Sunday
OSI #1 - Lake Allatoona Resident Camp & Outdoor Recreation Facility: Experience Nature!
12:00:00 PM to 4:30:00 PM
0.4 CEUs
Urban deserts are prominent in larger cities. That is to say, our urban youth are becoming cut off from experiencing the great outdoors. In an effort to expose more youth to the natural healing powers and positive socialization being outside has to offer, the City of Atlanta runs a program as a part of its Camp Best Friends Summer Camp component, with the goal to get more kids outside, healthier, better socialized, and better critical thinkers. It is a known fact that playing in the forest inspires wonder in youth, promotes a healthier lifestyle, fosters critical thinking skill development, and is just good old fashioned fun! Allatoona resident camp and outdoor recreation facility is located on Lake Allatoona and sits on 209 acres of land. During the off-site participate in team building activities on fearful children in the forest, respect of plant and animal life, and confronting fears.
- Casual
- Raingear; Lightweight jacket Medium weight jacket
- Sandals; Walking shoes; Boots
Tony Coppage, Tony Coppage Associates
Darryl Haddock, West Atlanta Watershed Alliance
Quandus Burns, City of Atlanta
Monday
OSI #2 - Therapeutically Speaking - A Facility that works for everyone!
8:00:00 AM to 1:00:00 PM
0.5 CEUs
The special needs youth population in the City of Atlanta is an underserved group of individuals who do not readily have access to the same opportunities as their counterparts. According to the ADA Section 504, persons with disabilities must have access to public buildings but must also have comparable services. However, in many cases the services received by peers are better developed, better funded, and better programmed. In response to that deficit, the City of Atlanta DPRCA formulated the Therapeutic Recreation Division where many programs are tailored to better serve the special needs community in an effort to improve their quality of life, physical health, and to improve socialization skills through innovative programs. See a demo and participate in two sports specifically designed for youth with special needs with hearing and visual impairments: Goal ball and Beep baseball. Come experience the 'dialogue in the dark' of recreation!
- Casual Business-Casual
- Lightweight jacket Medium weight jacket
- Sandals; Walking shoes
- All components of the tour meet ADA guidelines for accessibility ; Wheelchair lift on bus
Eddie Munro, LA Fitness
Billy Balser, ACOM Solutions
Andrea Arnold, City Of Atlanta/ American Association of Adapted Sports
Gordon McGruder, City of Atlanta
OSI #3 - Three Historic Homes...Taking Care of the Old South
8:00:00 AM to 5:00:00 PM
0.8 CEUs
As our country ages, it is important to remember where we have been. It has often been said that if we do not learn from our past, we are destined to repeat our mistakes. Many recreation and parks departments are being asked to manage historical sites, structures, and venues. This off-site provides concrete strategies for developing guidelines for preserving and maintaining our history. The City of Roswell currently owns and operates three historic homes. These Antebellum homes each tell the story of the Old South from different points of view. Tour of each of the homes, as well as receive a behind the scenes look at what it takes to operate, maintain, and preserve these important structures. Barrington Hall, Bulloch Hall, and Smith Plantation, a trio of antebellum homes, are open to the public for visits and exploration. Each home has its own cultural bounty to share and its own part of the Southern Story to tell.
- Casual
- Medium weight jacket
- Walking shoes
- Wheelchair lift on bus
Robert Winebarger, Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historic & Cultural Affairs Department
G. Morgan Timmis, Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historic & Cultural Affairs Department
Chuck Douglas, Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historic & Cultural Affairs Department
Pam Billingsley, Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historic & Cultural Affairs Department
Morgan Rodgers, Roswell Recreation and Parks Department
OSI #4 - Public Art in Parks & Recreation Center
8:15:00 AM to 1:00:00 PM
0.5 CEUs
There is more to parks and recreation facilities than the activities associated with them. The City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs will present discussions, tours, and technical workshops on developing public art for parks and recreation facilities. The off-site will present the challenges of developing projects, engaging community participation, installing and promoting public art, and the care of artworks once installed. Also, tour some of the parks and recreation centers.
