Fall 2023 REC CONNECT NEWSLETTER
Look Inside For….
Presidents Message……….….....2
Remembering the Past Video..5
Landscape Structures Video ...7
Professional Spotlight.…...10-11
PRIMEX Events…………………….15
GSTF Wrap-up…………..…………17
Message from Executive Director
NRPA Salary Survey……………..19
Greetings NHRPA! As I sit and write this message it is about 92 de- SONH Hero’s Cup…………………24
grees outside and we are in the first week of September! Sure
seems like Mother Nature had her own agenda for summer weather NRPA News………………………....26
this year! Cold and rainy summer leads into the hottest week in ear-
ly September. I hope you all had successful summer programs and Happy Reading!!!
that your teams did a great job with all your programs, camps and
special events. I know that Parks & Recreation doesn’t always get
thanked for the programs and events offered in your communities
but please know that what you do does make a difference and
makes each of your communities a better place to live!
As we head into fall the NHRPA State Conference celebrating 75
years is right around the corner. Thank you to the State Conference NHRPA Diversity Statement:
Committee and to the special 75th committee for your work so far—
this promises to be a fantastic and most likely sold out state confer- “New Hampshire Recreation and
ence. Please take a few moments to watch the Remembering the
past video on page 5 before you attend the conference. We are Parks Association is committed to
looking forward to welcoming keynote speaker Mark Honberger making diversity, equity, inclusion,
who will deliver the keynote “RAISING THE BAR.” This keynote will and belonging a priority towards
give us all ideas on finding ways to improve how we go about our
“business and turning those “Big Ideas” into practical “Action Steps” achieving our mission. We strive to
that you can start accomplishing tomorrow, so we can be “RAISING accomplish these common ideals for
THE BAR” for our agencies. Looking forward to seeing many of you the betterment of our membership
and many NHRPA Commercial members in the vendor hall. Have a
great fall! and the communities that they
Kerry Horne M.Ed., Executive Director, NHRPA
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NHRPA Executive Board
NHRPA PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
President: Matt Casparius
Greetings NHRPA Members Merrimack Parks & Recreation
I trust that you all had a successful summers and were able to offer lots of President Elect: David Tovey
amazing opportunities for your residents. e would love to see photos of all Exeter Parks & Recreation
these incredible events so please share them by sending them to Kerry Secretary | Tara Tower
Horne at [email protected] and tell us a little bit about the
Lincoln Woodstock Recreation
event. I also hope that you were able to take an opportunity at the relax,
rejuvenate and participate in some recreation programs yourself before Treasurer | Arene Berry
starting up with your Fall programs. Milford Recreation
Past President | Craig Fraley
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The Executive Board will be meeting on Thursday, September 14 at Amherst Parks & Recreation
Health Trust from 9:00 am – 10:30 am to begin mapping out the future of
our Association for the coming year. This meeting will be following by an
Association general business meeting which will begin at 10:30 am. All NHRPA Board Members
members are welcome to attend. In the coming weeks; we are hoping to Laura Bryant
announce Fall workshops and other training opportunities for the coming Concord Parks & Recreation
year. Justin Chaffee
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2023 marks the 75 Anniversary of the New Hampshire Recreation & Park Ossipee Parks & Recreation
Association and the State Conference Committee has been working hard to
create an amazing conference experience for you. The Annual State Con- Eric Feldbaum
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ference will take place this year on Thursday, October 19 at the Concord Division of Parks & Recreation
Recreation Department. Our keynote speaker this year - Mark Honberger John Kohlmorgen
will be on “RAISING THE BAR” and how we take our performance as Rec- Jaffrey Recreation
reation Professionals to the next level; finding ways to improve how we go
about our “business.” Ultimately, it means turning those “Big Ideas” into
practical “Action Steps” that you can start accomplishing tomorrow. WE
think it is a great topic that you will all enjoy. Registration is open and spac-
es for the conference are filling up quickly. Complete details and the regis- “What you do
tration form can be found on our website at https://www.nhrpa.com/event-
5224244 has far greater
impact than
Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions, comments or
concerns regarding the direction of NHRPA or if there is any way that the
Association can serve you better. I look forward to seeing you all at the what you say.”
