Monday Educational Sessions

 

Monday Educational Sessions

 
9:45 - 10:45

Identifying the Recreational Leaders Role in Bullying Prevention
Samose Mays
Identifying the Recreational Leaders Role in Bullying Prevention is designed to educate leaders on developing preventative bullying initiatives for their programs. It identifies who the leaders are and how to recognize, manage, and eliminate bullying from their programs.

Impactivation: Let's Blow It Up!
Frank Carson, Lydie Gutfeld
This session introduces the three traits of those who bounce back.  Attendees will be provided examples of how great leaders rebound and react to disasters.  This session will also offer attendees strategies how to be advocates and train advocates that parks and recreation services are essential.

Summer Events Pandemic Style
Jenni Worsham
The good, the bad and the ugly...what did summer events look like in 2020, what did we learn and what is being planned for 2021?  Hear from rec professionals across the state about their experiences and plans for events such as concerts, outdoor movies, runs, etc..  This is a learning, interactive session so come ready to share your experiences too!

Understanding, Planning and Anticipating the Head(back)aches of Special Features in Modern Aquatic Centers
Justin Caron, Tracy Stayton
Aquatic special features such as bulkheads, vortexes, lazy rivers, waterslides, inflatables, interactive elements, climbing walls, play structures, beach entries and ADA ramps have become highly desirable additions to aquatic centers. This session will explore the pros and cons for each special feature, with an emphasis on programming and staffing logistics.

 

11:00 - 12:00

Active Recreation or Passive Recreation Center: Engaging the Community to Define Your Program
Arash Izadi, John Courtney, Jeremy Hart, Mary Otten
Meeting the expectations of your community is your top responsibility, and that includes providing the right combination of recreation and community services programs in your recreation centers. Does your community need more wellness programs, meeting space and multi-generational program space, or does it need more active sports, fitness and competition zones? Or does it need to accommodate both? How do you know? This session will explore types of community outreach and visioning to help derive consensus recreation programming and facility needs for long-term financial planning. Communities are asking for a wide range of services and amenities, but not every ‘want’ is affordable to meet the comprehensive needs of the community. At the same time, it’s increasingly difficult to find developable land and funding for very high cost per square foot indoor recreation. This session will examine the differences between community ‘wants’ and the higher priority ‘needs’ that should drive the facility design, and how park planners and community services directors can balance the needs of sports groups and active recreation users with the vital need for passive amenities within the city. The session will focus on strategies for engaging all stakeholders and providing multi-function facilities that meet the shifting need of the community.

Navigating Social Media's Waves of Change to Promote Events
Melody Brunsting
The 2020 National Election resulted in sweeping changes for privacy, tracking, and marketing on social media channels. This session will outline the changes that effect organic (posts) and paid advertising on social media and how it will impact your promotions.

Public Safety and Recreation: An Essential Community-Focused Partnership
Cindy Bagley, Tim Mattos
Public Safety serves to protect the physical well-being of the residents in our communities, while Recreation protects the social and emotional well-being of our residents. When put together, these two departments can even more effectively ensure that the life of the residents in our communities are better in every way. Join this session to learn how to take the first steps toward developing a positive working relationship with your police and fire departments in order to collaborate on community-focused programs, events, and projects. Learn how to leverage each other's resources and how to communicate with each other and your community. 

 

12:15 - 1:15

Community Garden Programs in our Parks - Growing Food and Growing Communities
Teague Weybright
Community Gardens are a powerful community program.  Integrated into our City Parks system, the City of Santa Monica manages 4 Community Gardens.  One, a small 1,000 square foot garden, produces over 2,000 pounds of food on an annual basis, all grown by the Community and for the Community.  Community Gardens are an overlooked opportunity that can be implemented with a limited budget.  They provide an opportunity for care of Public Lands by the public, provide an opportunity for cross-generational relationships with elders teaching youth, bring a sense of calm in a sometimes chaotic world, many serving as emotional and therapeutic places during the last 12 month, and they provide us with an opportunity to grow as individuals and strengthen our community. Community Gardens can be easy to implement. Let's have a conversation about what has worked and hear from those who benefit the most, our Community.

Engaging California: Grant Funding and Community Outreach for Post-Pandemic Success
Jean Lacher, Sedrick Mitchell, Viktor Patino, Lee Butterfield
As California emerges from the recent pandemic, park agencies throughout California will have opportunities to re-engage communities through outreach strategies and grant funding (more than $500 million available).  California Department of Parks and Recreation is uniquely positioned to provide leadership in these areas.  The purpose of this session is to inform and inspire local agencies in successfully meeting community park and recreation needs in the post-pandemic era.

Keeping Live Music Alive!  Partnering with Local Musicians to Create Musical Events during Covid and Beyond.
Clarence Mamaril, Kristin Einberger, Alana Behn, Stacey Johnson, Vincent Lin
Musical performances were badly affected in 2020, as concerts and gigs were cancelled due to Covid-19. This was a deeply felt loss for musicians and lovers of live music.  Despite this, the Parks and Recreation Staff of American Canyon, a singing Commissioner, local musicians and community groups successfully partnered to keep live music going for City residents, in prudent and safe ways. Find out how in this lively presentation!

Proactive vs. Reactive: Problem Solving Without Generational Emotions
Lydie Gutfield, Aumee Frey
With the current generational gaps that encompass our workforce, professionals are faced with handling emotional outbreaks before the problem and alternative solutions can be found. Attendees will engage in activities which create an engaged multigenerational workforce environment and focus on identifying and understanding communication breakdowns while learning best practices to help different generations survive in the workplace together.