District 1 Winter Workshop
January 23, 2026
South Fayette Municipal Building South Fayette, PA
Registration is open for the 2026 D1 Winter Workshop on January 23! Join us for a full day of professional development featuring dynamic speakers, practical trainings, and innovative ideas designed specifically for parks and recreation staff at all levels. This year’s lineup offers something for everyone, from teambuilding techniques and accessible playground design to corporate sponsorships, field maintenance, and the future of AI in recreation. Don’t miss your chance to connect, learn, and bring new tools back to your department!
Event Schedule & Sessions
9:00 am – 9:30 am Check-in & Refreshments
9:30 am – 10:45 am
General Session: Teambuilding – A Primer for Park & Rec Professionals
Speaker: Dan Hendey, PRPS
Discover fast-paced, low-cost teambuilding activities that build camaraderie, strengthen communication, and support staff engagement. This session covers identifying group goals, selecting effective challenges, and using “challenge by choice” to foster trust and participation. Includes hands-on activities perfect for any organization.
11:00 am – 12:15 pm — Session 1 Options
Corporate Sponsorship & Naming Rights of Government Assets
Speaker: Audrey Rattay, Manager of Community Events & Stewardship, Cranberry Township
Learn how to build and sustain relationships with community partners, create tiered sponsorship and naming-rights packages, and use modern tools—from sponsorship guides to online giving portals. Audrey will also highlight collaboration strategies between municipalities and 501(c)(3) foundations.
Making Accessible Playgrounds More Common
Speaker: Jeffrey Holzer, Landscape Architect, Kimley-Horn
Think accessible playgrounds require all-new equipment? Think again. This session explores practical, cost-effective ways to make existing playgrounds more inclusive. Hear insights from a parent advocate, CPSI, and Parks & Rec Director as you learn key differences between accessibility and inclusivity, enhancement strategies, and real-world case studies.
12:30 pm – 1:15 pm Lunch & District 1 Meeting
1:30 pm – 2:45 pm — Session 2 Options
More Than ChatGPT: How AI Can Help Rec Departments Deliver Exceptional Experiences
Speaker: Kristen Sacchitella, Rec Technologies
Explore real applications of AI for parks & recreation—from data-driven programming to personalized user experiences. Learn about AI agents, current AI policies, and case studies from departments across the country. No advanced tech background required!
Field Maintenance 101: The Basics to Building a Successful Program
Speaker: Nick Gialloreto, Walker Supply
Get grounded in the fundamentals of grass field maintenance with expert Nick Gialloreto. With experience spanning the NFL, MLB, municipalities, and collegiate athletic facilities, Nick will share best practices that support healthy, safe, and high-performing turf systems.
Registration Pricing
• $47 – Members and $57 – Non-Members
• $16 – Students
• $21 – Virtual (Non-CEUs) and $36 – Virtual (with CEUs)
• Select "Get Tickets" in top right
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We hope you’ll join us for a day of engaging sessions, practical insights, and opportunities to connect with fellow professionals across the region. Secure your spot today, this is a workshop you won’t want to miss! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Paula Willis, pwillis@sftwp.com
PRPS District 2 Volunteer Fundraiser
Thank you for wanting to learn more about District 2’s fundraiser. As mentioned in “The SCOOP”, District 2 has registered to begin working with two additional departments within Hershey Entertainment and Resorts. The newly added departments “Ushers” and “Entertainment” are joining D2’s existing volunteer work with “Attractions”.
The Hersheypark Entertainment Complex utilizes volunteers from non-profit groups like PRPS to fill staffing voids in various departments due to availability of part-time or seasonal paid employees. PRPS/District 2 earns $8 for each hour worked by a volunteer and in turn, the volunteer receives ticket vouchers that may be redeemed for admission into Hersheypark. A win-win-win for all three parties involved. Sometimes the advertised ticket voucher haul is 1 for each shift worked, but there are volunteer shifts that sometimes include 2 ticket vouchers for a single shift. Most volunteer shifts are 4 to 5.5 hours in length.
Here are some descriptions of each department that District 2 is registered to send volunteers to:
Usher (GIANT Center and Hersheypark Stadium): Checking guest’s tickets, showing guests to their ticketed seats, and overseeing a section during an event. Organization Volunteers may also operate an elevator and maintain access control at various locations to ensure only those guests with proper tickets/credentials enter and exit. Organization Volunteers may also assist with guest surveys and distributing promotional material.
