As we celebrate another great year with a fabulous mentoring program completion, I thought I would take a moment and hit highlights of my speech at the IPRA BOD meeting at conference.

In October 2012, IPRA launched its Leadership Academy. The Academy is an intensive, six-month program that will benefit you regardless of what stage you are in your career. There are three levels to the Academy, and the curriculum at each level will focus on building great leaders to strengthen parks and recreation agencies.

The Office of Recreation & Park Resources and the Recreation, Sport & Tourism Department of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are the proud sponsors of the IPRA Leadership Academy. As one of the first colleges to offer a degree in parks and recreation, the university understands the importance of leadership and continuing education in our field. At the completion of each level, individuals will receive a Certificate of Completion from the University of Illinois.

Education: "Data & Analytics in Parks and Recreation
Speaker Name: Bobbi Nance, Senior Manager of Strategy & Innovation, Park District of Oak Park

Communities work with volunteers and unpaid staff to support their programs in various ways. In many cases, volunteers are essential to providing services beyond limited budgets and staffing restrictions. Using one agency's model, you'll learn how to use volunteerism both as a recreational opportunity and agency resource.

We will learn basic GIS terminology, explore different GIS software available, what kind of data can be used in GIS, how to add data to a map, and how to use the basic controls like zooming, panning and selecting.

The second session will focus more on data management, as we explore not just the geographic features, but the powerful information that underlies them.

Providing students and professionals in the recreation field a curriculum that builds a strong foundation of basic skills needed to obtain a supervisory position. Sessions provide opportunities to increase knowledge, which can be implemented immediately and expose participants to emerging trends that can help advance their career in the recreation field.

Online registration is now open! Please note that the course and exam have separate registration fees. It is not necessary to register for the course in order to take the exam. Attendees who wish to participate in both the course and exam must register for both options. Registration Deadline is March 18, 2016.

Park Pursuit is modeled after the TV show "Amazing Race." It allows members of IPRA to engage in a day-long race where team building, healthy competition and recreation take center stage. Participants navigate through the host town based on clues and complete challenges.

• Joint Section Education and Social - 3/9/16
• A&F Section Meeting - 3/10/16
• New Professionals Committee Meeting - 3/10/16
• IT Group Education Session - Roundtable - 3/10/16
• Early Childhood Workshop: Personality - 3/18/16

Check out the IPRA Community Calendar! You can also share events happening at your park and recreation agency!

Events this weekend...(both at Peck Farm Park, 4038 Kaneville Rd.,Geneva IL 60134)

Creature Features: Learn all about the creatures we share our planet with. We'll watch two movies and make something to take home. Please bring your own drink and nut-free snack. Different nature movies each class.

Passport to Nature:Great for families with kids of all ages! Grab your passport, we're going to discover nature's wonders. Collect different passport stamps at each session.