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Vermont Recreation & Parks Association

Name: Vermont Recreation & Parks Association
Address: Brownsville, VT, 05037, US
Telephone: (802) 878-2077
Price range: $
Rating: 5

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Vermont Recreation & Parks Association

The Vermont Recreation and Parks Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the p
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VRPA Mission
The mission of the Vermont Recreation and Parks Association is to provide training and resources to help Vermonters to "Create Community through People, Parks and Programs." Members
Our members consist of over 400 Parks & Recreation professionals from around the state of Vermont. Our members come from municipalities, state parks, non-profits, as well as commercial & private businesses. Through our professional members we serve and reach communities in every county in the state.

10/25/2024

Curious about how technology can enhance the Parks & Recreation experience?

We've partnered with over 15 organizations to bring you the Rec & Tech Virtual Workshop, where you can gain knowledge and skills on how the ever evolving digital world can strengthen the relationship between your community and Parks & Recreation.

You can find details and more at https://www.ncrpa.net/recandtech

Registration is $25 and .4 CEUs are available.

10/04/2024

The VRPA Facility of Merit Award is presented annually to an agency or organization that has renovated or developed a recreation amenity.

Last week, we were privileged to honor the Beach House in Shelburne, VT.

The original Beach Bath house was built in the 1950's by volunteers. The concrete block structure was deteriorating and had structural issues, in addition to inefficient function, non-compliant with ADA, and very poor aesthetics. An assessment of the condition and options for repair or renovation was performed in the fall of 2016 by VIA. They provided three options for the Town to pursue, and after review and discussion with the Recreation Committee and Town Administration, the Selectboard voted to follow the route of taking down the original structure and replacing with a new structure on the same footprint.

In 2017 the design for the new Beach House was created by Jeff McBride of Sidehill Design. Jeff worked closely with the Recreation Committee to meet the needs and requirements of the types of use for the structure, and researched the land use history to envision an updated structure that will still visually blend with the farming landscape and rural setting. After completing the design, an initial estimate of $350,000 for the project was determined.

Several fundraising projects were initiated with varying degrees of success from 2020-2022. Fundraising efforts brought in a total of $27,873, during this time, mostly through individual donations. Final fundraising efforts through 2024 totaled over $35,000 from over 150 individuals.

In March of 2022, Shelburne voters authorized up to $350,000 in financing for the construction of a replacement Beach House at Shelburne Beach. Final construction prices were much higher than the original estimate of $350,000 before COVID, and we were lucky enough to receive allocation of ARPA funding from the Town’s Financial Committee and Selectboard to be able to continue the project. The project was completed in June 2024, just in time to open for the summer season.

Congratulations to all those involved in this great project!

10/04/2024

The VRPA Young Professional Award is presented annually to an individual that exhibits leadership, creativity, and has made a significant contribution over a period of time in the profession. The candidate must be employed in the State of Vermont for a minimum of 2 years in the field of parks & recreation, be a VRPA member, and be under the age of 40 yrs. old.

Last week, we were privileged to honor Tatum Barnes with the Hartford Parks and Recreation Department at our 81st Annual VT Conference on Recreation as this year's 2024 Young Professional.

As a key member of the Hartford Parks and Recreation team, Tatum has demonstrated remarkable innovation, leadership, and dedication in the development and implementation of an after-school program that has become a cornerstone of youth engagement in our community.

Recognizing the need for dynamic and diverse programming for our youth, Tatum took the initiative to design and launched a series of specialized clubs within the after-school program. These clubs cater to a wide range of interests, providing young people with opportunities to explore and develop new skills in a supportive environment.

Recognizing the importance of providing enriching experiences beyond the local community, Tatum also spearheaded the Teen Adventure Getaways. These trips offer older youth the chance to explore new places, challenge themselves with adventure activities, and build lasting friendships—all under the guidance of his skilled and involved personality.

Through these initiatives, Tatum has not only expanded the range of activities available to the youth of Hartford and its villages but has also created an inclusive environment where every young person can find a place to belong and thrive. Tatum's passion for youth development, combined with his innovative approach to programming, has made a significant impact on our community.

Tatum’s exceptional work, leadership, and commitment to making a difference in the lives of young people set a great example for other professionals in the field.

Congratulations Tatum on being the 2024 Young Professional of the Year!