- Casual
- Medium weight jacket
- Walking shoes
- All components of the tour meet ADA guidelines for accessibility
Dorian McDuffie, City of Atlanta, Office of Cultural Affairs
Robert Witherspoon, City of Atlanta, Office of Cultural Affairs
Eddie Granderson, City of Atlanta, Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs
Tuesday
OSI #5 - Snakes Of The Southeast-What's To Be Afraid Of
8:15:00 AM to 1:45:00 PM
0.5 CEUs
The southeast boast the second highest herptofaunal species biodiversity in the United States. The state of Georgia alone is home to over 44 species of snakes with six of them venomous. Each year thousands of parks workers and visitors have an encounter of the scaly kind. Everyone these encounters present a unique opportunity to interact with nature. Unfortunately, so much misinformation exist that most people are hardly able to distinguish fact from fiction. You will get an up-close look at many live native species of the southeast. You will also take a live park tour to discuss various aspects of park life as it relates to the natural history, ecology, and importance of snakes. In the end, you will be able to walk away from this off-site and distinguish fact from fiction and what is and is not venomous.
- Casual
- Raingear; Lightweight jacket; Medium weight jacket; Cold weather jacket
- Sandals; Walking shoes; Boots
- All components of the tour meet ADA guidelines for accessibility
Mark Patterson, Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation
OSI #6 - Pathways for Play: Explore a National Demonstration Site
8:30:00 AM to 3:00:00 PM
0.6 CEUs
Pathways for Play intentionally integrates play into shared use community pathways networks to provide opportunities for playing along the way to encourage use by children and families. PlayCore has partnered with the Natural Learning Initiative, College of Design, NC State University and American Trails to offer a best practice guidebook and unique play innovations to encourage active lifestyles for children, families, and communities on linear pathway networks. This off-site will explore a National Demonstration Site to show how supportive research has been put into action along a linear trail. An interdisciplinary team of trail experts and professionals will highlight site specific examples of how to extend play value, family engagement, and learning, while you engage in an interactive activity. Best practice design principles, how to assess pathway potential for infusing play, and critical considerations when planning “play pockets” will be highlighted as you experience this one-of-a-kind playful experience!
- Casual
- Lightweight jacket; Medium weight jacket
- Walking shoes; Boots
- All components of the tour meet ADA guidelines for accessibility; Wheelchair lift on bus
Charlene Braud, City of Atlanta
Pam Gluck, American Trails
Robin Moore, The Natural Learning Initiative; NC State University Lisa Moore, PlayCore
OSI #7 - The Atlanta BeltLine: Atlanta's Emerging Emerald Necklace
9:00:00 AM to 2:00:00 PM
0.5 CEUs
Receive an opportunity to learn about Atlanta’s emerging emerald necklace, the Atlanta BeltLine, an innovative approach to the provision and development of new urban parkland. By participating in this interactive tour, you will learn about repurposing urban land and infrastructure for park space, connecting neighborhoods, cost saving innovations for park operations, brownfield remediation, public safety, as well as public/private partnerships to support funding and development. You will explore some of the Atlanta BeltLine’s latest park developments including Historic Fourth Ward Park, D H Stanton Park, and the future Westside Park, reclaiming an old quarry for water storage and greenspace. Throughout your time in this off-site, you will learn about how Atlanta is reclaiming underutilized land to create accessible, urban parks that benefit a city’s diverse communities.
- Casual
- Lightweight jacket
- Walking shoes
E. Fred Yalouris, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.
Kevin Burke, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.
Lee Harrop, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.
Heather Hussey-Coker, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.
OSI #8 - Developing a "National Heritage Area" for your jurisdiction
9:15:00 AM to 12:15:00 PM
0.3 CEUs
Designation of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area (AMNHA) is the result of an innovative public/private partnership of the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, Panola Mountain State Park, and the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, and several others. The AMNHA provides outstanding opportunities for environmental education, resource preservation and healthful outdoor recreation. Trails throughout the AMNHA help to connecting over 6,000 acres of natural, cultural and recreational resources to six separate schools in three different counties. All these facilities are barely 30 minutes from Atlanta, the population "center" of the state. A "National Heritage Area" is a place designated by Congress where natural, cultural, historic, and scenic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally distinctive landscape arising from patterns of human activity shaped by geography. Currently, there are only 49 National Heritage Designations nationwide. Every effort should be made to preserve the important natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources in our stewardship and the NHA designation is one way to achieve that objective. This off-site will provide tactical and inspirational foundation to encourage you to pursue NHAs in your own jurisdictions.
