Get set to dive headfirst into the excitement of the 2023 NRPA Conference! 

This year’s conference has a whopping 260+ educational sessions lined up to help your parks and recreation team step up your game.
Now, we're not kidding when we say each of these sessions is packed with incredible takeaways.

But here's the deal: unless you've got a cloning machine stashed away somewhere, you're going to have to make some tough calls about which ones to attend this year.

But don't stress! We've done the hard work for you and combed through the conference schedule to produce a list of 40 sessions that we’re really excited about and you should be too!

Get ready to soak up the latest trends, hear from the experts, and discover game-changing ideas that'll shape the future of our field. Stick with us as we break down these must-see sessions that are sure to crank up your community impact.

💡TIP: To make the most of your time at NRPA, be sure to check out our Free NRPA 2023 Planning Guide + Customizable Templates – which includes a comprehensive planning guide with tips, a customizable planning + scheduling template (be sure to add your educational sessions to this template), and a personal planning + packing checklist. 

• Skip to Day 1 NRPA 2023 Educational Sessions (Tuesday, October 10)
• Skip to Day 2 NRPA 2023 Educational Sessions (Wednesday, October 11)
• Skip to Day 3 NRPA 2023 Educational Sessions (Thursday, October 12)

NRPA 2023 Educational Sessions – Day 1 (Tuesday, October 10)

1. “Can I Speak to Your Manager?!?” How to Deal with a “Karen”...Presented by Karen

Topic Category: Customer Service
Date: Tuesday, October 10
Time: 1:00PM to 2:00PM
Location: D Ballroom Section 3
Speakers: Karen Lussier + Brianne Baglini

2. App-a-licious – Should We Develop a Phone App?

Topic Categories: Customer Service, PR & Marketing Technology
Date: Tuesday, October 10
Time: 1:00PM to 2:00PM
Location: Room C142
Speaker: Gabriel Castillo

3. Equity and Inclusion: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Equitable Play for Children of All Abilities

Topic Categories: Equity and inclusion, Planning and Design Accessibility, Playgrounds
Date: Tuesday, October 10
Time: 1:00PM to 2:00PM
Location: Room C146
Speakers: Jodi House, Taylor Bunn, Steve Plumer

4. Inspiring Innovation in Your Organization

Topic Categories: Leadership and Personnel Management, Programming
Date: Tuesday, October 10
Time: 1:00PM to 2:00PM
Location: D Ballroom Section 1
Speakers: Ryan Hegreness

5. Respecting Me as a Transgender Woman

Topic Category: Equity and Inclusion
Date: Tuesday, October 10
Time: 1:00PM to 2:00PM
Location: C Ballroom Section 3
Speakers: Karen Holmes

6. Social Media Is Not One Size Fits All! Let’s Talk All Things Social: The How, Why, Good and Bad!

Topic Categories: Public Relations and Marketing, Social Media
Date: Tuesday, October 10
Time: 1:00PM to 2:00PM
Location: D Ballroom Section 2
Speakers: Robyn Gerard, Monica Tetteh, Jenny Cantu, Deonna McGary

7. Where Have All My Summer Staff Gone? A Study of Gen Z's Summer Job Hunt Experiences and Priorities

Topic Categories: Leadership and Personnel Management, Hiring
Date: Tuesday, October 10
Time: 2:30PM to 3:30PM
Location: C Ballroom Section 1
Speakers: Mike Mulvaney, Megan Owens

8. Employee Burnout - The Cause and The Cure

Topic Categories: Health and Wellness, Leadership and Personnel Management
Date: Tuesday, October 10
Time: 2:30PM to 3:30PM
Location: Room C142
Speaker: Gabriel Castillo

9. Giving Yourself Grace in a New Leadership Role

Topic Category: Leadership and Personnel Management
Date: Tuesday, October 10
Time: 2:30PM to 3:30PM
Location: D Ballroom Section 1
Speaker: Lara Hamwey

10. The Three Leadership Brains: Smarts, Compassion and Courage

Topic Category: Leadership and Personnel Management
Date: Tuesday, October 10
Time: 4:00PM to 4:30PM
Location: Exhibit Hall, Speed Session Pod 1
Speaker: Lara Hamwey

You can check out the full NRPA Day 1 Educational Session line-up here.