10/04/2024

Congratulations to Vermont Patriots, Inc. Youth Soccer Program for being awarded the 2024 Theresa S. Brungardt Organization Award!

The Vermont Patriots, which is incorporated as a 501©3 non-profit, approached the City of Winooski in 2018 with an ambitious vision to bring high quality youth soccer to the community with a focus on disrupting the rampant "pay to play" model of club soccer, promoting positive youth engagement, and teaching important transferable life skills along the way. With a dedicated team of volunteers, and a strong partnership with the City of Winooski, the Vermont Patriots has seen the program balloon to 10 teams and approximately 140 players per season (U-6 to U-12 levels), and has provided a full club soccer experience (strong coaching, full uniform kits, participation in regional soccer leagues) for no more than $25/season (with ~40% of participants receiving a full scholarship to participate). The Vermont Patriots has truly given the diverse Winooski community (and beyond) an accessible program through which to channel its passion for soccer, and has led to incredible outcomes both on, and off, the field. At a time when there are increasing numbers of youth sports programs privatizing and moving away from municipal partnerships, the Vermont Patriots has remained unwavering in its belief that ALL kids should have access to high quality youth sports, regardless of their background or socioeconomics, and the volunteer Board has worked tirelessly to make that vision a reality for hundreds of kids in Winooski.

The VRPA Community organization or agency award is handed out annually at our fall conference to a commercial, professional, private, governmental, or nonprofit organization or agency that has made outstanding contributions to the recreation and/or park field. The contributions may be for an outstanding program that has made a unique impact on its participants, a distinctive indoor or outdoor facility notable for its architectural character or functional use, outstanding interpretation of recreation and parks, or similar achievement.

10/04/2024

The VRPA Unsung Hero Award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated consistent or outstanding service in their community and whose commitment has been in furthering the field of parks, recreation, and/or cultural and community services through excellence, service, and ex*****on of their talents and skills.

Last week we were privileged to honor Rob Mather with Vermont 100 Endurance Race / Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports.

Rob - also known as "Radio Rob" - plays a critical role for the communities in the Ascutney/Windsor area, not just for two specific annual, national events, but also as a dedicated American Red Cross volunteer and has been a member, instructor and program director for the Southern Windsor County CERT Team, a federal program under Homeland Security and FEMA, managed by the Vermont Dept. of Emergency Management. His dedication to the safety and security of his fellow citizens, visitors to the area and the land everyone plays on in these communities is important for the stability and growth of this region. As a volunteer for the American Red Cross he has held positions including the local Disaster Action Team Lead, a member of the Disaster Service Technology Team (local and regional), Regional Duty Officer and has filled in for the Emergency Services Director. As Rob says, “My passion for the American Red Cross is to serve our local communities during emergencies.”

For nearly 40 years, Rob has been a dedicated volunteer for Vermont Adaptive and the surrounding communities. His service includes thousands of hours ensuring the safety of all runners, volunteers and staff annually at both the Vermont 100 Endurance Race and the Vermont 50 Mountain Bike Race and Ultra Run. He has also been a volunteer for the local American Red Cross since 2006, holding leadership positions and serving on boards at the chapter and regional levels.

Congratulations Rob!

10/04/2024

Congratulations to Rob Peterson for being awarded the 2024 Theresa S. Brungardt Professional Award.

Rob began his 27-year career with the City of Burlington, and after a 12-year stint with Vermont Forest, Parks, and Recreation, her returned to Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront in 2023 as Marina Manager and Deputy Harbor Master. Throughout his career he's done it all, seen most of it, and told good jokes about all of it. His work supporting programs and facilities throughout the State has made recreation possible for countless Vermonters and visitors, and his work in Burlington continues to do so to this day. This quote, stolen without permission from Rob's page, really says it all: "I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’ve done some of the nastiest jobs imaginable while working in parks, but when I’m doing it alongside other good people, it barely feels like work at all."

The VRPA Professional Award is awarded annually at our fall conference to a full-time leader, supervisor, administrator, manager, educator, planner, researcher, designer, or consultant who has made outstanding contributions to the recreation and/or park field. The candidate must have at least ten years' professional experience, three years serving in Vermont; and have made a contribution to the field over a period of time and not just a single occurrence. The area of contribution may include the following: leadership, job performance, education, research, innovative programming, public relations, or other area not defined.

Congratulations Rob!

09/19/2024

Our 81st Annual Conference on Recreation and Trails Symposium is just under one week away!