State Conference Respectfully Submitted
— Stephen Covey
Respectfully Submitted, Matt Casparius, CPRE
NHRPA President, [email protected]
NHRPA Calendar of Events—to see the full calendar or events CLICK HERE
Thursday, October 19, 2023 NHRPA State Conference—Celebrating 75 years!
Thursday, November 9, 2023 NHRPA Coffee Talk with Bob Barcelona—Clemson
University followed by NHRPA Business Meeting
November 13—15, 2023 Financial Sustainability Certificate Program
Thursday, March 28, 2024 SAVE THE DATE— Ian Hill Leadership Summit
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75 Years of NHRPA? Let’s Celebrate!
Submitted by: Donna Kuethe
For 75 years NHRPA has provided incredibly valuable services to its members. Formed in 1948 as
the NH Recreation and Park Society, our founders - led by Richard, “Wink” Tapply - understood the
value of Parks and Recreation to NH Communities. As such a need was identified to unite Recrea-
tion and Park service providers in one professional organization. Since that time NHRPS, now
NHRPA, has provided incredibly valuable service to NH Park and Recreation practitioners. Aware-
ness, advocacy, education, recognition, certification, professional ethics/standards, networking and
much, much more. Unlike much of the country, many NH Recreation Professionals operate in small
Recreation Departments – many are one professional departments. The impact of NHRPA to NH’s
Parks and Recreation Professionals is perhaps even more valuable as opposed to larger state associ-
ations as it provides opportunities that are harder to find within their own departments i.e. net-
working within colleagues, mentorship, learning opportunities, etc. At the state conference on Oc-
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tober 19 , we will take time to acknowledge and celebrate the value of the organization that has
done so much for New Hampshire’s Recreation and Park professionals, and therefore so much for
New Hampshire communities.
In addition to the designated time for celebration, two afternoon education sessions will bring to-
gether professionals from several decades – some retired and/or honorary members, some
“seasoned” but still employed in the field, and “newer” Recreation and Park practitioners. In the
first session, “Achieving Professional Excellence through NHRPA”, the panel will share their exper-
tise focusing on professional excellence – why it’s important and NHRPA’s role in achieving it. The
second session “If Only Someone Had Told Me – Lessons Learned Through Careers in Parks and Rec-
reation” will focus on providing participants the unique opportunity to tap into the vast years of
knowledge presented by the panel.
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NHRPA 50th Anniversary Video
Please Watch Before You Attend the 75th Celebration
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This is a nineteen (19) minute video of NHRPA that was created for the 50 Anniversary of
the Association in 1998. There will be a Trivia contest at the State Conference this year relat-
ed to information in this video. Prizes will be awarded for correct answers. Questions will be
related to the Past, Present and Future of NHRPA.
While the Recreation movement was formally launched in 1906, NHRPA began in 1948 as
the New Hampshire Recreation and Park Society. May this video be an inspiration for an up-
date of the past twenty-five years of 1998-2023.
CLICK on the image above to play the video!
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NHRPA State Conference
Celebrating the Past, Present and Future
7:45 – 8:30 Registration – coffee and light snacks
8:30 – 8:45 Welcome and Opening Remarks NHRPA President Matt Casparius
8:45 – 10:00 Mark Honberger, with Raising the Bar Keynote
We all want to be better at what we do, right? That’s what “RAISING THE BAR” is all about. It means taking
our performance as Recreation Professionals to the next level; finding ways to improve how we go about
our “business.” Ultimately, it means turning those “Big Ideas” into practical “Action Steps” that you can
start accomplishing tomorrow, so we can be “RAISING THE BAR” for our agencies.
