Today, we talk with Nicolas Breedlove, CEO and Founder of MVP Playgrounds, about the ever-exploding trend of building fitness trails in parks around the country.

Adult fitness trails are growing in popularity. They turn parks into a low-cost way for community members to be outside and invest in their health. When well-made, trails provide a pleasant blend of strength and cardio stations that allow individuals to get a good workout. Trails also double as opportunities for quality social interaction when they’re designed the right way.

The problem is that, while there is a wealth of information available about the right machines and routines for fitness, social interactions are often overlooked. And yet, it is this element more than anything else that turns many adult fitness trails into neighborhood hot spots, while a lack of social opportunities leaves other trails empty and unused.

For parks and recreation leaders involved in or considering creating an adult fitness trail, there are some social cues and environmental factors to consider with every layout. The following are subtle design decisions that can turn a standard fitness trail into a social motivator and a true training hub.

If you prefer to watch this episode, you can access it on our YouTube channel. If you'd prefer to read this article, you can do so on www.prpblus.com.

Enjoy!

Today, we talk with CampFest 2026 presenters Angelina Stancampiano (Wyoming State Parks) and Kyle Bernis (Kansas State Parks) about how state parks across America are located on lands with deep Indigenous histories and ongoing tribal connections.

They offer a preview of their CampFest session, which will provide practical guidance for park professionals seeking to build respectful, collaborative relationships with tribal nations and Indigenous communities. Drawing from successful partnerships developed in Wyoming and Oklahoma state park systems, they'll share real-world strategies, challenges overcome, and lessons learned from working directly with tribal entities on cultural interpretation, resource management, and community engagement initiatives.

Participants will gain actionable approaches for initiating tribal consultation, navigating sovereignty and protocol considerations, developing co-interpretive programming, and creating mutually beneficial partnerships that honor Indigenous knowledge while enhancing visitor experiences and resource stewardship. This session was successfully presented at the 2025 NRPA Annual Conference and has been adapted for virtual delivery to reach park, rec, and camp professionals nationwide.

You can watch this podcast on YouTube.

Join us for the live session on Thursday, February 26, at 12 p.m. ET. You can register here for FREE.

Today we talk with Karen Fischer about her article on how the Midewin Tallgrass Prairie offers a new blueprint for conservation

As Fischer says, "I don’t know what a prairie looks like, yet I spent years living in the Midwest. But neither do you, even if you’re reading this, from the Midwest, right now. In fact, no one knows what a prairie really looks like because it has long been gone."

Gerald Heinrich, the main character in this story, also mourned for something long lost as a young kid growing up in proximity to the Joliet Arsenal in Elwood, Ill. The Arsenal opened in 1940 to manufacture ammunition and explosives for the U.S. military in World War II. Prior to that, the plains were home to small, agrarian communities with numerous small farmers. Every square mile, there were two to three families, Heinrich says, and prior to 1800, the land was “very much unsettled” by Europeans. At that junction, numerous Indigenous tribes had continuously settled or passed through the land for over 12,000 years. Over time, there were agricultural villages established in the region to till and cultivate the dense, dark soil beneath the tall, swaying tallgrasses.

But with new European settlers came plows, and with the passage of time, more and more people. That was the beginning of the end of the iconic tallgrass prairie.

You can read the whole story at www.prbplus.com or watch this interview on our YouTube channel.

Today, we talk with Rachel Williams, Co-founder & President, Rec about her session titled Where AI Meets Camp & Recreation Operations. This session is free and open to all. It takes place Thursday, Feb 26, 2026 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM MST. You can register for FREE here.

AI is unlocking a new era for camps and Parks & Recreation—automating the busywork, surfacing insights teams have never had access to, and making it easier to deliver better experiences at scale. This session explores how modern AI can help recreation and camp leaders run smarter operations, grow participation, and spend more time doing what matters most: serving their communities.

Register for FREE here.

Watch on YouTube.

Today, we talk with Dave Herpy, Extension Organizational Development Coordinator, NC State Extension about his CampFest session titled Leading with Purpose in Camps.

