been an extremely active member of the Board and a vital part of the organization. John will step down as a board member after the Active Living Conference in mid-March, where he serves as a co-chair and co-host. As John has stated membership requires commitment – he’s attended three Think Tanks, two SHIFT conferences, and rarely misses a meeting.

Earlier this year Darin Loughrey also offered his resignation to the Board. Darin also was a very active member of the Advisory Board, providing valuable input to all aspects of the Board and the organization. He served as the host for the 2018 Think Tank and continued to offer assistance to the 2020 and 2022 Think Tank planning committees.

The contributions of these 3 individuals have greatly helped to strengthen GP RED. Thank you!

Board Openings

GP RED currently has one opening on the GP RED Operating Board (governing), and two openings on the National Advisory Board. Email DonnaK@gpred.org if you would like more information.

Operating Board:

Chris Cares, President

Robby Layton, PhD, FASLA, Treasurer

Teresa Penbrooke, PhD, CPRE

Tiara Chapman

Chris Nunes, PhD, CPRE

Lisa Wolff, MSL, CPRP

Advisory Board:

Daniel Betts, MBA, MS

Jo Burns, MS, CTRS

Justin Cutler, MPA, CPRE

Maureen Dougherty, PhD

Chris Dropinski, CPRE

Leslie Fritz, CPRP

Seve Ghose, CPRE

Sheema Hai, CPRP

John Henderson, JD, CPRP

Eric Legg, PhD, CPRP

Alexi McHugh

Sylvie Rokab, M.A.

Lakita Frazier, CPRP

Debbie Woodbury, CPM, CPRP, MPA

Contribute

Please share your own success stories, research and resources.

Send submissions to the Editor at: info@gpred.org

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Phone: (303) 439-8369 | Email: info@gpred.org

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