10:00 – 11:00 Vendor Hall & Networking
11:00 – 11:30 Let’s Celebrate!! 75 years in the Making of NHRPA
11:30 – 1:00 Lunch and Vendor Time
1:00 – 2:00 2 Choices for Education Sessions (Select one):
Education session with Mark Honberger, on Wow Factor: What is it about those recreation programs that
sets them apart from others? What is it about those parks or recreation centers that have that ability to al-
ways draw the community in? The answer we’re looking for is: “Wow Factor!”; that ability to stand out from
the crowd with something unique or unexpected... But can we have that Wow Factor without sacrificing our
original mission? Yes. We. Can! Come learn “How To Wow!”
Education Session - “Achieving Professional Excellence Through NHRPA”
For 75 years NHRPA has provided incredibly valuable services to its members. Unlike much of the country,
many NH Recreation Professionals operate in small Recreation Departments – many are one professional
departments as such NHRPA’s impact to its Parks and Recreation Professionals may be more valuable than
those in larger state associations - providing opportunities that be are harder to find in smaller departments
- networking with colleagues, mentorship, learning opportunities etc.
Whether you are a brand-new Parks and Recreation Professional or have been in your position for a while,
this session brings together a panel of “Professionals Across the Decades” to share their expertise with audi-
ence focusing on professional excellence – why it’s important and NHRPA’s role in helping them to achieve
Professional Excellence. Among other subjects the session will address: What is Professional Excellence?
How does it relate to improving the quality of facilities and services in individual communities; the im-
portance of mentorship – both as mentor and mentee, Learning from Mistakes and Successes; How a strong
Association translates to better Parks and Recreation Services for NH communities and more.
2:00 – 2:30 Additional Vendor Hall & Networking
2:30 – 3:30 Education Session - “If Only Someone Had Told Me – Lessons Learned Through Careers in Parks
and Recreation”
Including Retired and Honorary members in the 75th Celebration gives us a unique opportunity to tap into
the vast years of knowledge. While times have changed and the challenges of today’s recreation profession-
als may be different than those who provided services years ago, at the heart of it, the goals are the same.
Utilizing the Panel Concept this session will be a lively interchange between professionals of different dec-
ades. 2 Retired Professionals, 2 current but seasoned professionals, and 2 “Newer” professionals. The facili-
tated panel will start with a short introduction with panelists will very briefly identify the following: The one
thing that they are most proud of in their career; their biggest regret; what did or does cause them the most
stress? What was their most daunting challenge and how did they face it-what was the outcome? What was
the most amusing thing in their career? Their one piece of advice for professionals today. We then open the
discussion up to the audience to ask any of the panel for advice on anything that they’re dealing with cur-
rently.
3:30 – 4:00 Final Remarks & Raffles
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AS ATTENDEE
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PLAY CONNECTS US
We can't wait to get reconnected at the 2023 NRPA
Annual Conference in Dallas, home to our SkyWays
shade division. We are excited to announce that we're
bringing back our customer party—the first since
2019—and want you to save the date to be there. Not
only will we provide drinks, appetizers and fun, but
we're excited to also have a concert by nationally
known country-blues-rocker, Frankie Ballard! Mark
your calendars to join us:
Monday, Oct. 9, doors open at 7 p.m. CT
Gilley's Dallas, 1135 Botham Jean Blvd., Dallas—Stay tuned for more details including RVSP in-
formation coming later this year. For any immediate questions, contact your local Landscape
Structures consultant, for NHRPA that is Joel St. Pierre. [email protected]
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NHRPA State Conference
Vendor Hall Registration is OPEN!
When: Thursday, October 19, 2023 @ Concord Recreation Community Center
We are looking forward to a great conference celebrating 75 years of NHRPA and we hope you will
join us as a PREMIER Sponsor or as a participant in our VENDOR hall. The full schedule is coming
soon!
Premier sponsor package: $500
The package will include table space, logo in online conference brochure and on all emails and con-
ference promotion, two lunches, list of conference participants and the opportunity to introduce a
session and speak for two minutes about your products and services.
Vendor hall package: $125 members or $275 non-member (includes membership)
Vendors will receive table space, one lunch and your logo in the online conference brochure and a
listing of conference attendees.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AS A VENDOR TODAY!
