Are you headed for the highly anticipated IAPD/IPRA 2024 Soaring to New Heights Conference?

To ensure you make the most out of the event, we’ve compiled a list of 30 of the must-attend educational sessions at this year’s conference.

These information packed sessions will give you the opportunity to see the latest trends and to hear from the foremost experts in the parks and recreation industry. This event goes beyond just information sharing; it provides a distinctive opportunity to actively participate in cutting-edge developments that can significantly impact your community.

Scroll on down to discover the latest in the industry and how it can provide you with valuable insights that will help you shape your parks and recreation agency.

• Skip to Day 1 IAPD/IPRA 2024 Educational Sessions (Thursday, January 25)
• Skip to Day 2 IAPD/IPRA 2024 Educational Sessions (Friday, January 26)
• Skip to Day 3 IAPD/IPRA 2024 Educational Sessions (Saturday, January 27)

IAPD/IPRA 2024 Sessions-Workshops: Day 1 (Thursday, January 25)

1. AI in the Parks and Recreation Industry

Topic Category: Leadership, Management
Date: Thursday, January 25
Time: 10:00AM to 12:00PM
Location: Grand Hall I, East Tower, Gold/Ballroom Level
Speakers: Neelay Bhatt, Jason Ellisalde, Scott Crowe

2. Problem Solving Change—Being Proactive Rather Than Reactive During a Transition

Topic Categories: Recreation
Date: Thursday, January 25
Time: 10:00AM to 12:00PM
Location: Grand Hall GH, East Tower, Gold/Ballroom Level
Speaker: Lydie Gutfield

3. Planning, Design, Construction, and Management for a Sustainable Synthetic Turf Sports Complex

Topic Categories: Parks, Natural Resources
Date: Thursday, January 25
Time: 10:30AM to 11:30AM
Location: Crystal Ballroom C, West Tower, Green/Lobby Level
Speakers: Lacey Lawrence, Chuck Meyers, John Fehlberg

4. Early Childhood, Nature, and the Park District

Topic Categories: Recreation
Date: Thursday, January 25
Time: 10:30AM to 11:30AM
Location: Regency Ballroom B, West Tower, Gold/Ballroom Level
Speaker: Katie Wallace

5. Unleashing Synergy—A Case Study in the Transformation of the Willowbrook Wildlife Center

Topic Category: Forest Preserve and Conservation
Date: Thursday, January 25
Time: 12:30PM to 2:30PM
Location: Grand Suite 5, East Tower, Gold/Ballroom Level
Speakers: Anamari Dorgan, Stephanie Touzalin, Danielle Appello

6. Cultivating a Campfire Culture

Topic Categories: Leadership, Management
Date: Thursday, January 25
Time: 3:00PM to 4:00PM
Location: Crystal Ballroom B, West Tower, Green/Lobby Level
Speaker: Elizabeth Kessler

7. Planning for Capital Project Grants

Topic Categories: Parks, Natural Resources
Date: Thursday, January 25
Time: 3:00PM to 4:00PM
Location: Grand Hall K, East Tower, Gold/Ballroom Level
Speakers: Steve Konters, Bridget Deatrick, Chris Leiner, Joan Scovic

8. Bridging The Gap Between Marketing and Recreation—Episode 3

Topic Categories: Recreation
Date: Thursday, January 25
Time: 3:00PM to 4:00PM
Location: Regency Ballroom A, West Tower, Gold/Ballroom Level
Speakers: Mike Terson, Joe Zimmermann

9. What is the ACC?

Topic Category: Therapeutic Recreation
Date: Thursday, January 25
Time: 3:00PM to 4:00PM
Location: Grand Hall L, East Tower, Gold/Ballroom Level
Speakers: Lauren Raspanti, Victoria Reynolds, Louise Egofske, Matthew Corso, Bethany Pastrana

10. Committing to Zero—Lessons Learned from Net-Zero Energy Buildings

Topic Category: Facilities
Date: Thursday, January 25
Time: 3:00PM to 4:00PM
Location: Grand Hall I, East Tower, Gold/Ballroom Level
Speakers: Jake Vest, Chris Lindgren

You can check out the full IAPD/IPRA Day 1 Educational Session line-up here.

