The NRPA Annual Conference is the go-to event for inspirational education sessions and energetic networking opportunities with some of the top leaders in the park and recreation profession.

Education Topics

Session Formats

• One-Hour Education Sessions (In-Person Only): All one-hour education sessions will be delivered in either lecture or panel style.NRPA’s Virtual Conference will offer a set of one-hour education sessions on-demand and 30 20-minute speed sessions on demand. The session recordings also remain accessible to obtain CEUs until November 17, 2025, and then will be available for viewing only on the conference app. 
• Speed Sessions sponsored by CORE (by PlayCore): All 20-minute speed sessions will have both a virtual and an optional in-person component at the conference center in Orland. Visit the two speed session pods on the exhibit hall floor to view the sessions and engage with the speakers in live Q&A. A recording of each speed session will also be available through the Virtual Conference for CEUs from September 16 through November 17, 2025.
• NRPA Research Sessions (NRS): All NRPA Research Sessions (NRS) will have both a virtual and an in-person component at the conference center in Orland. Research sessions will be conducted during a set time in the exhibit hall in front of the presenter’s poster. Research session posters will also be available on the virtual platform for the duration of the conference. Schedule and poster details will be forthcoming.

CEUs

Earn up to 1.4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) by attending the in-person or virtual conference. CEUs can be earned based on the number of sessions attended during the 2025 NRPA Annual Conference and sessions viewed virtually/on-demand by November 17, 2025. Attendees can earn .04 CEUs for each Speed Session and .1 CEUs for each 1-hour education session. Attendees are required to attend entire sessions and complete session evaluations to obtain CEU credit. CEUs earned at pre-conference workshops (PCWs) and off-site institutes (OSIs) will count toward the 1.4 Conference CEU maximum. Education sessions for the NRPA Annual Conference are selected by the Conference Program Committee (CPC). The CPC is a dedicated group of professionals from around the country, representing all regions, specialties, and content areas that recruits, reviews, and selects education sessions for the annual conference. The conference schedule is subject to change.  

Interested in presenting at the NRPA Annual Conference?

Are you interested in presenting at the NRPA Annual Conference in Philadelphia next year? The conference will take place September 29 – October 1, 2026. Click below to receive a notification when applications go live!