This session, open and free for all, will be held February 24th at 9 am. You can register for FREE here.

Purpose-driven leadership is one of the most powerful tools we have in the camp world—especially today, as camps work to build strong staff cultures, nurture young leaders, and create meaningful experiences for campers. In this dynamic, interactive session, participants will explore how to lead with purpose in every aspect of camp life—from staff hiring and training to daily operations, relationship-building, and camper engagement.

Drawing from Dave Herpy’s new book, Leading with Purpose, as well as his 25+ years of experience as a camp counselor, trip leader, wilderness instructor, camp director, NC 4-H Camping Specialist, and leadership trainer, this session offers practical tools to help camp professionals strengthen their team culture, increase staff motivation, and build deeper alignment around mission and values.

Participants will walk away with actionable strategies they can apply immediately to create a more positive, energized, and purpose-filled camp environment. Whether you lead a day camp, overnight camp, nonprofit camp, or municipal camp program, this session will help you level up your leadership and inspire others to do the same.

Register for FREE here.

Watch this podcast on YouTube.

When city leaders in Louisville, Ky., signed the Greenprint Charter, they weren’t launching another beautification project. They were testing whether science and collaboration could reshape the future of an urban core. The initiative brings together government, researchers, and community partners to examine how targeted greening can improve public health and support downtown recovery.

Today, we talk with Dr. Ted Smith to learn how the Greenprint Chart was born, how it's evolved and how you can bring it to your community.

You can read the story online at www.prbplus.com or watch the interview on our YouTube channel.

Enjoy!

Today, we talk with Brian Hill, Project Manager & Aquatics Consultant at Waters Edge Aquatic Design about his upcoming CampFest Session titled 5 Linchpins of Aquatic Facilities.

Many factors contribute to a successful aquatic facility. Join us as we identify the five linchpins that will pivot you to success or possible failure.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identifying critical components of your operation.
2. Strategies to stay ahead of maintenance issues or concerns that could threaten your operations.
3. Ideas to help create the type of staff culture that will help focus on safety and success.

Speaker Bio

Brian Hill spent nearly 20 years in the public sector of the aquatics industry before joining Waters Edge Aquatic Design. He has extensive experience managing and staffing facilities, overseeing special events, and understanding the daily maintenance needed to keep facilities functioning smoothly. He excels at understanding how a facility operates and what it takes to keep the pool itself running while also meeting community needs. Brian’s knowledge and expertise help guide each project he takes on.

CampFest - February 24-26, 2026

FREE FOR PROS IN CAMPS, PARKS & REC

Join the best virtual conference that brings together three industries for one epic event!

Register to attend Brian's session for FREE.

Watch this podcast on YouTube.

A conversation with Wyatt Moore, Supervisor Naturalist at Big Break Visitor Center. Moore connects people to nature, promotes Delta education, and builds community in East Contra Costa County.

This episode offers an inside look at East Bay Regional Park District’s birding programs

Birding is more than a recreational activity—it's an invitation to observe, appreciate, and profoundly connect with the natural world. At the East Bay Regional Park District, a regional park system encompassing Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area, enthusiasm for birdwatching has grown from casual park visitors curious about a bird's call to dedicated birders with binoculars and field guides in hand.

Recognizing this surge in interest, a slate of birding programs has been developed and tailored to different experience levels, age groups, and interests. This approach ensures that birdwatching remains an accessible, inclusive, and educational experience throughout the East Bay. Whether visitors prefer a peaceful morning hike, an interactive, community science event, or even a kayak excursion, the Park District provides diverse opportunities to observe and learn about the region's incredible avian diversity.

This episode is made possible by BCI Burke.

Play is where development soars and communities come together. At BCI Burke, we believe outdoor spaces should be thoughtfully designed, built to last and welcoming to everyone. Because when design is intentional, people feel it. Learn more at bciburke.com.

Want to watch instead? You can view this episode on YouTube.

Or, read the article here.

Enjoy!