Training Program
The gold standard for online recreation training!
Explore or expand a career in community recreation. Gain the knowledge and skills for working or volunteering in Northern, Indigenous, rural or remote communities.
Build your confidence through learning events that are relevant and interactive. Become part of a network of other recreation leaders.
Learn remotely from work or home. Do your training online and through video calls on our annual cycle from the Fall to late Spring.
Learn at your own pace. We build extra time and flexibility into our training to help you balance work, family and learning.
Sign up for training that fits your schedule and interest. Take one or more of our 19 learning events (mini-courses) or sign up to earn a Certificate in Northern Recreation Leadership or in Northern Recreation Management.
Learning Events
We customize our training for groups and organizations. Do you want training that takes place over a shorter or longer timeframe? Are you interested in training that is delivered in-person? Contact us, or your territorial recreation and parks association, for more information.
Core Learning Events
Recreation Foundations introduces the basics of recreation and explores how it benefits individual, community and environmental wellbeing. A solid understanding of the field helps promote recreation as an essential community service.
Identify Your Leadership Strengths explores some of the things recreation leaders need to know and be able to do when working or volunteering in their community. Your own path will emerge as you learn more about yourself and identify opportunities to grow as a recreation leader.
Recreation and Sport System introduces the mix of groups, relationships, resources, and policies that form the system. Understanding these parts and priorities improves your ability to access resources for recreation.
Get to Know Your Community encourages leaders to get to know their communities well. Knowing how the system works, and an understanding of local people, context and culture, helps ensure meaningful, inclusive and accessible community recreation.
Community Building explores the meaning and value of “community.” Recreation offers many opportunities to build and strengthen community. A community development approach engages the people in your community and encourages positive approaches to local issues.
Deliver Programs and Events introduces six steps recreation leaders can use to design and deliver a recreation program or a special event. Effective design and delivery of each activity results in successful, safe and enjoyable recreation experiences.
Basic Recreation Finances develops a basic understanding of how to responsibly handle recreation finances. Learn how to plan, track, and report on money coming in and money being spent on projects, programs, and events.
Manage Risk in Rural and Remote Communities explores how risk influences recreation opportunities and experiences. Learn basic ways to manage risk and reduce the chance of something bad happening to a participant, a leader, or a facility.
Create Positive Program Experiences explores how to establish a safe and supportive environment for your participants. Use a strengths-based approach and variety of strategies and tools to confidently lead programs and events enjoyed by all.
Use Spaces and Places Creatively explores how to address local interests and improve access to and inclusion in a variety of recreation opportunities by using spaces and places creatively and by connecting people to nature.
Value Recreation, Arts, Culture and Sport encourages appreciation for the diversity of recreation, arts, culture and sport across our regions. Traditional games, dance, art, music, heritage, sport, and on – the – land activities support unique and meaningful recreation experiences.
Plan for Success introduces the importance of planning in recreation settings. Although the purpose of each plan may vary, planning is about making a difference. Outcomes-based and strategic approaches make it easier to identify priorities and develop longer-term plans for recreation that benefit individuals and the community.
Advanced Learning Events
Promote Recreation introduces basic concepts, practices, and tools for promotional activities. In the field of recreation, promotional strategies can influence healthy lifestyle behaviours and increase participation in programs and events.
Document to Manage Risk introduces basic documentation for community recreation and sport settings. Learn the “what” and “why” behind paperwork for participation and operations, and how to adapt forms to use in your community.
Understand Legal Risk* introduces legal aspects of risk in recreation settings. Learn more about negligence and liability and explore strategies for transferring risk (e.g., waivers and insurance).
Proposal Writing* introduces the process of preparing and writing a successful proposal. A ‘good’ proposal generates an investment in recreation. Strong proposals gain the financial resources and support needed for community – driven projects, programs, and events.
Reporting in Recreation introduces common practices for telling the “story” of projects, programs, or services. Reporting begins with good planning, targets different audiences, and serves different purposes. Reports share facts, demonstrate accountability, and make recommendations for the future.
Evaluation in Recreation* introduces an important part of the programming cycle. Evaluation is about gathering, interpreting, and using information in the delivery of recreation programs, services, and projects. A good evaluation can assess progress, identify opportunities and successes, guide decisions, and/or foster a better understanding of the benefits of recreation.
