While states have long measured the economic value of outdoor recreation, little data has existed on the economic impact of adaptive and accessible recreation nationwide. This session will report on the full results of a yearlong study of the economic impact of Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports. We will cover how Vermont Adaptive is using this data in concert with the Trail Accessibility Hub partnership to advocate for and advance adaptive recreation across the state.

The Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program (UCF) works collaboratively between the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, University of Vermont Extension, the USDA Forest Service, and State and Private Foresters. UCF foresters support Arbor Day activities, train and advise Tree Wardens, monitor forest pests, support urban and park tree programs, and consult on tree care. In this workshop, Urban and Community Foresters, Joanne Garton and Adam McCullough will present on planting, tree care, pruning, and briefly, the impacts of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). This program is applicable to any private, municipal, or parks staff seeking to grow their knowledge of tree care in a community setting.

Park condition standards are foundational for many planning, maintenance, and operational decisions for park and recreation facilities. A well written standard defines an end goal and understandable and actionable descriptions of the acceptable state when any action is complete is instrumental to success, whether specifying a project, planning trash pickup or annual budgeting for a new accessible trail in your local forest or park. Park Standards are a primary step in any maintenance management system.

Vermont’s outdoor recreation system depends on collaboration across municipal parks and recreation departments, trail organizations, nonprofits, and state and federal partners. Yet many professionals lack a shared framework for skills, training, and career pathways. This session introduces the Outdoor Recreation Professional Competency Framework, developed through a national partnership led by SORP. Participants will explore how the framework supports local staff, volunteers, and organizations in building capacity, strengthening partnerships, and advancing workforce development. Through practical examples, attendees will learn how to apply competencies to hiring, staff training, and program delivery in Vermont’s unique recreation landscape.

Park report cards offer a simple, effective methodology for performing site visits and analyzing existing conditions. This methodology begins with an in-person park assessment using a series of evaluation criteria, including access to transportation, feelings of safety, lighting, and facility condition. Assessment results are then averaged and translated into a graphically pleasing report card that provides a clear and digestible understanding of how parks are currently serving the community and areas for future improvement.

Thoughtfully break down physical and social barriers to create a welcoming atmosphere and ensure parks intentionally support the developmental benefits of inclusive, intergenerational play! Research findings and new data offer unique insights to demonstrate the positive impact of designing outdoor destinations to address the diverse needs of the whole child, the whole environment, and the whole community!

Learn about upcoming recreation funding opportunities from the state! This session will share information about multiple grant programs that fund everything from trails to playgrounds to pools to trails and more! We'll cover timeline, eligible activities, and funding amounts for each program presented so you can identify which grant program is right for your project, plus share some grant-writing resources.

Witness the challenging rebirth of a defunct park into a sustainably managed recreational asset. Journey with our presenters through the circuitous process of taking North Hero State Park from a struggling campground to an accessible day-use park with a greener footprint. Learn how three successive regional managers approached shutting down traditional operations, revisioning the park, collaborating with subject matter experts and partners, integrating passionate public feedback, and ultimately carrying out this less-is-more revitalization effort.

Strong, durable outdoor economies are built on intentional partnerships amongst the agencies, non-profit organizations, municipalities, volunteer groups, and businesses who get us outdoors and drive economic activity. We will introduce participants to the recently-launched Vermont CORE Toolkit, diving into tools intended to help users gain a deeper understanding of the ecosystem of local outdoor economy partners in Vermont. Participants will come away with actionable case studies and next steps to tap into local partner networks.

Building a strong digital presence is vital for community participation without draining resources. This session explores Google, Facebook, and Instagram tools to effectively engage your audience. Learn the difference between social media and advertising, plus best practices for parks and recreation departments. We will cover essential "must-do" strategies and pitfalls to avoid. Gain actionable knowledge on targeted ads and ROI to create a more efficient, impactful online presence for your community.

This panel brings real voices to the center, sharing lived experiences of barriers to the outdoors and what made coming back possible. Through honest, human stories, panelists reflect on what exclusion feels like and what true belonging requires. Participants will leave with practical, community-rooted ideas for reducing barriers, building trust, and creating welcoming pathways that help more people feel seen, supported, and able to come alive outside.

Parks and recreation professionals are key to creating inclusive community spaces. This session highlights Move United’s free educational resources and how they can support inclusive programming in the community, including tennis, volleyball, swimming, track & field, cycling, hiking, and much more. Participants will also explore opportunities to partner with adaptive sport organizations to strengthen their programs. Through this crash course, attendees will gain actionable strategies and tools to increase access and participation for individuals with disabilities across Vermont communities.

Unleash AI to transform productivity and impact in parks and recreation. This session explores user-friendly tools to streamline tasks and optimize workflows, allowing more focus on meaningful community experiences. Learn to automate repetitive work, personalize marketing, and refine event planning for larger audiences. Whether you are an AI novice or expert, you will gain actionable strategies to boost efficiency and make data-driven decisions that elevate your daily operations and community engagement.

Discover how partnerships, artificial intelligence, and geospatial technology are helping trail organizations, parks, and recreation leaders build stronger, more connected outdoor communities. This session explores real-world strategies for improving mapping accuracy, engaging volunteers, supporting asset management, and turning trail data into actionable insights. Learn how collaborative technology can strengthen stewardship, improve decision-making, and help organizations plan for the future together.

Park and recreation managers often navigate the complex interplay of homelessness, park and recreation management, environmental stewardship, and social service provision. These dynamics converge in parks, forests, campgrounds, and other public recreation spaces, requiring the consideration of competing social and ecological interests.

This interactive session will be facilitated by researchers studying these dynamics. We will begin with a brief presentation about the state of research on homelessness in park and recreation management contexts. Then, we will encourage attendees to share their observations of how homelessness intersects with parks and recreation management in Vermont. Attendees will help identify gaps between existing research findings and the information and guidance local practitioners seek. The researchers will document the discussion to inform the development of a practitioner-driven research agenda on homelessness in parks that will guide future partnerships among researchers, managers, and other community partners. Attendees will be offered the opportunity to further participate in research agenda development, engage in future research, and learn about future research findings.

We hire professionals to draw plans and then ask a committee, group, volunteer commission, to review and provide feedback. If those groups are unable to properly interpret those plans, then informed feedback will be limited or non-existent. Understanding basic skills of plan reading will make everyone a participant in the process. Through the use of real plans, This session will provide hands-on learning how to read typical construction plans.