We have some amazing exhibitors attending the conference this year, completely selling out our Exhibit hall! Attendees will not want to miss this fantastic networking event and chance to meet with some of the best vendors in the parks & recreation industry.

For a complete list of vendors that will be in attendance at the conference, visit our website and check out the photo with everyone listed as well!
https://www.vrpa.org/Exhibit

There is still time to register as an attendee online as well! Don't wait - come join us in Killington next week!

Thanks again to all of our amazing partners and sponsors for helping us put on such a great event!

09/06/2024

Even if you are not able to join us at the VT Conference on Recreation & Trails Symposium in two weeks, you can still bid on all the Silent Auction items we have available!

Visit our online Silent Auction page to start bidding today! More items will be added as they are received up until the end of the conference!

Bidding will close at 3:45pm on Thursday, September 26th.

If you win and are not present at the auction, the item will be dropped, picked up, or mailed to you.

Help spread the word & share the bidding link with friends, colleagues, and family as this is a fundraiser for VRPA. Proceeds support VRPA trainings and scholarships.

Thank you to all those that donated!

https://www.32auctions.com/VRPAannualconference2024?r=1&t=all

09/03/2024

The early-bird registration pricing for this year's conference has been extended to this Friday, September 6th!

Now is your chance to register to join over 140 attendees, 25+ speakers, and over 30 vendors for this great networking and educational event.

A complete education schedule is available online at www.vrpa.org under our conference pages.

This week we will be highlighting speakers presenting at the conference, and to start we are super excited to welcome a few of the speakers flying in to join us including:
Jason Elissalde
Chris Stevenson
Marisa Hoff
& Dustin Kleefisch

Be sure to check out their session descriptions & bios while reviewing the complete conference schedule on our website. We can't wait to have you all join us!

https://www.vrpa.org/Schedule

08/30/2024

We are so excited to welcome Kelly Brush, founder of the , as our keynote speaker at this year's annual conference!

Join us on September 25th & 26th at the Grand Resort Hotel for an inspiring keynote session, along with over 25 other talented speakers from around the region.

A big thank you to for their Keynote Speaker Scholarship, making this possible.

Today marks the Early Bird Registration Deadline for the conference - so register today to save $50! Register online and find all the conference details and full schedule at www.vrpa.org.
https://www.vrpa.org/event-5740002

See you all in September!

08/09/2024

Join us at the 81st Annual VT Conference on Recreation & Trails Symposium where not only will we have great education sessions and networking opportunities, but also where we celebrate the successes of individuals working in our field of parks & recreation.

Each year at the conference, we offer a special award recognizing outstanding leadership in the field. The Theresa S. Brungardt Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Vermont Recreation and Parks Association. This award was established in 1975 to recognize recreation pioneer, Theresa S. Brungardt. Mrs. Brungardt was Vermont's first state Director of Recreation and she traveled tirelessly throughout Vermont to help communities with their recreation programs. Mrs. Brungardt was nationally recognized for her expertise and in 1952 was elected the first female president of the American Recreation Society. In 1977 was inducted into the NRPA Hall of Fame.

Our Awards ceremony will take place this year on Thursday, September 26th at 12:00 pm. Six total awards will be handed out - three Brungardt awards as well as three of our Annual Awards.

If you haven't taken the time to nominate someone yet, today is the final day!

Learn more about these honorable awards and other special recognition opportunities on our website https://www.vrpa.org/Recognition

Register online for the conference here: https://www.vrpa.org/Attendee-Registration

Hope to see you all in September!

08/01/2024

THE NORTHEAST KINGDOM CALLS FOR AID!

Just a few days ago on the 30th, the NEK was hit hard by repeat flooding, and the impact to the area has been intense. Our friends over at have put out a call to action through our amazing parks & recreation network and we're lighting our beacons!

Specifically, they need volunteers. For days, volunteers have been mucking & gutting houses, stretching across a range of over 2,000 miles. KURRVE (Kingdom United Resilience & Recovery Effort) is leading these efforts, and any help they can get will be gladly welcomed. You can sign up through can sign up through KURRVE Volunteer Form, which we have linked below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfMCfgW-rt2xtmJo9YhO9BkDGI081RRATm_kQZInSFu12J6oA/viewform?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1rwBdiWtbO9kuz757X2D4Z9q56MuwZF05pA9MN4HaJwbV017Xrd4X-SpM_aem_jMS5CS5IHzAgVckww4JeXg&pli=1

The trails are still closed at the moment as well, and are in need of repair. More than just being an awesome network and fun place to ride, they are a serious economic driver for the area - so the livelihood of many in the area is directly tied to the health of the network. If you have experience with trailbuilding (or want to get some), you can reach out to Geoff Whitchurch ([email protected]) to lend a hand.

