Two more weeks until the Soaring to New Heights Conference! There are so many aspects of conference I am looking forward to this year. One of which is our Sponsor a Student Program at the Annual Awards Luncheon at conference. Today's newsletter article features the student IPRA is sponsoring at our table this year, Renate Ware, who just a couple weeks ago graduated from the Chicago State University.

After January 9, you may register onsite. We hope to see you there, you won't want to miss some exciting updates to the attendee experience this year!

MOBILE APP
We're excited to announce that this year, IAPD and IPRA have worked with Gather Digital to provide a mobile application for the event. You will get up-to-the-minute information such as the latest agenda, venue maps, speaker information, feedback opportunities, exhibitor/sponsor details, and more.

CEUs are going mobile!
This year, attendees will have the option of earning and tracking their CEUs through the conference mobile app (mobile web excluded).

Check out the final conference brochure for details!

We are pleased to announce four new communities on IPRAConnect, which will allow you to connect with colleagues who are local to you! Central Illinois, Chicago Metro, Northwestern Illinois & Southern Illinois.

IPRAConnect is an environment where members can connect, engage and share information, resources and best practices with their colleagues in real time. Members can join communities and start participating in the discussions right away!

To join, click on "Communities" in the top navigation bar, then "All Communities." Here, you can join communities that interest you. You can join as many communities as you'd like!

Save the date! Providing 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.

Teens have fun learning to carve perfect turns, race down a slalom course, or master tricks in the terrain park with park district friends from all over Illinois. Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin has 25 unique runs that will be engaging for novice and expert ski/snowboarders alike.

Modeled after the Amazing Race, Park Pursuit allows members of IPRA to engage in a day-long race where team building, healthy competition and recreation take center stage. Participants are challenged physically and mentally as they race through the streets of Park Ridge. Clue cards direct teams to various parks and landmarks where tasks are performed .

Visit the IPRA Career Center for details!

For more information on these, and other upcoming section & committee meetings, click here!

The Illinois Park & Recreation Association (IPRA) has solved the age-old question - what should we do this weekend? - with its Community Calendar! Park and recreation agencies, special recreation agencies, forest preserves and recreation departments can now post community events to the IPRA Community Calendar. Whether it's a 5K, nature program or Daddy/Daughter Dance, the IPRA Community Calendar is the one stop for citizens to see what's happening around Illinois!