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Wink Tapply Playground Leaders Workshop
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On Saturday, June 3 NHRPA offered the “Wink” Tap-
ply Playground Leaders Workshop. Brooklyn Raney,
our keynote speaker, welcomed our 110 registrants
with her engaging and informative keynote address
about Presence, Play, and Possibility.
The education session in the morning dealt with topics
such as Water safety and summer camp risk manage-
ment, the importance of camp songs, kids doing dumb
stuff, but staff cannot, and a games session and how to
teach them. After a great lunch prepared and served
by the Tapply Thompson Community Center Staff we
got ready for our Camp Challenges where each camp
staff from the various communities competed against
the other departments for points. After the challenges, we enjoyed ice cream sundaes and
raffled off fun prizes!
A HUGE thank you to the Wink committee, speakers/presenters, and participants for mak-
ing it a fun and enjoyable event this year!
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Professional Spotlight
Name: Brooke Wakefield Town: Waterville Valley, NH
Job Title: Recreation Director
Number of years you have been with the depart-
ment? 9.5 years
Why do you work in Recreation? Because I love
to recreate! :-) I also love organizing and creating
opportunities for people to smile more. When I
discovered outdoor recreation in an outing club
during high school I felt giddy, challenged and ac-
complished after each trip.
What is one challenge you face as a professional? I find it tricky and cumbersome to suc-
ceed in helping the town progress because sometimes the municipal hoops prove too
lengthy a process.
What is one program or event that you run that you would like to share with the member-
ship? Over Labor Day Weekend we had our 4th annual Family Chalk Fest. The event was
born out of Covid since it was an outdoor activity where people could safely be together. It
was simple and fun and held in our parking lot. The next year we added a bouncy house.
The third year we moved it to our soccer field and added another inflatable feature and a
Balance Bike Rider Rally. This year it grew even more with serious artistic talent and has be-
come a community favorite. Another impressive program we have recently had success with
is our Rail Trail Bike Rides. Every Tuesday we load our bike trailer and bus off to discover one
of the amazing Rail Trails of VT & NH. Last Tuesday we had a full bus with 14 cyclists that
went to a 20-mile section of the Northern Rail Trail, ending at Webster Lake. This program =
VERY HAPPY VOTERS CUSTOMERS! :-)
Favorite place to take groups on a trip? I am not often the one taking the trips, but I do
treasure driving the annual Fryeburg Fair Trip on Senior Day.
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Personal Spotlight—Brooke Wakefield
Where did you go to school? Prescott College (Prescott, AZ)
What is your degree? B.A. Adventure Education, Breadth in Human Development
Where were you born? Birmingham, Michigan
Where have you lived? Salt Lake City, Sacramento, San Francisco, Prescott AZ, Plymouth NH
Favorite Recreational Activity? Currently PICKLEBALL! It was
whitewater kayaking & running for a long time before.
What is your favorite food? I love all kinds of foods but love In-
dian food in the winter and salads in the summer.
What is your favorite movie? Princess Bride or Say Anything
What is your favorite vacation spot? Greece! My husband and I
took our girls there in June 2022 for a magical experience.
What is your favorite type of music? Country
What is your pet peeve? Uneven tables when I go out to eat. Drives me nuts.
What is your proudest accomplishment? Being a mom to my two girls. Aside from that I am
proud of my athletic accomplishments, running 5 marathons and competing at the pro level
in whitewater freestyle kayaking.
Finish this sentence. My dream… is to live a simple, bal-
anced life where I retire young-ish and play pickleball
twice a day!!! And that I am always close to my kids
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Play is an activity that is inherent in all of us. We know how important it is for everything
from development to engagement to community. As our communities evolve, we see
trends and ideas in the industry come to the forefront.
The Importance of Outdoor Public Spaces.
One overall trend that we’re seeing, and loving, is the viewing of public parks and green-
spaces as critical infrastructure and as tools to strengthen public health and safety. The
positive effects of parks and recreation areas to communities is evident in numerous stud-
ies and the benefits range from higher graduation rates and property values to lower blood pressure, stress and obesi-
ty rates. Parks are a tangible refection of quality of life for communities and being treated as such elevates the atten-
tion and resource allocation they deserve.
