Off-Site Institutes


TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2008

    Patterson Park – A Look at Urban Renaissance in Action!
  • 12:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.
  • $40 - Member, $55 - Non-Member
  • CEU: 0.3

    • In the 90’s Patterson Park was much like many other urban parks, under used, decaying infrastructure and seen as a place of crime.  Today Patterson Park is enjoying a renaissance which has positively affected the surrounding community's development and rebirth. This rejuvenation was made possible by the partnership between the Friends of Patterson Park (nonprofit park advocacy organization) and the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Park.  In this Off-Site Institute, we will demonstrate the partnerships developed between Baltimore City and Friends of Patterson Park and how they work in partnership on management, programming and park operations.  This institute will also explore the history of Patterson Park (War of 1812, Civil War, Parks Movement, etc.) as well as the development of Baltimore's park system from the 1860's to present and its historical preservation.

    • Casual, Lightweight jacket, Walking shoes
    • All components of the tour meet ADA guidelines for accessibility
    Historic Preservation: A Model of Town Planning from the 1930’s
  • 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
  • $75 - Member, $90 - Non-Member
  • CEU: 0.6

    • Greenbelt Maryland is a planned community born out of the Great Depression of the 1930s. Created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Resettlement Administration, Greenbelt was a part of the green belt town program and was one of three green belt cities constructed by the federal government. Greenbelt was designed to provide work for unemployed laborers, affordable housing for low income families, and to be model for future town planning. Greenbelt was sold by the federal government in 1952 and a housing cooperative (Greenbelt Homes Incorporated) was formed to purchase the homes. The original, historic section of town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and in 1987 the town’s plan, including a network of walkways and underpasses, was made a national planning landmark. Take a walking tour throughout the historic section and explore some of what makes up a modern day utopia, with discussion/lecture led by early residents and town planners.

    • Casual, Lightweight jacket, Walking shoes
    • Accessibility is limited to some locations of the tour
    Tour Public Private Partnerships
  • 8:15 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Price:  $75 - Member, $90 - Non-Member
  • CEU: 0.6

    • Tour several Public-Private ventures and go behind the scenes of each agreement and operations. These facilities have contributed to the creation of a Five Time Gold Medal winning agency and learn how the public and private sector collaborate to bring this community an Ice Skating Complex, a commercial restaurant, a state of the art Tennis Training Academy, a University Performing Arts Center, a Golf driving range, a Trap and Skeet Range and a unique park project that was built in connection with the development of an urban Metro Train system. The basic financial terms of each agreement will be discussed and a CD of the actual contracts will be shared with participants. Learn the different prospective of private operators as well as from the public agency representatives.

    • Casual, Lightweight jacket, Walking shoes
    • All components of the tour meet ADA guidelines for accessibility
    Green Matters at Brookside Gardens
  • 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
  • Price:  $75 - Member, $90 - Non-Member
  • CEU: 0.6

    • Learn how your organization can make a difference in your community and beyond by making sustainable choices in all aspects of your operations.  As a horticultural display garden and county park, Brookside Gardens is committed to the stewardship of the natural resources under its care.  Through strategic planning, the Gardens makes sustainable choices in all aspects of operations, including purchasing, educational programming and landscape design and maintenance.  We have partnered with the Montgomery County Public School system's Green Schools Focus program to share our knowledge about sustainable horticultural practices while they share their experience to reduce energy use in facilities.  Topics to be covered include horticultural practices like rain gardens, IPM, composting, nutrient management, as well as standards for green purchasing and energy-saving practices. Tour of the gardens, conservatories, and service area will be complemented by in-classroom training session.

    • Casual, Lightweight jacket, Walking shoes
    • All grounds are accessible with the exception of the Japanese Tea House.
    Recreation for People with Disabilities
  • 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
  • Price:  $40 - Member, $50 - Non-Member
  • CEU: 0.4

    • Just recently having undergone a complete renovation, The League for People with Disabilities, Inc. has a state of the art facility which is able to meet the needs of individuals with various ability levels around the community.  Being completely accessible, The League is able to provide individuals with disabilities the same recreational opportunity as anyone else. The League's Camping & Therapeutic Recreation prides itself on providing life-changing experiences through its many programs, including Camp Greentop, Assisted Travel, and other community recreation opportunities.  The Wellness Center is also able to provide recreational experiences through the fitness center and the heated therapeutic pool.  This institute will focus on creating successful recreational programming for a wide population

    • Casual, Lightweight jacket, Walking shoes
    • All components of the tour meet ADA guidelines for accessibility
    Transforming to Creating the Gateway to America’s Largest Estuary
  • 8:15 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
  • Price:  $70 - Member, $85 - Non-Member
  • CEU: 0.5

    • Marshy Point Park was established to preserve hundreds of acres of pristine shoreline on Dundee and Saltpeter Creeks, tidal tributaries of the Gunpowder River and the Chesapeake Bay (America’s largest estuary).  Baltimore County has constructed a series of park enhancements that have transformed the park into a quality interpretive center that provides invaluable hands-on opportunities to experience for the Bay’s tidal ecosystem.  Participants will begin their park tour at the Marshy Point Nature Center, which serves as the base for the educational visits each year.   An overview of Baltimore County’s environmental and historical interpretation system will be included.  Participants will take a short hike and a naturalists-guided canoe tour of Dundee Creek will be offered.   Participants will learn about the tidal ecosystem and how staff utilizes the natural environment and facilities to enrich interpretive opportunities for