Find and Keep Volunteers focuses on the key role of volunteers in recreation. Get to know your local volunteers better and explore strategies to engage them in the delivery of community programs and events.
*These advanced learning events are four weeks long
Certificates
Demonstrate your ability to lead in community recreation. Complete all 12 core learning events to earn a Certificate in Northern Recreation Leadership.
Recreation Foundations introduces the basics of recreation and explores how it benefits individual, community and environmental wellbeing. A solid understanding of the field helps promote recreation as an essential community service.
Identify Your Leadership Strengths explores some of the things recreation leaders need to know and be able to do when working or volunteering in their community. Your own path will emerge as you learn more about yourself and identify opportunities to grow as a recreation leader.
Recreation and Sport System introduces the mix of groups, relationships, resources, and policies that form the system. Understanding these parts and priorities improves your ability to access resources for recreation.
Get to Know Your Community encourages leaders to get to know their communities well. Knowing how the system works, and an understanding of local people, context and culture, helps ensure meaningful, inclusive and accessible community recreation.
Community Building explores the meaning and value of “community.” Recreation offers many opportunities to build and strengthen community. A community development approach engages the people in your community and encourages positive approaches to local issues.
Deliver Programs and Events introduces six steps recreation leaders can use to design and deliver a recreation program or a special event. Effective design and delivery of each activity results in successful, safe and enjoyable recreation experiences.
Basic Recreation Finances develops a basic understanding of how to responsibly handle recreation finances. Learn how to plan, track, and report on money coming in and money being spent on projects, programs, and events.
Manage Risk in Rural and Remote Communities explores how risk influences recreation opportunities and experiences. Learn basic ways to manage risk and reduce the chance of something bad happening to a participant, a leader, or a facility.
Create Positive Program Experiences explores how to establish a safe and supportive environment for your participants. Use a strengths-based approach and variety of strategies and tools to confidently lead programs and events enjoyed by all.
Use Spaces and Places Creatively explores how to address local interests and improve access to and inclusion in a variety of recreation opportunities by using spaces and places creatively and by connecting people to nature.
Value Recreation, Arts, Culture and Sport encourages appreciation for the diversity of recreation, arts, culture and sport across our regions. Traditional games, dance, art, music, heritage, sport, and on – the – land activities support unique and meaningful recreation experiences.
Plan for Success introduces the importance of planning in recreation settings. Although the purpose of each plan may vary, planning is about making a difference. Outcomes-based and strategic approaches make it easier to identify priorities and develop longer-term plans for recreation that benefit individuals and the community.
Continue your journey as a recreation professional. Complete our series of advanced learning events to earn a Certificate in Northern Recreation Management.
Promote Recreation introduces basic concepts, practices, and tools for promotional activities. In the field of recreation, promotional strategies can influence healthy lifestyle behaviours and increase participation in programs and events.
Document to Manage Risk introduces basic documentation for community recreation and sport settings. Learn the “what” and “why” behind paperwork for participation and operations, and how to adapt forms to use in your community.
Understand Legal Risk* introduces legal aspects of risk in recreation settings. Learn more about negligence and liability and explore strategies for transferring risk (e.g., waivers and insurance).
Proposal Writing* introduces the process of preparing and writing a successful proposal. A ‘good’ proposal generates an investment in recreation. Strong proposals gain the financial resources and support needed for community – driven projects, programs, and events.
Reporting in Recreation introduces common practices for telling the “story” of projects, programs, or services. Reporting begins with good planning, targets different audiences, and serves different purposes. Reports share facts, demonstrate accountability, and make recommendations for the future.
Evaluation in Recreation* introduces an important part of the programming cycle. Evaluation is about gathering, interpreting, and using information in the delivery of recreation programs, services, and projects. A good evaluation can assess progress, identify opportunities and successes, guide decisions, and/or foster a better understanding of the benefits of recreation.
Find and Keep Volunteers focuses on the key role of volunteers in recreation. Get to know your local volunteers better and explore strategies to engage them in the delivery of community programs and events.
*These advanced learning events are four weeks long