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This webinar will help participants understand the importance of Adult Swim Lessons and the challenges adult learners face in the pool. We will discuss learning strategies, how to create a welcoming and effective learning atmosphere, and effective recruitment strategies for adult swimmers. Presenters: Andrew Caraway, Town of Queen Creek; Jennifer Ayers-Millar, Marine Corps Community Services; James Meyers, Lifeguard University Category: Drowning Prevention .1 CEU   More About the Presenters Andrew Caraway is the Aquatics Coordinator for the Town of Queen Creek Parks and Recreation Aquatics Division. He has worked in Aquatics for 22 years starting as a Lifeguard, Pool Manager and now in a full time role all in Arizona, also spending the last 15 years as a High School Dive Coach. Jennifer (JJ) Ayers-Millar is a dedicated aquatics professional with over 30 years of experience in swimming instruction, lifeguard training, and program development. She holds Instructor and Instructor Trainer certifications from StarGuard Elite, StarFish Aquatics Institute, US Masters Adult Learn to Swim, and the American Red Cross. James Meyers is a passionate advocate for water safety and is especially committed to educating children on how to stay safe—and have fun—around water. Read more

Interviews are an important part of the hiring process. Learning the important aspects of interviewing and how to keep the interview going in a good direction are an essential way to help ensure that you hire the right candidate. This session will help you learn how to bring direction to the interview process to help you make decisions on who would be the best candidate for your agency. Presenter: Steve Thompson, Wisconsin Parks & Recreation Association (WPRA) Category: Leadership/Executive Development, AqP Elective .1 CEU Read more

Are YOU really ready for an emergency at your facility? This session will explore key components that should be included in your facility EAP and ensure that you are not in a post crisis moment thinking what do I do now? Speaking from experience, we will help navigate developing an EAP and planning for the post crisis fog. Your team will need a beacon in the post incident recovery, it is you. Are you ready? Presenters: Jamie Orrison, Kathryn Nestler, Rob Belcourt, & Kat Fish - Prince William County Department of Parks & Recreation Category: Risk Management .1 CEU   More About the Presenters Jamie Orrison currently serves as the Recreation Enterprise Manager for Prince William County Department of Parks & Recreation. She has been with PWCDPR for 25 years, starting her aquatics career as an E&A lifeguard with the Parks and Recreation Department in 1997. She has worked a variety of positions in her tenure with PWCDPR. In her current role, she oversees two indoor recreation and aquatic centers, two waterparks and all aquatic operations. Jamie is currently an Instructor Trainer with Ellis and Associates, PHTA CPO instructor and is a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional. She earned a degree in Business Administration and Accounting from Longwood University. Kathryn holds a Bachelor of Science in Parks and Recreation Management from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. With 26 years of service at the Prince William County Department of Parks and Recreation, she currently oversees eight aquatic facilities, including two waterparks, two indoor pools, and four community pools. Kathryn is passionate about creating confident, capable teams and is deeply committed to safety, staff training, and ongoing team development to ensure preparedness in any emergency. Rob Belcourt, CPRP, is the General Manager of the Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center, a flagship facility within Prince William County Parks and Recreation in Virginia. With a strong background in community recreation and facility management, Rob leads a team dedicated to delivering inclusive, safe, and responsive programming to meet the diverse needs of the community. Kat is a graduate of Bowling Green State University and a native of Prince William County. She has worked with PWC Department of Parks and Recreation for several years in a variety of management roles at the Dale City Recreation Center, Community Aquatics, Waterworks Waterpark and Splashdown Waterpark. She is currently the General Manager at Chinn Aquatics & Fitness Center. Kat has experience in facility operations, recreation programming, recruitment, and staff training. Before beginning her full-time career with Parks, Kat was an educator and high school coach for Stafford County Public Schools. Kat has been instrumental in creating community partnerships with the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services, Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue and the Garden Club of Lake Ridge. She was the 2023 President for the Virginia Recreation and Park Society Board of Directors and is currently serving her final year on the Board of Directors. Read more

Bullying is different from harassment but can still have a significant impact on the workplace, career, and relationships. This presentation will give solid examples of disruptive bullying behavior and sound strategies for what you, as an employer, can do to stop it. Presenter: Susan Grosse, Aquatic Consulting & Education Resource Development Category: Leadership/Executive Development, AqP Elective .1 CEU Read more

This session will provide aquatic professionals with simple strategies to create an inclusive hiring and onboarding process for lifeguards and swim instructors. Learn how to write inclusive job announcements, train interviewers to recognize bias, and effectively communicate your facility’s commitment to diversity. By the end, you’ll have the tools to attract, hire, and retain a more diverse team that reflects the community you serve. Presenter: Kate Connell, HydroApps Category: Diversity & Inclusion .1 CEU   More About Kate:  Kate Connell (she/her) is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional and a passionate advocate for equity in aquatics and recreation. She has a track record of implementing inclusive programs, policies, and personnel practices in her prior role as a municipal program supervisor in Iowa City, where she was a graduate of the University of Iowa. Through her work at Equitable Aquatics, Kate has become a sought after national speaker on diversity and leadership and has presented educational sessions at dozens of national and state level association conferences. Kate bridges her experience as a leader in the aquatic industry with her role as the Senior Manager of Sales and Strategic Partnerships to support HydroApps customers. She believes that leveraging tools and techniques to streamline operations and risk management frees up aquatic professionals to focus on their workplace passions and further their impact. She serves on the Association of Aquatic Professional Board, is the chair of the DEIJ committee and co-chair of the education committee. Kate is a born New Englander turned Midwestern transplant, a former yoga studio owner, and loves to spend her spare time with her family traveling in their Airstream and spending time at Lake Michigan. Read more

DON’T DO IT! It seems we hear a lot about what not to do – bullying and rudeness. So what should we do? What does it mean to act civilly? How do we avoid or defuse situations of unprofessional or rude behavior to create a respectful and productive workplace? Understanding the rules of civility and creating a professional presence will help to reduce conflict, build productive relationships, and foster a positive professional reputation. Presenter: John Whitmore, CPRE, AFOI, Organizational Development Manager, City of Denton Category: Leadership/Executive Development, AqP Elective .1 CEU Read more