    • Casual, Raingear - Lightweight jacket, Walking shoes
    • Institute is accessible; participant would need to self transfer to a canoe.
    Artificial Turf Workshop and Field Tour
  • 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
  • Price:  $75 - Member, $90 - Non-Member
  • CEU: 0.5

    • Recent improvement in artificial turf technology has renewed interest in these turfs for sports fields. The decision to use artificial turf and what type of turf to install is extremely difficult because these fields require a significant investment to install, maintain, and eventually replace. The technology is relatively new and still evolving. College, high school, and parks and recreation department personnel have numerous questions on construction and installation, performance, player safety and injury, programming opportunities and challenges, maintenance costs, lifespan, warranty, etc. The goal of this workshop is to answer these questions and help people make informed decisions about artificial turf fields. The workshop will discuss the different types of carpet, infill materials and base construction, performance, player safety and injury, programming opportunities and challenges, maintenance costs, lifespan,

    • Casual, Raingear, Walking shoes
    • All components of the tour meet ADA guidelines for accessibility
    Designing and Maintaining Sustainable Trails
  • 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Price:  $65 - Member, $80 - Non-Member
  • CEU: 0.6

    • This session will describe the principle elements of designing and constructing natural surface, sustainable trails for non-motorized users, including hiking, mountain biking and equestrians. The concept of sustainable trails will be defined and discussed in terms of their benefit to minimizing environmental impacts, reducing maintenance costs and maximizing the visitor experience.  The elements of sustainable design and construction that maximize water flow off of trails will be described and reviewed in the field, including: the fundamental relationship between trail grade and cross slope, soil type, trail usage and other factors and the use of grade reversals, out-sloping trail treads and avoiding fall lines and low, flat wet areas. Wet area solutions will be discussed and reviewed in the field, including constructing turnpikes, bridges, boardwalks, puncheons and the appropriate application of geotextiles.

    • Casual, Raingear - Lightweight jacket, Walking shoes – Boots
    • This OSI is accessible but is outdoors and will take place in a natural environment where weather will place a factor in accessibility. Please be prepared for the weather elements
    Explore Preservation of History and Environment Through Recreation
  • 9:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
  • Price:  $70 - Member, $85 - Non-Member
  • CEU: 0.4

    • Join us on a journey along the Gwynns Falls Trail. We will embark from the Crimea Estate in Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park – home of the Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound facility and cycle to the Inner Harbor Visitor Center. In addition to cycling the Gwynns Falls Trail (connecting 2000 acres of Park lands and 30 communities), participants will get a close up look at the Carrie Murray Nature Center, learn about Leon Day Park (named for a Hall of Famer), visit Carroll Park and hear about the exciting future of the area to be known as Inner Harbor South. Understanding Baltimore’s approach to preserve various critical natural resources along the Gwynns Falls Trail will be demonstrated through a tour of the following of the historic Crimea Estate, the local wildlife shelter, the gunpowder Patapsco watershed, and the Gwynns Falls Trail recreation opportunities (which connects these items).

    • Casual, Raingear - Lightweight jacket, Walking shoes
    • This institute requires individuals to ride a bike. Individuals with physical disabilities would need to provide own means of bike transportation. Trail is across various conditions, such as dirt, roadways and streets. Individuals with specific request should contact OSI Chair.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2008

    History Comes Alive! Programming and Preservation at Historic Heritage Sites
  • 8:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
  • Price:  $75 - Member, $90 - Non-Member
  • CEU: 0.6

    • How does the use and programming of the historic resources in parklands develop and evolve over time?  Tour the 70-acre Agricultural History Farm Park (in Montgomery County) and the Mount Calvert Archaeological and History Park overlooking the scenic Patuxent River (in Prince George's County) to discover and discuss the challenges and opportunities present in both the day-to-day and long-term management of multi-use sites that call on the skills of multiple professions (parks, recreation, history, archaeology, conservation, historic preservation and planning).

    • Casual, Raingear - Lightweight jacket, Walking shoes
    • Not all elements of this tour are wheelchair accessible. Limited access due to historical nature.
    Guide to Municipal Golf Management
  • 7:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
  • Price:  $70 - Member, $85 - Non-Member
  • CEU: 0.5

    • Golf’s allied associations including The PGA of America, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, Golf Course Builders Association of America, America Society of Golf Course Architects and the National Golf Course Owners Association collaborate to provide a series of hands on golf education sessions to support municipal golf facility operations. This advanced half day program will include four separate education sessions focused on community programming to grow your business, understand changing consumer demographics and how to best market to the public, evaluate and plan for golf course improvements and environmental sustainability, and tools to monitor golf facility performance.