IAPD/IPRA 2024 Sessions-Workshops: Day 2 (Friday, January 26)

11. Green from the Outside In

Topic Categories: Forest Preserve and Conservation
Date: Friday, January 26
Time: 8:30AM to 9:30AM
Location: Michigan 3, East Tower, Bronze/Concourse Level
Speakers: Amanda Grant, Raquel Garcia-Alvarez

12. Kids Around the World—Building a Generation of Hope

Topic Categories: Parks, Natural Resources
Date: Friday, January 26
Time: 8:30AM to 9:30AM
Location: Water Tower, West Tower, Bronze/Concourse Level
Speakers: Greg A. Weitzel, Tim Clauson, Andrew Martin, Jenny Knitter, David Mogle

13. The Future of Parks and Rec—Winning the War for Talent in the Next Phase

Topic Category: HR, Risk Management
Date: Friday, January 26
Time: 8:30AM to 9:30AM
Location: Gold Coast, West Tower, Bronze/Concourse Level
Speakers: Katie Sepe, Sameera Luthman

14. NRPA | IAPD | IPRA Executive Directors' Roundtable 

Topic Categories: Leadership, Management
Date: Friday, January 26
Time: 10:00AM to 11:00AM
Location: Grand Hall J, East Tower, Gold/Ballroom Level
Speakers: Kristine Stratton, Susie Kuruvilla, Arnold Randall

15. Building a Robust Commitment to DEIA and Getting Results in a Diverse Community

Topic Category: Diversity
Date: Friday, January 26
Time: 10:00AM to 11:00AM
Location: Acapulco, West Tower, Gold/Ballroom Level
Speakers: Emily Cahill, Brent Wheeler, Shalesse Pie, Scott Loftus, Rebecca Fredrickson

16. Web Accessibility and the Americans with Disabilities Act

Topic Categories: Marketing, Communications
Date: Friday, January 26
Time: 12:15PM to 12:45PM
Location: Toronto, West Tower, Gold/Ballroom Level
Speakers: Juan Acevedo, Tom Draper, Kelly Holan, Kelsi Stephenson

17. Fitness and Wellness Program Management

Topic Categories: Recreation
Date: Friday, January 26
Time: 1:00PM to 2:00PM
Location: Regency Ballroom B, West Tower, Gold/Ballroom Level
Speaker: Elizabeth Antman

18. Under Pressure—The Region's Green Vision for Restoration, Resilience, and Equitable Access

Topic Categories: Forest Preserve and Conservation
Date: Friday, January 26
Time: 3:45PM to 4:45PM
Location: Roosevelt 3AB, East Tower, Bronze/Concourse Level
Speakers: Elizabeth Kessler, Laura Reilly, Mark Bouman, Mark Johnston, Cathy Geraghty

19. Trend Check for Rec

Topic Categories: Recreation
Date: Friday, January 26
Time: 3:45PM to 4:45PM
Location: Grand Hall J, East Tower, Gold/Ballroom Level
Speakers: Nikki Ginger, Ron Schneider, Maureen McCarthy, Chris Lindgren

20. Aquatics Roundtable

Topic Categories: Facilities
Date: Friday, January 26
Time: 3:45PM to 4:45PM
Location: Regency Ballroom A, West Tower, Gold/Ballroom Level
Speakers: Alex Hartzell, Alex Tagle, Katie Dunn, Deena Wrobbel, Viktoria Orosz

You can check out the full IAPD/IPRA Day 2 Educational Session line-up here.

