National Academic Leaders Retreat

Please join us for the National Academic Leaders Retreat (NAL-R) for those in Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions. This event will be held April 2-4, 2023 in San Diego, CA in collaboration with the CPRS CONNECTIONS Conference & Expo.

Please view the CPRS CONNECTIONS Conference & Expo page for housing information.

Prices

Registration is $175.00

CEU’s can be added for an additional $20 for CPRS members/$40 for non-members.

Register Here

This year’s event will be two days of learning, networking, professional growth, with a little self-care and a lot of fun! This two-day conference will offer two tracks, one for the up-and-coming professionals in education (Administrative Core), and one for the seasoned professionals (Specialty) who are ready for that next step.

There will be 2 Session Focus Types (Administrative Core and Specialty/Topical) presented at the retreat.

Administrative Core Sessions open to Academic Leaders: Deans, Associate Deans, Department Chairs, Department Directors, Program Directors, Program Coordinators, Emeriti Faculty, and others interested in Academic Leadership. 

Specialty Topic Sessions open to all Educators, Practitioners, Researchers, Vendors, and Students. 

Tentative Schedule

Tentative Schedule:                              

Sunday, April 2, 2023 6pm-8pm

*6:00-8:00PM Welcome/Social (all attendees welcome), location TBA.  

Monday, April 3, 2023 7:30am – 7:00pm

*7:30 am– 8:30 am -- Continental Breakfast/Coffee & Water

*9:00 am – 11:00 am -- Opening general session and break out discussions (Specialty and Administrative focused)

*11:00 am to 1:00pm -- Lunch on your Own

*1:00 pm to 4 pm, --- Local Leisure Activities – TBA

*5 pm-7 pm Informal Social, location TBA 

Tuesday, April 4, 2023 7:30 am to 5:00 pm

*7:30 am – 8:30 am Continental Breakfast and Wrap-up session and thank you recognition.  

*9 am-10 am What’s next? à an initial planning session for the 2024 NAL (possibly the last week of February in Palm Springs, CA in conjunction with CPRS)  

*10am CPRS Opening Session (Guest Speaker/Recognitions/Awards)   

*12 pm 5 pm- CPRS Expo Hall (free access) includes CPRS Educator Section: Research to Practice Sessions, and University Row.  

Schedule Subject to Change

Call for Presenters and Sessions

To submit a session proposal, click here and create a user log-in for access to the proposal system.

The NAL-R Program Committee wants to hear from YOU! We invite you to share your knowledge, experience, and unique perspective. This is your chance to connect, inspire, and to influence the advancement of the park and recreation profession. 

NAL-R and CPRS are committed to providing a retreat program that is thoughtful, insightful and reflects the variety of disciplines (Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions) in higher education, University, College, Department and degree programs and experience levels of educators and administrators in the park and recreation profession.

We are looking for Administrative Core and Special Topical programs (Individual and/or Panel) sessions in the following categories:

  • Leadership, Career & Staff Development
  • Advocacy / Telling the Story
  • Collaboration & Partnership Development
  • Communications, Marketing & Branding
  • Emergency Planning & Preparedness/What is your backup plan?
  • Employee / Volunteer Management/HR
  • Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion
  • Health & Wellness
  • Policy, Politics and Problem Solving
  • Practical Solutions 
  • Why be a Dean/Associate Dean/Chair/Director/Program Coordinator?
  • Student and Faculty Success
  • Programming & Evaluations
  • Revenue Development & Management
  • Or surprise us and submit something you believe would be of benefit to others

Session selections will be based on the following criteria:

  • Relevance & significance of topic to Academic Leaders in PRT and related professions and/or broader discourse in the field regarding successes and challenges
  • Overall quality and clarity of the proposal
  • Timeliness and originality of topic
  • Practical application of material