    • Casual, Raingear, Walking shoes
    • All components of the tour meet ADA guidelines for accessibility
    Go for the Gold
  • 8:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Price:  $75 - Member, $90 - Non-Member
  • CEU: 0.7

    • Go behind some of the most unique facilities operated by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC), a five-time National Gold Medal award-winning parks and recreation agency. Participants will view facilities - Fairland Regional Park/Sports & Aquatics Complex, and Beltsville-Laurel Elementary School/Vansville Community Center, a project done in cooperation with the Prince George’s County Public School system. The design of this center incorporates many green building principles and sustainable design.  Participants will visit College Park Aviation Museum.  A unique venture for a MNCPPC, the Museum combines interactive displays, with historic collections of early aircraft.  The journey continues at the state of the art Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex, located adjacent to the Washington Redskins™ Fed Ex Field.  Our most successful public-private partnership projects, Shirley Povich Field, will also be toured. You will also venture out into the unique Brookside Gardens, a green public garden

    • Business-Casual, Lightweight jacket, Walking shoes
    • All components of the tour meet ADA guidelines for accessibility
    Programming Historical Properties: Traditional and Non-Traditional Approaches
  • 8 a.m - 2 p.m.
  • Price:  $75 - Member, $90 - Non-Member
  • CEU:0.4

    • Programming the diverse heritage properties that a recreation and parks agency owns can be a challenge. Start your tour with a PowerPoint presentation discussing current programming of a award winning stabilized ruin, a National Landmark railroad station, a 1700s circa log cabin, a historic firehouse, and a restored African-American one-room schoolhouse all located in Historic Ellicott City, Maryland. Participants will then gain in-depth knowledge and hands on experience while touring The Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park, the Ellicott City Colored School Restored, and the B & O Railroad Museum Ellicott City Station (the oldest railroad station in America). Learn to develop, implement and evaluate programming historical sites based on your tour experiences. Lunch in the ruins at the Patapsco Female Institute is included. Indicate if vegetarian meal is required.

    • Casual, Lightweight jacket, Walking shoes
    • All components of the tour meet ADA guidelines for accessibility
    Recreational Coach Workshop for Tennis Coaches
  • 8:15 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
  • Price:  $20 - Member, $35 - Non-Member
  • CEU: 0.6

    • A Recreational Coach Workshop is an interactive, on-court training program designed for tennis teachers and coaches working with players at the recreational level. Taught by a specially trained, certified teaching professional, this six-hour session covers:  teaching large groups, the games based approach to coaching, the QuickStart Tennis Format, running effective team practices and The Top 10 Games Every Coach Should Know. These workshops are an excellent primer for new coaches as well as a valuable refresher course for those with teaching experience but who seek more current methods and effective tools.  Past attendees include: park and recreation instructors, high school, and seasonal coaches, parents seeking the basics in coaching and organizing teams, current players seeking part-time or summer teaching jobs.  Upon completion of the 6-hour workshop, each participant will receive a packet of materials,  and Certificate of Attendance Card.

    • Casual, Medium weight jacket, Walking shoes - Tennis shoes are required for on-court activity. Attendees will participate in on-court demonstrations.
    • All components of the tour meet ADA guidelines for accessibility
    Responding to the Climate Crisis: The Gunpowder Global Warming Initiative
  • 8:15 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.
  • Price:  $70 - Member, $85 - Non-Member
  • CEU: 0.6

    • This session will describe one park’s response to the climate crisis, and explore simple ways that public land managers with limited resources can break this large and complex issue down to a more manageable size.  In February 2007, Gunpowder Falls State Park launched the Gunpowder Global Warming Initiative (GGWI).  We will examine this model and its various components, including strategies for inspiring and training staff, working toward a more sustainable and energy efficient park operation, and inspiring the public to join in this effort in their own lives, homes, communities.  The concept of sustainable living will be defined and discussed in terms of its specific applicability in a park setting.   Workshop participants will leave with ideas that can be implemented at their own sites, as well as contacts for future information sharing and partnerships that enhance sustainability efforts.

    • Casual, Raingear - Lightweight jacket, Walking shoes
    • All components of the tour meet ADA guidelines for accessibility
    The Baltimore Park System and Its Olmstead Legacy
  • 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
  • Price:  $40 - Member, $55 - Non-Member
  • CEU: 0.3

    • Baltimore is a city of connected green spaces.  The main framework of this network stems from the Olmsted Brothers 1904 Report on the Development of Public Grounds for Greater Baltimore, which stressed the need to treat parks, boulevards, and other green spaces as a connected system.  The tour illustrates the application of the park and urban planning principles of Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr., America’s premier landscape architect of the nineteenth century, and his two sons – John Charles Olmsted and Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. – who made up the Olmsted Brothers Landscape Architects.  The tour explores a variety of parks, parkways and green spaces in an urban setting, including the four squares surrounding the Washington Monument in Mount Vernon; Wyman Park; Druid Hill Park; Clifton Park; and Baltimore’s first large public park, Patterson Park.

    • Casual, Lightweight jacket, Walking shoes
    • This OSI is accessible but is outdoors and will take place in a natural environment where weather will place a factor in accessibility. Please be prepared for the weather elements.