Run an After School Program? Then you know the reality.
Big personalities. Bigger behaviors. Parents who don’t read emails — or miss payment deadlines. Staff turnover. Curriculum that needs fresh life. And the daily balancing act of keeping it all running smoothly.
This session dives straight into it.
Join Becca McGee from Merrimack Parks & Recreation for an interactive roundtable discussion built for recreation professionals who want practical solutions — not theory. We’ll tackle behavior management, parent communication, billing challenges, staffing strategies, and creative programming ideas that actually work.
Bring your questions. Share what’s working. Be honest about what’s not.
Walk away with actionable ideas, renewed energy, and a network of peers who understand the beautiful chaos of after school programming.
Free session to be held via Zoom. Zoom link will be included in your email confirmation.
Speaker: Monica Panait from Primex
This program is designed to help attendees better understand how to manage the day-to-day operations associated with the use of volunteers in a way that reduces the risk of unintended liability for public entities. The program focuses on equipping participants with practical tools to minimize risk and increase confidence when coordinating volunteers. This will be achieved through a clearer understanding of liability coverage and the sharing of best risk management practices that pool members can readily implement.
Allying Without Enabling: Supporting Participants with Autism is an interactive training for professionals working in parks and recreation programs, focusing on building practical autism literacy so staff can support participants across settings with confidence, dignity, and intention. Participants will gain a high-level understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), with particular attention to how sensory processing, communication differences, and regulation needs show up in active, group-based environments. Through myth-versus-fact discussions and real-world scenarios, participants will explore the difference between allying - supporting autonomy, skill-building, and independence - and enabling, which can unintentionally limit growth through over-helping or avoidance. Emphasis is placed on making thoughtful, moment-by-moment decisions that balance safety, regulation, and participant dignity across a wide range of program settings.
Objectives: (1) Describe Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as a neurodevelopmental difference and explain how sensory processing, communication styles, and regulation needs influence behavior and participation in parks and recreation program settings.
(2) Distinguish between allying and enabling in day-to-day program interactions, identifying common moments where well-intended support may unintentionally limit independence or skill development.
(3) Apply practical, strengths-based strategies to structure successful interactions that support regulation, autonomy, and dignity while maintaining safety and program expectations.
*minimum of 12 participants required.
Supervisors Crash Course Led By Emily Golinsky
Geared towards anyone with supervisory responsibilities, including those new to the role. In this quick-paced introduction to leadership styles; this session focuses on supervising / coaching / mentoring, incident response, handling difficult conversations well, and QYMNKTA (questions you might not know to ask). A great way to setup your leaders for Success!
"NHRPA " is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization. 172 Pembroke Road, Concord, NH 03301