Moving Outdoors.
During the last few years, we’ve seen a spike in outdoor spaces. Taking learning outside opens children up to new ex-
periences and increases focus and cooperation while allowing them to use their senses and imaginations in ways they
can’t indoors. Outdoor fitness opportunities in public spaces increase exercise for community members. This is incredi-
bly important for a variety of reasons, one being the obesity epidemic we are experiencing. Instead of trending down,
the trend is up. According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 22% of children and teens
have been classified as obese up from 19% before 2020. Having well-designed public spaces for children and adults to
exercise and move can help combat this alarming trend and bring equity to exercise availability.
Awe and Adventure.
Bringing awe and adventure into our daily lives is something we’ve been studying. Daily doses of awe bring us calm
and help us appreciate the world around us. Adventure play engages children and adults and has a high replay value
bringing kids and families back into the outdoors time and time again. Designing for awe and adventure is important to
both our physical and mental health and helps the outdoors compete for time with screens.
Universal Design.
A trend that has been around for a long time but keeps
evolving into better and better products and designs is
inclusive play design and the use of Universal Design
principles. Creating spaces that are useable for everyone
allows all people to get the benefits of play and recrea-
tion in a way that is comfortable for them.
Intergenerational Play.
Play at all ages and stages of life is another trend we see
communities embracing. All people of all ages and abilities need to be outdoors for mental and physical health. Cre-
ating gathering spaces that provide entertainment for everyone get the most support and encourage community pride
and engagement – two important benefits of public parks and greenspaces.
Thank you for your partnership! Looking forward to 2024!
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Register today for the annual
Northern New England Recreation & Parks Conference
By: Tara Tower
rd
2024 will be the 73 annual Northern New England Recre-
ation & Parks Conference, and we will once again be back
at the Mountain View Grand Resort in Whitefield, NH. The
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conference will be held Tuesday, January 9 through
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Thursday, January 11 .
Registration is now open, and new this year your confer-
ence registration, room, and meal packages can all be han-
dled online at: https://nnerpc.myrec.com/.
This year’s keynote speaker is Adam Sutton of Adam Sutton Group, LLC whose website ta-
gline is “Working Happier: Inspiration for Aspiration”. See the complete speaker lineup and
session offerings at: https://nnerpc.myrec.com/.
If you have any questions or problems registering for the 2024 conference, you can email
me at: [email protected].
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Pettinelli & Associates is a recreational de-
sign firm that has been supplying quality
products and service in Vermont, New
Hampshire and Northern New York for
more than 33 years!
We offer site evaluations and assistance
to help your group with every step towards
building and enjoying a quality play envi-
ronment.
For information contact Bob Pettinelli
1-800-775-8153 or email: [email protected]
http://pettinelliandassociates.com/
New England Camping Association Call for Speakers
The New England Association Camp Conference Committee is now ac-
cepting proposals to speak at the 2024 Annual Conference which will take
place on March 21 – 23, 2024 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Each
year, the ACA aims to offer high quality, relevant, and innovative sessions
for camp professionals throughout the region. The submission deadline
Friday, October 13, 2023.
We hope that you/your organization will consider submitting a pro-
posal HERE. You’ll also find lots more information about the topics we
look for and the information we ask for by clicking that link. Feel free to
reach out to Kerry Salvo, Director of Education and Professional Develop-
ment at ACA, New England ([email protected]) with
any questions you might have.
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NHAHPERD - Be Extraordinary in 2023!
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Granite State Track and Field 2023 A Success!
The 2023 Granite State Track and Field State Meet was held on
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Saturday June 17 at the Winnisquam High School Track in Tilton.
Despite a dire forecast of heavy rain and wind, the weather gods
shined down on us - holding off the intensity until after we had
completed all events. The official results of the last events and
awards from those events had to be handled after the day with
shirts and ribbons mailed out to the participants after the event.
There were 397 athletes representing 19 communities, organizations and independent athletes.
