Parks and Recreation
Emerging Professionals Program (PREPP)

PREPP Cohort #2 will start in the Fall of 2023,
supported by CU Denver, GP RED, and CPRA

In communities around the U.S., parks & recreation (P&R) facilities, programs, and other related services, including trails, greenways, natural resources, open space, sports, tourism, events, and other related quality of life offerings are managed in the public sector. As community members continue to recognize the value of these shared public spaces for the health and vibrancy of community, there is a need for more P&R professionals trained in both public management and parks and recreation planning.

The Parks and Recreation Emerging Professionals Program (PREPP) is designed to fill a niche for those who want to move ahead into upper levels of administration, need a strong basis and competencies in management and planning, and who are interested in a flexible, yet rigorous, program developed for working professionals. With more than 400,000 people employed in state and local parks and recreation positions across the U.S., this unique combination of curriculum will be an important addition to the educational opportunities in the parks and recreation field. The University of Colorado (CU) Denver School of Public Affairs Institute, GP RED, and the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) are proud sponsors of this program.

For questions and more informatiion, go to the UCD page or contact Dr. Teresa Penbrooke at teresap@gpred.org

Participants: The PREPP is ideal for:

• Current P&R staff who have at least 3 years of full-time experience working for a public P&R agency, and a high school degree, bachelor’s degree or higher.
• People with a bachelor’s degree or higher who want background and training in P&R planning and management to start working or further progress in the field of P&R.
• People who enjoy offering programs or facilities for the public, but want more of a business, governmental, and introduction to executive-level competencies needed to move up or be the best they can be in their field.
• Individuals across the United States and in Colorado are eligible.
  

Program Design:

• Participants complete 3 sequential series of 4 courses each, for a total of approximately 180 hours of class time.
• Program can be completed in approximately 15 months.
• The program is online with synchronous class time one night per week, as well as an online classroom for asynchronous learning and study.
• Each series culminates in a student portfolio and the final series is capped with a self-directed project that incorporates the learning across the entire program.
• Participants will be grouped into cohorts with a planned start in Fall 2022.
  Click on the image on the right to view the Schedule for Cohort #2.

Fees – The full PREPP program costs $3,500. Payment plans and some limited scholarships are available. Fee includes textbooks and all required materials.

Course Topics – Course topics span the range of important and foundational skills in public management and parks and recreation including public service and parks and recreation philosophy, value and impact; organizational structure, function and governance; diversity, equity and inclusion; finance, budgets and cost recovery; program planning and evaluation; collaboration and community engagement; facilities/parks planning and management; human resources and communication.

Curriculum – The certificate curriculum is based on core competencies indicated by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) and the Council on Accreditation for Parks, Recreation and Tourism (COAPRT). Coursework is designed to provide graduates with education in areas covered by the Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) exam. CEUs are provided by Colorado Parks and Recreation Association.

Faculty – Faculty come from academia and practice in both public administration and parks and recreation, and are affiliated with the University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs as well as other top-ranked programs of public administration and parks and recreation.

Academic Connections – The program will be eligible for continuing education units (CEUs). As the program is further developed, we are exploring connections to credit-based academic programs such as bachelor’s degrees and credit-bearing certificates to help graduates continue their education.

Program Directors/Lead Faculty:

Teresa L. Penbrooke, PhD, MAOM, CPRE
Curriculum and Partnerships Advisor/Academic Affiliate

Dr. Teresa Penbrooke has 30+ years of public agency and business management, teaching, and research. She leads the Healthy Communities Research Group for GP RED, and has been the CEO/Founder of GreenPlay, LLC since 1999. Teresa teaches for associations and universities, writes curricula, books, and articles, and consults on planning, management, preventive health, access to nature, and community engagement.

Lisa N. VanRaemdonck, MPH, MSW
Executive Director, School of Public Affairs Institute, University of Colorado Denver

Lisa VanRaemdonck leads professional development and continuing education programs for the School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado Denver. She guides implementation of the Colorado Certified Public Manager program and develops custom training programs for government and nonprofit professionals. She teaches in SPA’s Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration program and at the Colorado School of Public Health.

For more information check out the webpage: https://bit.ly/PREPP-CU. Still have questions? Submit your contact information on the PREPP-CU webpage and we’ll be in touch.
Ready to apply? We look forward to seeing your application: https://bit.ly/PREPPApp