The American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED program is designed to train rescuers to respond to medical emergencies in adults, children, and infants until more advanced medical personnel take over. Participants will be trained to recognize breathing and cardiac emergencies, and to respond to such emergencies by performing CPR, using an AED, and providing any other appropriate care until medical personnel arrive. Participants will learn the proper response to sudden illnesses such as heart attack, stroke, and seizures. This training also includes a foundation of first aid for other injuries such as burns and external bleeding. You will receive your First Aid Adult, Child, and Infant CPR and AED certifications.

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.

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.

Every evaluation training will tell you to start by defining what you want to evaluate, then building your program to measure those things, and then analyzing data. In the recreation world, that’s not always possible. Sometimes you take over a program mid-stream and you need to reverse engineer your evaluation so you can tell your story. Using a state trail grant program as a case study, this session will walk you through tips and tricks for how to look back at the information you have to assess your impact.

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.

Recreation can do more than offer activities—it can create lasting connection. This session explores how partnering with Vermont Senior Games helps communities move beyond standalone programs to build networks of belonging, motivation, and celebration for older adults. Learn how statewide events strengthen local engagement, reduce social isolation, and unite partners around shared goals—turning participation into pride, purpose, and even gold‑medal moments.

This talk would explore how South Burlington’s Recreation Department is evolving to meet the needs of a changing, increasingly younger population. It highlights strategies for expanding inclusive programming, building partnerships beyond city boundaries, and leveraging diverse athletic and organizational experience to modernize recreation services. It also focuses on creating accessible opportunities for all ages, strengthening community engagement, and positioning recreation as a key driver of public health, connection, and quality of life in a growing community.

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.

Recreation programs don’t all serve the same purpose, and they shouldn’t all be priced the same. This session introduces the Cost Recovery Pyramid as a practical framework to align pricing with community outcomes, equity goals, and partner roles. Participants will learn how strategic pricing can strengthen partnerships, expand access, and sustain programs. Walk away with tools to communicate value, balance mission and revenue, and collaborate more effectively with stakeholders across your community.

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.