Thanks are in order to all committee members, an incredible group of volunteers that showed up
on race day, coaches, parents, Winnisquam School District, Chris Benson (Speed Sport Timing) as
well as our generous sponsors – Meredith Village Savings Bank, Proulx Oil and Propane, Tapply-
Thompson Community Center Lions Club International (Exeter, Hampton, Bristol and Salem) North-
east Delta Dental, Enterprise Bank, The Rec Goddess, Collins Sports and Las Olas Taqueria. A spe-
cial thanks to the youth athletes who gave their best efforts in all events and, as always, exhibited
great sportsmanship and politeness in all encounters with their teammates, fellow competitors,
volunteers, and coaches.
This year we opted for just one state meet rather than the two qualifying district meets followed
by the state meet. We will look at anticipated numbers again for 2024 before deciding whether to
continue with this model or to return to our previous format.
Planning for the 2024 event will begin shortly after the new year. Granite State Track and Field is a
program of NHRPA. We would love for more NHRPA members to volunteer for the committee.
Contact either Paul Coats [email protected] or Donna Kuethe recgod-
[email protected]
Submitted by Donna Kuethe, Co-chair of Granite State Track and Field on behalf of the GSTF com-
mittee: Paul Coats, Dan MacLean, Doug Cole, Dan Sturgeon, Justin Chaffee, David Tovey and Dyana
Martin
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2023 NRPA Park and Recreation Salary Survey
The 2023 NRPA Park and Recreation Salary Survey report
presents compensation data provided by agency size, type
and certain demographic characteristics of incumbents in the
positions (e.g., education, certifications and years in the pro-
fession). The analysis also examines factors that determine
pay raises and bonuses (if offered) and highlights other bene-
fits that comprise full compensation packages for park and
recreation professionals.
Comprehensive compensation data provides park and recre-
ation agency leaders with guidance on how to attract the
best candidates for their staff. This data also can provide
park and recreation professionals with insights into salary
and benefits offered by potential employers. To gather that data, the National Recreation and Park Associa-
tion (NRPA) research team sent a 43-question survey in March 2023 to produce the salary data of 13 posi-
tions at park and recreation agencies and general information about benefits and salary policies. The re-
sponses from leaders of more than 400 park and recreation agencies across the United States are the basis
of this report.
The 2023 NRPA Park and Recreation Salary Survey Report features detailed base salary and bonus data for
13 typical park and recreation agency positions:
• Park and Recreation Agency Director (or Executive Director or Superintendent)
• Planning Director (or Superintendent)
• Director of Finance (or Administrative Director or Business Manager)
• Recreation Director (or Recreation Superintendent or Assistant Director — Recreation)
• Park Operations Director (or Maintenance Director or Maintenance Superintendent)
• Park Operations (or Maintenance Foreman)
• Facilities Manager
• Athletics Supervisor (or Athletics Manager)
• Aquatics Supervisor (or Aquatics Manager)
• Recreation Programs Coordinator (or Recreations Programs Manager)
• Marketing and Communications Director (or Manager) *New position to this report in 2023
• Fitness Center Manager *New position to this report in 2023
• Administrative Assistant *New position to this report in 2023
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Positive Impact of Parks & Recreation on Public Health
Parks & Recreation programs are an important part of every community. Here are a few
ways Parks & Recreation positively impacts Public Health:
Physical Activity: Parks provide spaces for people to engage in various physical activities
such as walking, jogging, cycling, sports, and more. Regular physical activity is crucial for
maintaining a healthy weight, reducing the risk of chronic diseases (like obesity, diabe-
tes, and heart disease), and improving overall cardiovascular fitness.
Mental Health: Natural environments like parks have been shown to have positive
effects on mental health. Spending time in green spaces can reduce stress, anxiety, and
depression. Nature's calming influence helps people relax and unwind, promoting a
sense of well-being.
Social Interaction: Parks are often community gathering spots. They provide a place for
people to come together, socialize, and build relationships. Social interaction contributes
to better mental and emotional health by reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Children's Development: Parks offer children a safe place to play and explore. Active
play outdoors supports healthy physical development, coordination, and cognitive
growth. It also encourages creativity and imagination.