Our hearts go out to our Northern neighbors, and we wish them a speedy recovery.

Spread the word!

07/09/2024

We’re looking forward to getting together with park & rec professionals at the Annual Conference Oct 8-10. 🥰

has it all: education sessions, networking, socials and the latest products for our field.

Register to join us: https://nrpaconference.wpenginepowered.com/registration/

07/01/2024

The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation and the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative have drafted a Vision – To Foster Healthy and Vibrant Communities Through Outdoor Recreation – and Priority Actions using information gathered from a statewide public survey, 28 stakeholder focus groups, a survey of Vermont recreation providers and a day-long summit with outdoor recreation leaders.

Now we’d like to hear from you!

Please join us at one of our webinars or open houses!

• Tuesday, July 2: 12:00 – 1:00 pm, Launch Webinar (will be recorded and posted online)
• Monday, July 15: 5:30-7:00 pm, Southern Vermont Open House, Manchester Community Library (138 Cemetery Ave, Manchester Center, VT)
• Wednesday, July 17: 7:00 – 8:30 pm, Northern Vermont Open House, Johnson Elementary School (57 College Hill Rd, Johnson, VT)
• Monday, July 22: 7:00 – 8:30 pm, Open House Webinar

Public input is also being collected through an online feedback form. Visit the Move Forward Together Vermont project website to learn more about community engagement sessions, the online feedback form, and find detailed information about the Draft Vision and Priorities.

Move Forward Together Vermont is a project of the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative.

The yearlong process will result in a vision and priorities for outdoor recreation in Vermont that will direct funding and resources for the next five years. Learn more at the Move Forward Together Vermont website.

https://fpr.vermont.gov/move-forward-together-vermont

06/28/2024

July is Parks & Recreation Month!!

This July, we are celebrating the people, spaces and programs that create a sense of belonging. When people see themselves — their cultures, languages and identities — reflected in a park, they come back. The connection moves beyond an initial introduction to a sense of belonging.

Join us and the NRPA as we celebrate during Park and Recreation Month this July!

https://www.nrpa.org/events/july/

06/12/2024

We are truly saddened to learn of the loss of Chip. He will be greatly missed, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and the entire St. Johnsbury community.

06/11/2024

Join Parks & Recreation professionals from around the country in Atlanta, October 8-10, for the 2024 NRPA Annual Conference - the largest gathering of park and recreation professionals in the world! This year's conference promises influential keynote speakers, inspiring education sessions and a fun-filled exhibit hall. It's also one of the best opportunities to network and connect with park and recreation professionals across the country. Mark your calendar now - you won't want to miss the NRPA Annual Conference!

Learn more at: https://nrpaconference.wpenginepowered.com/registration/

04/23/2024

Looking for some summer amusement park fun at a reduced rate?!

The VRPA is partnering with Six Flags New England in Massachusetts & Six Flags Great Escape in NY to offer discount ticket codes through the VRPA again since pausing the program after the 2020 pandemic. We are thrilled to be partnering with them again!

These tickets are good any day of the week for the duration of the park season. By purchasing your tickets through the Vermont Recreation & Parks Association, you can save money and help out the state organization, which in turn benefits local parks and recreation departments throughout the state.

For more details and the links to purchase, visit our website link below!
https://www.vrpa.org/Discount-Ticket-Sales-Program

Address

Brownsville, VT
05037

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 3pm
Tuesday	9am - 3pm
Wednesday	9am - 3pm
Thursday	9am - 3pm
Friday	9am - 3pm

Telephone

(802) 878-2077

Website

http://www.vrpa.org/

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Registration is open now for some great VRPA events happening again this year! VT Maintenance Workshop - June 2nd in Middlebury Summerama Camp Staff Training - June 17th in Rutland VT Conference on Recreation - October 13th & 14th in Fairlee https://www.vrpa.org/events

Vermont Recreation & Parks Association

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77th Annual VT Conference on Recreation Speaker, Jo Burns

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