NRPA 2023 Educational Sessions – Day 2 (Wednesday, October 11)

11. Leveraging Data to Inform the Design of Equitable Places

Topic Categories: Equity and Inclusion, Planning and Design, Data and Evaluation
Date: Wednesday, October 11
Time: 11:30AM to 12:00PM
Location: Exhibit Hall, Speed Session Pod 1
Speaker: Matt Weschler

12. NRPA Research Sessions Roundtable

Topic Categories: Research, Data and Evaluation, Partnerships, Where Community Grows
Date: Wednesday, October 11
Time: 1:00PM to 2:15PM
Location: Exhibit Hall, Speed Session Pod 1
Speakers: Joseh Walker, Bob Brookover

13. Anatomy of an Actionable Park and Recreation Master Plan

Topic Category: Planning and Design
Date: Wednesday, October 11
Time: 1:00PM to 2:00PM
Location: Room D164
Speakers: Pat O’toole, Megan Mainer

14. Hellooo — Gen Z is Calling!

Topic Categories: Public Policy and Advocacy, Community Engagement, Youth
Date: Wednesday, October 11
Time: 1:00PM to 2:00PM
Location: Room D165
Speakers: Sydney Elliott, Kevin Moore

15. Leading Your Team Like a Real Boss! (Not a Bully or a Be-oss)

Topic Category: Leadership and Personnel Management
Date: Wednesday, October 11
Time: 1:00PM to 2:00PM
Location: C Ballroom Section 3
Speakers: Myla Neal, Rameir Martin

16. No One Cares About Your Data

Topic Categories: Planning and Design, Data and Evaluation
Date: Wednesday, October 11
Time: 1:00PM to 2:00PM
Location: Room D174
Speaker: Bobbi Nance

17. Uncomfortable Conversations With Park and Recreation Professionals 

Topic Categories: Equity and Inclusion, Leadership and Personnel, Management, LGBTQIA2s+, Safety and Security, Where Community Grows, Workforce Development
Date: Wednesday, October 11
Time: 1:00PM to 2:00PM
Location: D Ballroom Section 3
Speakers: Neelay Bhatt, Barbara Hernandez, DeQuel Robinson, Tiff Cunin

18. Does Our Work Matter?: Using Data to Measure Impact. 

Topic Categories: Equity and Inclusion, Operations and Maintenance, Public Policy and Advocacy
Date: Wednesday, October 11
Time: 2:30PM to 3:30PM
Location: D Ballroom Section 2
Speakers: Jayne Miller, Russ Carson, Troy Houtman, Chris Bass

19. Handling Challenging Conversations with a Polarized Public

Topic Categories: Customer Service, Equity and Inclusion, Communication, Safety and Security
Date: Wednesday, October 11
Time: 2:30PM to 3:30PM
Location: Room C148 (clinics)
Speakers: Ashley Virtue, Daniel Orth

20. Small-Scale Budget, Big Time Social Media

Topic Categories: PR and Marketing, Social Media
Date: Wednesday, October 11
Time: 2:30PM to 3:30PM
Location: Room D167
Speaker: Adam Kelly

21. That's My Stapler: Finding Your Office Space Voice

Topic Categories: Career Development, Leadership and Personnel, Management
Date: Wednesday, October 11
Time: 2:30PM to 3:30PM
Location: Room C146
Speakers: Calie Willis, Will Doss

22. Yes! We Are the Energizer Bunny: Keeping Constant Programming to Engage Communities in Parks

Topic Categories: Programming, Community Engagement, Safety and Security
Date: Wednesday, October 11
Time: 2:30PM to 3:30PM
Location: Room D163
Speakers: Latasha Stiger

23. Intersectionality: What It Is and Why Does It Matter?

Topic Categories: Equity and Inclusion, Leadership and Personnel, Management
Date: Wednesday, October 11
Time: 4:00PM to 5:00PM
Location: C Ballroom Section 1
Speakers: Tracey Crawford, Lakita Frazier

24. The Secret Language of Older Adults: Marketing to the 55+ Population 

Topic Categories: Health and Wellness, PR and Marketing, Older Adults
Date: Wednesday, October 11
Time: 4:00PM to 5:00PM
Location: Room C145
Speaker: Cosmo Wollan

25. The Win-Win of Building Collaborative Relationships Through Partnerships and Sponsorships 

Topic Categories: Revenue Development, Partnerships
Date: Wednesday, October 11
Time: 4:00PM to 5:00PM
Location: Room D167
Speaker: Katrina Williams

You can check out the full NRPA Day 2 Educational Session line-up here.