Access to Nature: For people who live in urban areas with limited access to natural spac-
es, parks can provide a vital connection to nature. This connection has been linked to im-
proved mood, cognitive function, and overall well-being.
Promotion of Healthy Behaviors: Parks often host events, fitness classes, and sports ac-
tivities that encourage people to adopt healthier lifestyles.
Chronic Disease Prevention: Engaging in regular physical activity through recreation in
parks can help prevent and manage chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart
disease. This can lead to long-term improvements in public health.
Community Bonding: Parks serve as venues for community events, picnics, and gather-
ings. These shared experiences can foster a sense of community, strengthen social ties,
and contribute to a supportive and connected neighborhood.
In summary, parks and recreation areas offer numerous opportunities for physical activity,
relaxation, social interaction, and contact with nature. These activities collectively contrib-
ute to better physical and mental health outcomes for individuals and communities as a
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Happy 75 Years to
NHRPA!
Cousineau Forest Products is a wood brokerage
firm located in Henniker, New Hampshire. At this
facility the Cousineau operate a concentration and
processing yard for various forest products includ-
ing chips, bark mulch, whole tree wood chips, bio-
mass fuel, playground surfacing, pallets and clean
wood waste.
Contact: Jim Donnelly for more information!
603-748-5176 or [email protected]
NHRPA Career Center
Looking for a new job?
Visit the NHRPA Career
Center and your new job
could be just a click
away!!!
CLICK HERE
23
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Head to the ballpark on Saturday, October 14 at 1:30pm for the Hero’s Cup!
The Hero’s Cup pits local police officers and firefighters against each other in a baseball
battle of the Bravest vs. the Finest to benefit the athletes and programs of Special Olympics
New Hampshire. The annual rivalry game will be played at the home of the New Hampshire
Fisher Cats, Delta Dental Stadium, in downtown Manchester.
There will be games, raffles and fun for the whole family, an event not to miss! There is no
cost to attend, donations at the gate are welcome.
Let’s hit one out of the park and pack the stadium for Special Olympics! We hope to see
you there!
Additional information can be found here.
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Thank you Special Olympics—NHRPA VIP!
The mission of Special Olympics New Hampshire is to provide year-round sports train-
ing and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults
with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical
fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts,
skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the com-
munity.
Volunteer
Volunteers are the backbone of the Special Olympics movement. They are coaches,
trainers, officials, event organizers, fundraisers and managers. They can also be uni-
fied partners—playing alongside athletes with intellectual disabilities—or fans cheer-
ing in the stands.
Our volunteers are all ages and their commitments can range from an afternoon to a
lifetime. Throughout New Hampshire, our volunteers are helping to bring out the
champion in every Special Olympics athlete.
Special Olympics would not exist today — and could not have been created — without
the time, energy, commitment and enthusiasm of people just like you, thousands of
individuals who choose to take a little time from busy schedules to make the world a
better place.
If you would like more information about volunteering opportunities with Special
Olympics New Hampshire, please contact us at [email protected] or (603)
624-1250.
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NRPA News……………………..
Tourism and Parks: Better Together
Learn how both communities and agencies benefit from merging
parks, recreation and tourism functions under a unified structure.
Read more...
Top 10 Things a Recreator Ought to Remember
Read about ten important reminders for park and recreation
professionals.
Read more...
Revitalizing Your Community with Federal Dollars
Explore how park and recreation agencies can utilize Commu-
nity Development Block Grant funding to support program-
ming, improve outdated facilities or build new facilities in un-
der-resourced communities.
Read more...
Disorganized Lifeguard Response in Lake Drowning
In the case of Yarborough v. City of Springfield, Mary Yarborough brought a
wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Springfield after her son drowned
at a public beach.
Read more...
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I hope you enjoyed the NHRPA Rec Connect Newsletter. If you would like
to submit an article, picture, advertisement or story for the winter news-
letter please submit information by Friday, January 12, 2024 to
[email protected]
Contact NHRPA:
Mail: NHRPA, 172 Pembroke Road, Concord, NH 03301
Executive Director: Kerry Horne, M.Ed.—[email protected]
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