Park Stories

Food service requires healthy, nutritious menus prepped in clean, safe environmentsBy Jason SchaitzFood service at camp can be essential or nonessential depending on the type of program. Whether the service is already offered or being considered, some factors should be kept in mind

How camps can practice inclusivity for all youth By Hannah HowardHow should leaders ensure that everyone who comes to a camp or recreation program feels supported, safe, and seen? Likely, most program directors are already trying to ensure safe spaces for all participants. But what else can they do to intentionally create affirming spaces for gender-nonbinary and gender-expansive y

Steps to keep recreational facilities safe from carbon monoxide poisoning this summerBy Eric SpacekAh, the joys of summer camps and recreational activities—eager youngsters learning new sports, campers forming lifelong friendships…and dozens of children ending up in the emergency room because of carbon monoxide poisoning. Those hospital visits are every recreation manager’s n

Three Fantastic In-Service TrainingsBy Christopher ThurberYou’ve invested time and creativity into pre-season staff training, perhaps combining some pre-arrival video training modules from ExpertOnlineTraining.com with some creative on-site workshops and scenarios. Thanks to these efforts, the summer has hummed along, but now it’s midsummer. Are staff members continuing to impr

Leagues must prepare volunteers for worst-case scenariosBy John EnghRecently, I came across a story that really hit home. The event happened on a local youth baseball field near our office. Most likely, however, it struck a chord because the story involved a 6-year-old boy playing baseball, and it brought me back to my baseball-coaching days.

Leaders can help employees thrive by observing how they feel about their dutiesBy Ron CiancuttiI have two sons. One excelled in football and the other in rugby. Both received a college scholarship based on their abilities in the respective sports. Both were average students with a typical 18-year-old’s indifference to their future careers and goals.

Leveraging management technology to increase customer satisfactionBy Brian StapletonParks and recreation departments are critical to the overall well-being of communities. Residents are encouraged to get physical and mental exercise through classes, activities, and equipment provided by these departments. Group events help facilitate a connection between community members, giving t

R. J. Thomas Mfg. Co. steps into the national spotlight on popular TV showBy Justin JorgensenCherokee, Iowa-based R. J. Thomas Mfg. Co. was recently featured on "World's Greatest," a half-hour TV show that focuses on telling “the story behind the story.” The segment (in episode #361) premiered on Bloomberg TV in February 2024, but is now available online for on-demand viewing.

Festivals need thorough emergency-action plans for unpredictable summer weatherBy Kitty WeinerSummer has arrived in full force, and so have residents’ desires to get outside. Be it lounging in parks, walking through neighborhoods, riding bikes, or going to festivals, there’s plenty to draw locals to the outdoors.

Using the concept to aid in protecting natural and historic resources By Harold J. NolanThe conservation and/or preservation of both recreation- and historic-based resources begins with the unifying concept of environmental management. Two interdependent thrusts turn that concept into results. The first includes managing recreation, park, and historic resources in a way that provid