Articles
Part Of The Team
One of my most vivid memories of being a volunteer coach came on the last day of coaching my daughter’s 5- and 6-year-old soccer team years ago. I had never played soccer, but the team needed coaches, and I was really interested in applying some of the things I had learned in working almost 10 years for an organization dedicated to improving the volunteer youth-sports coaching experience.
Youth Sports Administration 101: Volunteer Management
For most kids and parents, volunteers are “the face” of a sports league. Most programs cannot happen without them. Recruiting and retaining great volunteers will not only make a league better but also make your job as an administrator much easier.
Valuing Volunteers
With the exception of 2020, which wiped out youth sports, one of my favorite moments each year is reviewing the final applications from the NAYS volunteer coach- and parent-of-the-year nominations. Applications come in from around the world from member organizations on almost every U.S. military installation that organizes youth sports.
Coordinate Efforts
During a recent visit to Beaufort, S.C., my wife and I discovered the Naval Heritage Park in adjacent Port Royal. The amenity that first attracted us was a huge skate park, open on all sides with a metal roof.
Need A Hand?
Many Dayton, Ohio, residents have fond memories of visits to Lakeside Lake, which offered fishing opportunities and scenic views and was home to the popular Lakeside Amusement Park
Grab Some Shades
Green is sprouting up and spreading all over Arlington County, Va. Hundreds of new trees are adding their foliage to the canopy.
With A Little Help From Our Friends
A framed certificate hangs in the lobby at Markham Park & Target Range in Sunrise, Fla., attesting to a current Guinness World Record set at the park on December 4, 2011.
Forging A Path
What is 35 miles long and requires 8,000 trail maps, 18,000 dog-litter bags, and several recycle bins? AnswerСthe trail system in Vernon, Conn.
Double Dog Duty
For anyone looking for the ingredients for a successful dog park, the answer is simple: Combine two park districts, add a splash of committed dog park enthusiasts, and fold in a location with potential.
Great Parks Thanks Their Volunteers
Great Parks is celebrating National Volunteer Week, a Points of Light program, which recognizes all volunteers for working together and helping to meet challenges and accomplish its goals.
Recruiting Selfless Services
To save on staff costs and expand programming and special events, Oakland County Parks and Recreation (OCPR) in Southeast Michigan began a volunteer program in 2011. Today, the 13-park system utilizes the talents of more than 700 volunteers.
National Public Lands Day
This Saturday, Sept. 24, is National Public Lands Day.That means you can visit a national park for FREE -- more than 100 national sites are waiving their entrance fees for the day.And, if you
Park Ambassadors Needed
The Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association (Ohio) is looking for a few good ambassadors.Ambassadors help park visitors get the most out of their adventures.Volunteers are needed for the Peninsula
Management & Mission Q&A
Q: We have a mission and a vision statementfor our department. They are bothvery lengthy. No one really pays anyattention to them. Truthfully, mostemployees donХt know what they aregood for. What good