This Week: National Summit on Environmental Stewardship

Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront Hotel, Portland, Oregon May 4-7

PORTLAND, Ore., May 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) will host the National Summit on Environmental Stewardship For People, Parks and Public Lands May 4-7 at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront Hotel in Portland, Oregon. The event will bring leaders in the park and recreation community and allied organizations together in an active learning environment to discover how they can lead and uphold efforts to:

• Promote Sustainable Landscapes
• Foster the Next Generation of Stewards
• Provide Leadership for Sustainable Communities

The first two domains will help participants to gain awareness of the opportunities for parks and recreation in changing what is within our control: the maintenance and management of parks, open spaces, and public lands; and the provision of services and experiences that connect children and youth with nature and inspire them to embrace conservation as a core principle.

The third domain will focus on preparing park and recreation leaders to grow beyond what is within our control and encourage others to replicate our knowledge and experience - be it local and state governments, schools, civic organizations, or businesses.

By preparing the audience to do something about the environment and then set examples for others, this event will chart a course for enhancing the value of parks and recreation in local communities and across the nation.

The summit event includes several featured speakers:

• Larry Selzer, President and CEO, The Conservation Fund
• Richard Louv, Author of Last Child in the Woods
• David Bragdon, Metro Council President, Portland, Ore.
• Gina McCarthy, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection

For more information on the event, go to the National Summit on Environmental Stewardship Blog: http://nrpablog.typepad.com/esummit/

About NRPA

The National Recreation and Park Association is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of more than 21,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives, and conservation of natural and cultural resources. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org.