GETTING INVOLVED! What can you do?
Elected Officials
As an elected official or municipal committee member, your involvement and support to the celebration of June as Recreation & Parks Month is vital! As an elected official, your role in ensuring that recreation and parks programs, services and opportunities that contribute to the health, wellness and overall quality of life in our communities remains a priority.
For the month of June renew your commitment to be a strong voice advocating the benefits that recreation and parks provide to our communities. ARPA and your recreation and parks staff can provide you with relevant facts, research and examples of how recreation and parks contributes to personal, social, environmental and economic well-being in our families, communities and province.
The following are some activities/strategies, which elected officials could become involved in, to help celebrate June as Recreation & Parks Month.
- Officially proclaim June as Recreation & Parks Month (We have included a useable charter example in this Tool Kit!)
- Formally recognize, in some way, the efforts of your municipal department staff and volunteers.
- Become a member of the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association, and/or attend a provincial recreation conference or workshop.
- Encourage/support a municipal-wide ‘Recreation Fair’ that would provide local recreational, environmental, sports, arts and culture, agencies, groups and businesses an opportunity to share and promote their programs and services to the community.
- Nominate one of your staff or volunteers, local groups or initiatives for an award and recognition from the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association.
Practitioners
As practitioners, either paid or volunteer, the benefits that recreation and parks programs, facilities and services you provide in your community is often known, but not celebrated or promoted. June celebrations are perfect opportunity for your department or agency to ‘take the stage’ and communicate the messages regarding the value or recreation and parks in our communities. Whether it is through a media campaign, a new event or promotion or by using an existing annual event. June is the month to celebrate!
The following are some activities/strategies, which recreation and parks practitioners could be involved in, help celebrate June as Recreation & Parks Month.
- Have your Mayor/Reeve proclaim that June is Recreation & Parks Month! (Look for a useable Charter, in this Tool Kit)
- Plan a community-wide event to celebrate and showcase the value of recreation and parks in your community!
- Contact the local media and have a weekly article focusing on a particular event, facility, group, program, volunteer related to recreation and parks!
- Develop a community contest that promotes recreation and parks and the benefits they provide to your community!
- Ensure that all promotions of existing events, programs and services occurring in June promote ‘June is Recreation & Parks Month’!
- Plan a department-wide celebration for all department staff and volunteers to celebrate the contributions you make to the quality of life in our communities!
- Become a member of the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association, and/or attend a provincial recreation conference or workshop.
- Plan/facilitate a municipal-wide ‘Recreation Fair’ that would provide local recreational, environmental, sports, arts and culture, agencies, groups and businesses an opportunity to share and promote their programs and services to the community.
- Contact your local school board(s) to support your Drawing/Colouring Contest or Photo Contest!
- Nominate one of your staff or volunteers, local groups or initiatives for an award and recognition from the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association.
Not-For-Profits (Community Service Clubs)
The not-for-profit sector plays a significant role in the delivery of recreation and parks programs and services and in some communities these groups are the ‘only game in town’. Therefore the role that they play in contributing to our communities and their quality of life should not be overlooked.
The following are some activities/strategies, that not-for-profit groups involved in recreation and parks related programs and services could become involved in, to help celebrate June as Recreation & Parks Month.
- Plan/Participate in a community-wide event to celebrate and showcase the value of recreation and parks in your community!
- Ensure that all promotions of existing events, program and services occurring in June promote ‘June is Recreation and Parks Month’!
- Plan an agency-wide celebration for all staff and volunteers to celebrate the contributions you make to the quality of life in our communities!
- Have local media cover your event, agency, programs or services!
- Become a member of the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association, and/or attend a provincial recreation conference or workshop!
- Plan or participate in a municipal-wide ‘Recreation Fair’ that would provide local recreational, environmental, sports, arts and culture, agencies, groups and businesses an opportunity to share and promote their programs and services to the community!
Business/Corporate
The business community cannot be overlooked as advocates for recreation and parks. Many businesses are direct providers of recreation and parks related services and programs. Others provide the necessary equipment and supplies to participate in various activities or programs and still others are valued members of our community who believe and support individual and community health and well-being. Whatever the case, the business and corporate community is an important advocate of the delivery of recreation and parks.
The following are some activities and strategies that can be used to celebrate June as Recreation & Parks Month by businesses and corporations that believe in the value of recreation.
- Get involved in your community’s celebration activities or events, become a sponsor or partner in the event!
- Help promote community activities and events through your customers and media campaigns!
- Get other businesses/corporations on board! Enlist the support of other community businesses that may not be involved in the celebrations!
- Become a member of the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association, and/or attend a provincial recreation conference or workshop!
- Participate in a municipal-wide ‘Recreation Fair’ that would provide local recreational, environmental, sports, arts and culture, agencies, groups and businesses an opportunity to share and promote their programs and services to the community!
Check out Alberta Recreation and Parks Association web site for June is Recreation and Parks Month! www.june.arpaonline.ca!