July 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 17

the excitement generated through
the academic experiences, almost
all therapeutic recreation students
have applied for and attained parttime
positions at FVSRA. Aurora
University's therapeutic recreation
students also are actively pursuing
internships with FVSRA, as well
as full-time employment postgraduation.
This
synergy is expanding to other
majors and programs at the university.
Physical education classes
now are connecting with FVSRA's
Special Olympic teams and Aurora
University's Division
III
athletics
and planning on doing sport-specific
clinics for the athletes at FVSRA. In
addition, FVSRA staff are coming
to guest lecture for therapeutic recreation
and autism studies classes.
Recommendations
for
collaborations are simple. First, organizations
should have mission
statements that align with one another.
Both Aurora University and
FVSRA place a high value on inclusion,
transformation and empowerment,
which align with improving
the lives of people with disabilities.
Having
a
culture
of
servant
leadership also is helpful. Leaders
focused on the growth and well-being
of those who actively design programs
for others help their organizations
perform at a high capacity. Aurora
University and FVSRA have
developed
a
vision
that
clear,
values
collaborative
creativity and
imagination to forge new programs
in uncharted territories.
Organizations that are geographisimilar
cally
relevant to one another simplify
the potential for collaboration. The
Member Benefit: Get Involved
in NRPA Network Leadership
T
he NRPA Networks deliver enhanced opportunities for collaborative
discussions among park and recreation professionals nationwide.
NRPA Networks host monthly Zoom meetings and
meet in person at the NRPA Annual Conference. Each network
has its own NRPA Connect community. There are currently six NRPA
Networks: Armed Forces Recreation Network; Aquatics Network; Diversity,
Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Network; Education Network; Leadership
Development Network (LDN); and the Young Professional Network.
Networks
only
are possible
thanks to their wonderful leadership
teams, and now you can be
involved. Become a Network Leader
to gain leadership experience,
network with professionals across
the country and make a difference
in the field. Network Leaders can
earn five Professional Service Experience
(PSE) points, which are
equivalent to a 0.5 Continuing Education
Unit (CEU).
" As the current chair of LDN, I
am honored to have been able to
lead such an incredible team of
people. Our committee has a diverse
skill set and brings together
the best experience. Even though
LDN is virtual, it provides a personable
experience and attempts
to engage people in a variety of
ways through monthly meetings,
[LDN] Connecting Conversations,
and guided breakout rooms.
ease of access results in higher engagement
possibilities and lower coordination
costs. Students are drawn
to the ease and accessibility of meaningful
work that is close in proximity.
When park and recreation departments
creatively collaborate with
other organizations, such as local
colleges and universities, compounded
efforts can create amazing results.
Much like the adage of the Belgium
draft horses that can quadruple their
pulling capacity when paired with
just one other horse, organizations
can create exponentially better results
for everyone involved by working together
toward a common goal.
Kris Johnson, M.S., CTRS, is Associate Professor of
Therapeutic Recreation at Aurora University (kjohnson@
aurora.edu). Alex Engelhardt, MBA, CTRS, CPRE, is
Executive Director of Fox Valley Special Recreation
Association (alexe@fvsra.org).
Through participation in LDN, I
have connected with others about
best practices, departmental policies,
inclusion, accessibility trends
and more. This networking opportunity
has given me new perspectives
and aided my professional
development. The level of engagement
in LDN is entirely up to the
participant, but I love having a
safe space to learn and ask questions, "
says AJ McCage, CTRS,
recreation coordinator for Henrico
(Virginia) Recreation and Parks.
To
learn
the
other
about
five
LDN
networks,
and
visit
the NRPA Networks webpage
(nrpa.org/Networks) or
contact NRPA Senior Manager
of
Membership Hayley
Herzing
(hherzing@nrpa.org) for more
information. To join a network,
log in to NRPA Connect (connect.
nrpa.org) and
navigate
Communities. "
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| Parks & Recreation
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to
" All
http://www.nrpa.org/Networks http://www.connect.nrpa.org http://www.connect.nrpa.org
July 2023 - Parks & Recreation

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