NRPA 2023 Educational Sessions – Day 3 (Tuesday, October 12)

26. Event Surveys: Give the People What They Want

Topic Categories: Customer Service, Programming, Data and Evaluation
Date: Thursday, October 12
Time: 9:00AM to 10:00AM
Location: Room D172
Speakers: Haleigh Spragg

27. The Privilege of Privilege

Topic Category: Equity and Inclusion
Date: Thursday, October 12
Time: 9:00AM to 10:00AM
Location: C Ballroom Section 1
Speaker: Jason Elissalde

28. You're a Supervisor - What the Rec Now?!

Topic Categories: Career Development, Leadership and Personnel, Management
Date: Thursday, October 12
Time: 9:00AM to 10:00AM
Location: Room C140
Speakers: Marcus McIntyre, Angelica Raya, Gabby Vera

29. Don't Mess With Texas

Topic Category: PR and Marketing
Date: Thursday, October 12
Time: 10:30AM to 11:30AM
Location: D Ballroom Section 3
Speakers: Ann Beck

30. Enhance Your Communication - Start a Podcast Today!

Topic Category: PR and Marketing
Date: Thursday, October 12
Time: 10:30AM to 11:30AM
Location: Room D167
Speakers: Meredith Lawrence, Bryce Shearen, Anthony Iracki, Cort Jones

31. From Pickleball to Line Dance — Keeping Retirees Active and Engaged

Topic Category: Health and Wellness, Programming, Older Adults
Date: Thursday, October 12
Time: 10:30AM to 11:30AM
Location: Room C145
Speakers: Stephanie Esposito, Farah Tunks

32. Go Mobile! Bringing Recreation to Your Community

Topic Categories: Customer Service, Programming
Date: Thursday, October 12
Time: 10:30AM to 11:30AM
Location: Room C156
Speakers: Kevin Witte, Cody Geddes, Ashley Gain, Cassie Swan

33. Lights, Camera, Action: Creating Digital Content That Tells a Story

Topic Categories: PR and Marketing, Social Media
Date: Thursday, October 12
Time: 10:30AM to 11:30AM
Location: D Ballroom Section 2
Speakers: Monica Tetteh, Brian Plinck, Robyn Gerard, Amanda Mukhin

34. Public Engagement in Today’s Hybrid World: The Good, The Bad and The Oops

Topic Categories: Customer Service, Equity and Inclusion, Planning and Design, Community Engagement
Date: Thursday, October 12
Time: 10:30AM to 11:30AM
Location: Room C146
Speakers: Adam Wynn, Kinda Mines, Stephanie Cornejo, Samantha Hudson

35. Big Dreams Can Come True in a Small Town!

Topic Categories: Aquatics, Planning and Design, Community Engagement, Funding
Date: Thursday, October 12
Time: 12:30PM to 1:30PM
Location: Room D162
Speakers: Jessica Compton, Steve Burke

36. We Did (Not) Invent the Breakfast Burrito: Community Health and the Recreation of Recreation

Topic Categories: Health and Wellness, Operations and Maintenance, Programming
Date: Thursday, October 12
Time: 12:30PM to 1:30PM
Location: Room D173
Speakers: John Barney, Debbie Almager, Mari Simbana, Andre Dickson

37. Partnering with the Business Sector: Trends in Parks and Recreation

Topic Categories: Planning and Design, Revenue Development, Funding, Partnerships
Date: Thursday, October 12
Time: 2:00PM to 3:00PM
Location: Room D174
Speakers: Kellie May, Stephen Springs, Paula Sliefert

38. Social Districts: Is Your Community Ready to Sip n’ Stroll?

Topic Categories: Planning and Design, Programming, Community Engagement
Date: Thursday, October 12
Time: 2:00PM to 3:00PM
Location: Room D164
Speakers: Chris Octetree, Kirk Archer

39. What the TECH! The Pros Reveal the Best of Parks’ Tried-and-True Software and Hardware

Topic Categories: Operations and Maintenance, Technology
Date: Thursday, October 12
Time: 2:00PM to 3:00PM
Location: C Ballroom Section 1
Speakers: Greg Brown, Rick Valdez

40. Reimagining Parks: More Than a Post-Pandemic Slogan

Topic Categories: Operations and Maintenance, Programming, Revenue Development, Funding
Date: Thursday, October 12
Time: 2:00PM to 3:00PM
Location: Room C155
Speakers: Michael Klitzing, Kurtis Baumgartner

You can check out the full NRPA Day 3 Educational Session line-up here.

Wrapping it up:

To most, the educational sessions are the #1 reason they attend the NRPA. With so many incredible session options, be sure to take the time to review the schedule with your team and plan which sessions you'd like to attend. To make life easier, consider using our free NRPA 2023 Planning Guide + Templates to make the most of your plan and schedule.

Also, be sure to stop by booth #1047 to visit the Xplor Recreation team, and:

🔍See our all-in-one recreation management software in action

📱Try out our NEW Client Mobile App + Kiosk Experiences

🎁 Enter in a draw to win a Free iPad Air (2 up for grabs!)