Entertainment: Greeting and welcoming guests at designated Entertainment locations within Hersheypark. A current example would be assisting in the Treatville area during the Hersheypark Halloween weekends.
Attractions: This role supports the safe operation of the rides and attractions of Hersheypark. Based on assignment, this role may require the participant to work independently at smaller attractions or collaboratively support Hersheypark ride operators at larger attractions. Attraction volunteers will have direct contact with Hersheypark guests (including small children), and are expected to maintain a high degree of professionalism and guest service. Participants are required to attend a 5-hour Attractions Safety Training prior to their first shift within Hersheypark. Duties include but are not limited to enforcing attraction heights and other rider requirements, performing required attraction safety checks, performing work that is almost exclusively outdoors, and maintaining vigilance at all times. Volunteers who are prescribed and using medical marijuana are not permitted to volunteer in Attractions.
**Standard Working Conditions for All Departments: Volunteers must be able to stand for the entire Volunteer Shift and must be able to bend, stoop, and walk. Must be able to volunteer in a variety of weather conditions, including heat, cold, and inclement weather.
Interested in supporting PRPS/District 2 while earning ticket vouchers for you and your family? Then this opportunity is for you! Your next step is to reach out to the PRPS District 2 HP volunteer coordinator:
Eric Stauffer (West Shore Recreation Commission)
Email: estauffer@wsrec.org
Office: 717-920-9515 x104
Eric will attempt to answer any questions you might have and also share with you the 2024 Hersheypark Entertainment Complex Volunteer Manual. You will be asked to review this manual before being signed up for any shifts, so you are sure you will be able to follow their policies & procedures.
Thanks so much for your time and consideration!
District 2 Winter Workshop
D2 Winter Workshop
January 30, 2026
Camp Hill Borough
10:45 am to 12:00 pm: The Outside Scoop: adding the N Factor to your programs
Speakers: DCNR Staff, Carter Johnson, Senior Naturalist, Briar Bush Nature Canter
Learn how to easily add environmental education (EE) to your public programs or enhance a simple walk around your park. Nature programs provide experiential learning that engages your participants to the world around them and can be geared to any age level, from pre-school to seniors while they pick up a new skill or hobby. This session will share resources, apps, as well as contacts for local agencies you can partner with in offering Nature programs at your parks.
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm: Break for Lunch
1:00 pm to 2:15 pm: Micro-Mobility on the Rise
Speakers: Jim Buckheit, President, Bicycle South Central PA; Teddy Fisher, Director, York County Parks, Rep. from the Camp Hill Borough Police Dept; Representative from Lebanon Valley Rails to Trails, Inc.
What are PMDs and EPAMDs? And why your parks and trails should have a policy about them. Since 2022, sales of e-bikes have increased rapidly along with other types of mobility devices. This session will explain the different classes recognized in Pennsylvania, where they are allowed to be used per the PA Vehicle Code and what the code does not cover. Examples of Municipal E-Bike and EPAMD policies will be shared.
2:15 pm to 2:30 pm: Quick and Easy Camp Games You Should Know!
2:30 pm to 3:45 pm: AI in Parks and Recreation Management: Balancing Innovation with Community Value
Speakers: Roderick Lee, Ph.D., Affiliate Associate Professor of Information Sciences and Technology, College of Information Sciences and Technology, Program Coordinator, Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence Methods and Applications, Penn State Harrisburg
Monica A. Tierney, MBA, Med., CPRE, Director of Parks and Recreation with Lower Makefield Township and author of Staying Ahead: Embracing AI to Thrive in Parks and Recreation
Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be useful in park and recreation operations from automating routine tasks like scheduling maintenance to data analysis to inform resource allocation and facility planning. It is beneficial to understand these benefits in utilizing AI while also considering potential drawbacks that might occur with privacy concerns, biases and ethical considerations. Joining our discussion is Monica Tierney from Lower Makefield Township who wrote the article Staying Ahead: Embracing AI to Thrive in Parks and Recreation and Dr, Roderick Lee, representing Penn State University’s Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence.