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 | Crooked Lake Room | |
| Workshop 3 | Engineering 101 (PFM) | Michael Shrake/Greg Petry | Snow Lake Room | |
| Workshop 4 | Forest Bathing-Connecting with Nature Through Sensory Immersion (NCI) | Christy Thompson | Outdoors-Meet in Lobby | |
| 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 | CCC Shelter |
Tuesday February 26
| Time | Event | Title | Presenter | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | Certificate Program | Certified Interpretive Host | Howard Aprill/Mary Rice | Nature Center |
| 8:30 | General Session B | Creating Conservation Commonwealth: Past and Future | William Weeks | Lake James Room |
| 10:15 | Session 1 | Using Social Media as an Interpretive Tool (NCI) | Kaitlyn Sproles/Ginger Murphy | Snow Lake Room |
| Session 2 | Telling Your Story Through Operations & Maintenance Planning (PFM) | Phillip Parnin/Travis Tranbarger | Crooked Lake Room | |
| Session 3 | Animal Disease Management (NRM) | Nancy Boedeker | Jimmerson Lake Room | |
| Session 4 | De-escalation Situation Basics (PCD) | Hugo McPhee | Lake James Room | |
| 11:15 | Lunch | Dining Room | ||
| 1:00 p.m. | Roundtable 1 | Working with Native American Communities (NCI) | Crooked Lake Room | |
| Roundtable 2 | Creative Fundraising (PCD) | Lori Birkes | Lake James Room | |
| Park Tour | Nicky Ball | Meet in Main Lobby | ||
| Networking Opportunity | Coffee with the GLPTI Board | Lonidaw Lounge | ||
| 2:45 | Session 5 | Recruitment and Retention of Seasonal Staff (PCD) | Ryan Davis | Lake James Room |
| Session 6 | Meth Awareness in Parks (PFM) | Michael Toles | Snow Lake Room | |
| Session 7 | Understanding Midwestern Ecosystems (NRM) | Tom Swinford | Jimmerson Lake Room | |
| Session 8 | Operating Nature Day Camps and Programs (NCI) | David Grissom | Crooked Lake Room | |
| 4:00 | Session 9 | Volunteers –An Organization’s Greatest Natural Resource (PCD) | Mary Lou Randolph/Gary Schussler | Lake James Room |
| Session 10 | Adaptive Re-use (PFM) | Patrick McKay | Snow Lake Room | |
| Session 11 | Nature Play in Nature Places: Planning and Building a Nature Play Area at Your Park (NCI) | Katie McGlashen | Crooked Lake Room | |
| Session 12 | Invasive Species- Current and on the Horizon (NRM) | Megan Abraham/Vince Burkle | Jimmerson Lake Room | |
| 6:00 | Awards Dinner and Presentation | Lake James Room | ||
Wednesday February 27
| Time | Event | Title | Presenter | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7:30 a.m. | Bird Hike | Nicky Ball | Meet in Main Lobby | |
| 8:00 | Certificate Program | Certified Interpretive Host | Howard Aprill/Mary Rice | Nature Center |
| 8:30 | General Session C | Marketing to and Serving Diverse Populations | Juan Carlos Acevedo | Lake James Room |
| 10:15 | Session 13 | Working Injury Free-Implementing the Core Six Safety Principles (PFM) | Bill Hooker | Jimmerson Lake Room |
| Session 14 | Inclusive Playgrounds Made Simple (PFM, NCI) | Ian Proud | Lake James Room | |
| Session 15 | Native Trees and Plants in the Great Lakes Region (NRM) |
Phil Graf/Jesse Felix | Crooked Lake Room | |
| Session 16 | The Languages of Staff Appreciation (PCD) | Ryan Davis/Addie Weaver | Snow Lake Lake Room | |
| 11:15 | Lunch | Dining Room | ||
| 1:00 p.m. | Workshop 5 | Zoning as a Park Planning Tool (NRM) | Debbie Jensen | Crooked Lake Room |
| Workshop 6 | Protect Yourself! Job Task and Equipment Safety Through Practice and Participation (PFM) | Bill Hooker | Jimmerson Lake Room | |
| Workshop 7 | Connecting with Parks on STEM (NCI) | Patricia McNerney | Snow Lake Room | |
| Workshop 8 | Leading From the Middle (PCD) | Jackie O’Connell | Lake James Room | |
| 2:45 | Speed Session 1 | Stretching to Avoid Workplace Injuries (PCD) | Traci Morick | Crooked Lake Room |
| Speed Session 2 | Snake Fungal Disease Management (NRM) | Angie Manual | Crooked Lake Room | |
| Speed Session 3 | Stretching to Avoid Workplace Injuries (PCD) | Traci Morick | Crooked Lake Room | |
| Roundtable 3 | Fireside Chat for New Professionals (PCD) | Adam Grossman/Skye MacKenzie/Nina Onofrietti | Lonidaw Lounge | |
| Roundtable 4 |
Contracting vs. In-house Work (PFM) |
Arnie Biondo/Bill Tschirhardt | Lake James Room | |
| Networking Opportunity | ||||
| 4:00 | Session 17 | Bike Park Maintenance and Upkeep Practices (PFM) | Rich Moore | Crooked Lake Room |
| Session 18 | The Art of Building Sustainable Partnerships (PCD) | Arnie Biondo | Lake James Room | |
| Session 19 | Pricing for Programs and Facilities (PCD) | Bill Tschirhardt | Snow Lake Room | |
| Session 20 | Green Infrastructure: Stormwater Management at Chickasaw Park (NRM) | Bennett Knox/Jason Canuel | Jimmerson Lake Room | |
| 6:00 | Game Night Social, Dinner, 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 | Lake James Room |
| Session 22 | Surveys and Focus Groups (PCD) | Gina Depper/Layne Elliott | Snow Lake Room | |
| Session 23 | You Don’t Have to be an Artist to Offer Art Programs: Arts and Interpretation (NCI) |
Angie Manual | Crooked Lake Room | |
| 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 |