NRPA Announces The Directors School

New Signature Program to Advance Leadership for Park and Recreation Professionals

ASHBURN, Va., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --- The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), in cooperation with the Oglebay Foundation and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management at North Carolina State University, has announced the creation of The Directors School, a two-year program designed to prepare new and potential directors of park and recreation programs for the challenges of leading and managing effectively. The inaugural offering of the school will take place August 23-29, 2008 at the Oglebay Resort and Conference Center in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Dr. Phil Rea, the founder of The Directors School and former head of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management at N.C. State, emphasized the value of the program to park and recreation professionals: "The primary goal of The Directors School is to provide a dynamic educational program for 'new' park and recreation administrators, and for management personnel who are being trained to assume positions as agency administrators."

The curriculum will be based on the standards set by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the contents of Management of Park and Recreation Agencies, the authoritative publication on park and recreation management, edited by Betty van der Smissen, Merry Moiseichick and Vern Hartenburg.

The school will be offered in 2008 for the Year I program only. Beginning in 2009, Year I and Year II schools will be conducted simultaneously. A limited number of qualified applicants will be accepted. The deadline for submission of applications is May 1, 2008.

Qualifying applicants must be:

-- A current park or recreation director

-- A current park or recreation assistant / deputy director

-- In a mid-level management position and in training to be a park or recreation director

For more information or to apply, visit The Directors School online (http://www.nrpa.org/content/default.aspx?documentId=6380) or call 800.626.NRPA (6772).

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 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 http://www.nrpa.org.