Schedule will be updated as session presentations are finalized. Schedule subject to change.
Educational Tracks:
Park and Facility Maintenance (PFM)
Personnel and Career Development (PCD)
Natural and Cultural Interpretation (NCI)
Natural Resource Management (NRM)
Monday February 25
| Time | Event | Title | Presenter | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:00 a.m. | Registration Opens | Main Hallway | ||
| 1:00 p.m. | Workshop 1 | Park Safety- What’s the Best Model for You? (PFM, PCD) | Hugo McPhee | Lake James Room |
| Workshop 2 | Protecting Yourself from Opioid Waste Exposures and Associated Infectious Diseases (PFM) | Brandon Howell | ||
| Workshop 3 | Engineering 101 (PFM) | Michael Shrake/Greg Petry | ||
| Workshop 4 | Forest Bathing-Connecting with Nature Through Sensory Immersion (NCI) | Christy Thompson | ||
| 3:30 | General Session A | Investing in Your Agency- Where, Who, and How |
Steve Wolter/Gina Depper/Matt Wolf | Lake James Room |
| 7:00 | Social Event | Bonfire |
Tuesday February 26
| Time | Event | Title | Presenter | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m. | General Session B | Conservation Policy | William Weeks | Lake James Room |
| 10:15 | Session 1 | Using Social Media as an Interpretive Tool (NCI) | Kaitlyn Sproles/Ginger Murphy | |
| Session 2 | Telling Your Story Through Operations & Maintenance Planning (PFM) | Phillip Parnin/Travis Tranbarger | ||
| Session 3 | Animal Disease Management (NRM) | Nancy Boedeker | ||
| Session 4 | De-escalation Situation Basics (PCD) | Hugo McPhee | ||
| 11:15 | Lunch | Dining Room | ||
| 1:00 | Roundtable 1 | Working with Native American Communities (NCI) | ||
| Roundtable 2 | Contracting vs. In-house Work (PFM) | Arnie Biondo/Bill Tschirhardt | ||
| Park Tour | Nicky Ball | Meet in Main Lobby | ||
| Networking Opportunity | Coffee with the GLPTI Board | |||
| 2:45 | Session 5 | Recruitment and Retention of Seasonal Staff (PCD) | Ryan Davis | |
| Session 6 | Meth Awareness in Park (PFM) | Michael Toles | ||
| Session 7 | Understanding Midwestern Ecosystems (NRM) | Tom Swinford | ||
| Session 8 | Operating Nature Day Camps and Programs (NCI) | |||
| 4:00 | Session 9 | Volunteers –An Organization’s Greatest Natural Resource (PCD) | Mary Lou Randolph/Gary Schussler | |
| Session 10 | Adaptive Re-use (PFM) | Patrick McKay | ||
| Session 11 | Nature Play in Nature Places: Planning and Building a Nature Play Area at Your Park (NCI) | Katie McGlashen | ||
| Session 12 | Invasive Species- Current and on the Horizon (NRM) | Megan Abraham/Vince Burkle | ||
| 6:00 | Awards Dinner and Presentation | Lake James Room | ||
Wednesday February 27
| Time | Event | Title | Presenter | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7:30 | Bird Hike | Nicky Ball | Meet in Main Lobby | |
| 8:30 a.m. | General Session C | Marketing to and Serving Diverse Populations | Jose Acevedo | Lake James Room |
| 10:15 | Session 13 | Working Injury Free-Implementing the Core Six Safety Principles (PFM) | Bill Hooker | |
| Session 14 | Inclusive Playgrounds Made Simple (PFM, NCI) | Ian Proud | ||
| Session 15 | Native Trees and Plants in the Great Lakes Region (NRM) |
Phil Graf | ||
| Session 16 | Developing Your Soft Skills (PCD) | |||
| 11:15 | Lunch | Dining Room | ||
| 1:00 | Workshop 5 | Zoning as a Park Planning Tool (NRM) | Debbie Jensen | |
| Workshop 6 | Protect Yourself! Job Task and Equipment Safety Through Practice and Participation (PFM) | Bill Hooker | ||
| Workshop 7 | Connecting with Parks on STEM (NCI) | Kristen Marks | ||
| Workshop 8 | ||||
| Speed Session 1 | Authority of the Resource (PCD) | Ginger Murphy | ||
| Speed Session 2 | Snake Fungal Disease Management (NRM) | Angie Manual | ||
| Speed Session 3 | Stretching to Avoid Workers Comp (PCD) | Lisa Cowen | ||
| 2:45 | Roundtable 3 | Fireside Chat for New Professionals (PCD) | Adam Grossman/Skye MacKenzie/Nina Onofrietti | Lonidaw Lounge |
| Roundtable 4 | Creative Fundraising (PCD) | Lori Birkes | ||
| Networking Opportunity | ||||
| 4:00 | Session 17 | Bike Park Maintenance and Upkeep Practices (PFM) | Rich Moore | |
| Session 18 | ||||
| Session 19 | ||||
| Session 20 | Stormwater Management (NRM) | |||
| 6:00 | Dinner, Game Night Social, and Trivia Contest | Lake James Room |
Thursday February 28
| Time | Event | Title | Presenter | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m. | Session 21 | Equipment in Natural Resource Management (NRM, PFM) | Justin Emmons/John Miller/Shane Morse | |
| Session 22 | Surveys and Focus Groups (PCD) | Gina Depper | ||
| Session 23 | You Don’t Have to be an Artist to Offer Art Programs: Arts and Interpretation (NCI) |
Angie Manual | ||
| Session 15 | Native Trees and Plants in the Great Lakes Region (NRM) |
Phil Graf | ||
| 9:30 | Brunch Buffet | Lake James Room | ||
| 10:15 | General Session D | The State Parks Movement in America | Jerry Reisinger | Lake James Room |
| 11:15 | Institute Closing | Lake James Room |