If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you. ~Zig Ziglar
OPRA Presentations...
Each year the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association holds their conference. There were many informative sessions this year. We have downloaded some of the presentations from the education sessions so that all of the staff can check them out. Hopefully, you will find something that speaks to you!
2025 OPRA Presentations
A Guide to Unlocking Creativity
Breaking Down Barriers: A Practical Approach to Park Accessibility - Handout 1, Handout 2, Handout 3
Building a Better Workplace: Culture Enhancement and Expectation Management
Enhancing Sustainable Trail Development: Pre-Construction Vegetation Assessments
Ethical & Environmentally Conscious Events: An Imperfect Journey to Limiting Waste
Launching Your Team to Success through Onboarding
The Journey of Connecting Marginalized Communities to Nature through Outreach
Utilizing Natural Area Parks to Promote & Perform Conservation Research
Alternative Revenue - How to GenerateIt and Get More!
Building Strong Community Driven Events
Manage Conflict Like a Boss
AI in Parks and Recreation: Productivity and Pitfalls
Carbon Capture and Storage: The Key to Mitigating Climate Change
Coaching or Criticism: Using Feedback to Move Forward
Connecting Community Needs with Strategic Master Planning
How to Plan and Manage Your Capital Projects
Building a Positive Parks Culture Through Turmoil and Growth
Earn the Dawn - Effective Strategies to Enhance Your Life
Lifelong Lessons in Leadership
Paradoxical Leadership: Unleash Your Inner Parks & Recreation Mastermind
The Power of Authentic Leadership
Going Beyond Compliance: Indigenous Engagement, Site Stewardship
How to Bring Pride to the Parks
Does One Size Fit All In Volunteer Management?
Listen Up - Your Community is Talking
Middle Management & Mid Career: Staying Relevant and Loving Life
Adopting a Versatile Toolbox Approach to Your Career
Creating a Sustainability Movement in Ohio's State Parks
Creating the Programs Your Community Wants - Who, What, When, Where, and Why?
2023 OPRA Presentations
A Multi-Pronged Trailbuilding & Management Strategy
Aligning Recreational Services with Organizational Values
Am I an Effective Parks and Recreation Professional
Best Practices in Volunteer Management Roundtable Discussion
Bringing Workplace Belonging to Life
Building a Prescribed Fire Program
Communication Transformation - Handout
Connect Your Public to Nature's Recipe for Restoration
Contract Administration Best Practices
Creating an Onboarding Experience from the Ground Up!
Delegation is Leadership - Reflect, write, share and discuss
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Employee Burnout - The Cause, The Cure
Engaging, Training, and Retaining the Newest Members of Your Team
Enough is Enough - Why Professional Boundaries Matter
Excellent Facility Rental Management
Find Your Path - Preparing Cleveland Metropark' Forests for Climate Change
Great Expectations: Can Revenue Goals and Social Equity Co-Exist?
Grant Writing for All Your Park District Needs
In House Won't Do, Call a Consultant
Involving Park Staff in Engaging Supporters
Leading in a Disruptive World 2.0
Leading Your Community Through Transformative Changes and Challenging Conversations
Let's Talk Teens - Teen Engagement in Your Community
Like Fingernails on a Chalkboard...Dealing with Difficult Employees - Handout 1 - Handout 2
Partnerships of Possibility - Sharing Resources in Your Community
Planning Programming and Design for Community Well-being
Re-Building Social Connections in Parks & Recreation
Senior Smorgasbord and Active Adult Tidbits
Storytelling for Effective Communication
Tree Planting: Lessons Learned
Unleash the Winner Within You; A Success Game Plan for Business, Leadership and Life