IAPD/IPRA 2024 Sessions-Workshops: Day 3 (Saturday, January 27)

21. "It's Dangerous to Go Alone! Take This!"—Gamification Marketing Strategies

Topic Categories: Forest Preserve and Conservation
Date: Saturday, January 27
Time: 10:30AM to 11:30AM
Location: Acapulco, West Tower, Bronze/Concourse Level
Speakers: Caitlynn Martinez-McWhorter, Renee Pixler, Kimberly Smith

22. Park and Recreation Compensation Survey—Get to Know This Valuable Resource

Topic Category: HR, Risk Management
Date: Saturday, January 27
Time: 10:30AM to 11:30AM
Location: Grand Suite 3, East Tower, Gold/Ballroom Level
Speakers: Katie Sepe, Kathryn O'Connor

23. Innovation Oasis—Embracing AI for Next-Level Recreation

Topic Categories: Finance, Information Technology
Date: Saturday, January 27
Time: 10:30AM to 11:30AM
Location: Grand Hall I, East Tower, Gold/Ballroom Level
Speaker: Vincent Davis

24. Keep It 100 Without Trippin', No Cap!

Topic Category: Diversity
Date: Saturday, January 27
Time: 12:30PM to 1:30PM
Location: Gold Coast, West Tower, Bronze/Concourse Level
Speaker: Becky Lambert

25. Commissioner Roundtable—The Importance of DEI at our Agencies, Part I

Topic Category: Boardmanship
Date: Saturday, January 27
Time: 12:30PM to 1:30PM
Location: Grand Hall GH, East Tower, Gold/Ballroom Level
Speakers: Tracey Crawford, Oralethea Davenport, Michelle Tuft, Mike Reid, Laure Kosey, Sharon Knitter, Michael McCarty, Dan Peterson

26. Strategic Leadership While Facing a Crisis 

Topic Category: Leadership, Management
Date: Saturday, January 27
Time: 12:30PM to 1:30PM
Location: Grand Suite 3, East Tower, Gold/Ballroom Level
Speakers: Jackie Lovinelli, Jeff Murphy

27. Tournaments—The Challenges and Rewards of Hosting Large-Scale Athletic Tournaments at Your Parks

Topic Categories: Parks, Natural Resources
Date: Saturday, January 27
Time: 12:30PM to 1:30PM
Location: Regency Ballroom C, West Tower, Gold/Ballroom Level
Speakers: Bob Johnson, Mike Contreras, Brian DeWolf

28. Our Volunteers are Out of this World!

Topic Categories: Recreation
Date: Saturday, January 27
Time: 12:30PM to 1:30PM
Location: Toronto, West Tower, Gold/Ballroom Level
Speakers: Becca Krzyszkowski, Jackie Gonzalez

29. Marketing and Communications Roundtable 2.0

Topic Categories: Marketing, Communications
Date: Saturday, January 27
Time: 12:30PM to 1:30PM
Location: Regency Ballroom B, West Tower, Gold/Ballroom Level
Speaker: Amy Seklecki

30. Building a Positive Culture in your Summer Camp

Topic Categories: Recreation
Date: Saturday, January 27
Time: 2:00PM to 3:00PM
Location: Gold Coast, West Tower, Bronze/Concourse Level
Speakers: Anna Schuld, Kimberly Barton

You can check out the full IAPD/IPRA Day 3 Educational Session line-up here.

Wrapping it up:

Explore the future of parks and recreation at the IAPD/IPRA 2024 Soaring to New Heights Conference with insights from these 30 handpicked sessions. Connect with industry leaders, stay ahead, and shape your community's future. Be sure to review these sessions in detail with your team so you don’t miss out!

Here are a few reasons to stop by booth #811:

🎁Enter in a draw to win a Free iPad Air 

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

📱Get a hands-on experience of our NEW Client Mobile App

🎉Snag yourself some *useful* swag to take home

📸Have a laugh and capture memories with your team at our photobooth!