- Casual
- Medium weight jacket; Cold weather jacket
- Walking shoes; Boots
- Wheelchair lift on bus
Matt Owens, Georgia State Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division
Becky Kelley, Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites
Susan Hood, Natural Resources Management Unit of Dekalb County
OSI #9 - Controlling Non-Native Invasive Plants in Our Parks
9:30:00 AM to 1:45:00 PM
0.4 CEUs
Non-native invasive plant eradication is quickly becoming recognized as a necessity of park maintenance. An invasive plant is one that is usually introduced from a distance region, spreads rapid on its own, and causes environmental or economic damage. They outcompete and displace native plants that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but critical to the composition of a natural green space. With removal techniques learned and properly implemented, invasive species such as kudzu, privet and multi-flora rose can be controlled in our parks. Join experienced nature preserve staff in a tour that focuses on tools, herbicides, and methods used to eradicate specific non-native invasive plant species.
- Casual Raingear
- Medium weight jacket
- Walking shoes; Boots
Will Wagner, Clayton County Parks and Recreation
Stephanie Berens, Clayton County Parks and Recreation
OSI #10 - Rebirth of a Downtown: Recreational Facilities add Vibrance
11:00:00 AM to 4:00:00 PM
0.5 CEUs
Many cities and counties are experiencing a rebirth of their downtown, which includes new facilities and attractions to increase visibility and economic growth. This off-site will help explain the process, and the influence the community has on making parks and recreation a priority for new downtown design. This tour features Taylor-Brawner Park and Hall, formerly a psychiatric campus, which has since been converted to a park with open lawns, a historic house and Brawner Hall that is used for classes and rentals for the parks and recreation department. The Taylor-Brawner Park was featured in the article in April 2010 NRPA magazine. You will learn about the value that has been added to the community with the rebirth of Taylor-Brawner Park while visiting the facility. Time will be spent discussing residents' use of the Community Center, Arboretum and 20th Century Veterans Memorial Park. You will also tour Taylor-Brawner Park and the Village Green.
- Casual
- Medium weight jacket; Cold weather jacket
- Walking shoes
- All components of the tour meet ADA guidelines for accessibility ; Wheelchair lift on bus
Steve Ciaccio, City of Smyrna Parks and Recreation Department
Tanya Jackson, City of Smyrna Parks and Recreation
Wednesday
OSI #11 - Utilizing GIS Applications To Develop Effective Trail Management Strategies
1:00:00 PM to 6:00:00 PM
0.6 CEUs
Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation Division has over 100 miles of trails in its parks network. This diverse array of both paved and non-paved trail surfaces creates a variety of recreational opportunities along with an equal assortment of management issues. Harbins Park, one of the county's parks, is a 1,800 acre conservation park that host several trail types meandering through diverse habitats. You will see firsthand and learn how we have integrated the latest GIS technologies into mapping our trails at this park to create accurate user friendly maps, emergency service access points, trail management plans, and the implementation of the parks "Help Locator System". The integration of GIS technologies in coordination with emergency management services provides for an excellent collaboration with different departments resulting in safer trails for all users. This off-site will introduce you to the concept of GIS applications and how they can be introduced into your trail system. By utilizing GIS technologies, the user will benefit from a global viewpoint to their trails, issues and possible solutions.
- Casual
- Raingear; Lightweight jacket; Medium weight jacket; Cold weather jacket
- Sandals; Walking shoes; Boots
- All components of the tour meet ADA guidelines for accessibility; Wheelchair lift on bus
Marci Diaz, Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation
Mark Patterson, Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation
OSI #12 - Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center
1:00:00 PM to 6:30:00 PM
0.5 CEUs
"Green Building: A Living Model of Environment and Sustainable Design" is a three and one-half hour program that provides an in-depth introduction to operating a LEED facility that has achieved a Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. This 60,000 square foot facility located on 270 acres of pristine upland riparian forest and wetlands is a model of excellence promoting environmental sustainability and stewardship. The off-site will address the LEED design criteria, external and internal green building features, how the building is used as an educational programming resource and a model of sustainable design and construction. The off-site will include a lecture and power point presentation, a tour of the facility and its landscape design features, and a round-table discussion of green building design applications. Highlights of the program include a close observation and walk on the largest sloped vegetative roof in the Southeast and a fun behind-the-scene tour of the technical infrastructure of the facility.
- Casual
- Medium weight jacket
- Walking shoes
- All components of the tour meet ADA guidelines for accessibility
Silviu Gavriliuc, Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center
John Cascone, Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center
Steve Cannon, Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center
Brian Sterner, Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center
Carol Flaute, Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center
