Each Earth Month, we're reminded of the important role parks and recreation plays in building more resilient communities and connecting people to nature. A key piece of helping that connection grow is through curiosity, learning and a deeper awareness of the world around us.

On this episode of Open Space Radio, we're joined by Erica Flocke, parks and recreation director for the City of Wimberley, Texas, to talk about how the Texas Master Naturalist program has shaped the way she sees her work and her community.

After reading Erica's recent article in Parks & Recreation magazine, we wanted to dig deeper and explore how learning about our local ecosystems can strengthen community connection and transform everyday park experiences into something more meaningful.

Whether you're looking to grow as a professional or simply deepen your connection to the parks in your community, this conversation is a reminder that sometimes all it takes is learning to notice what's already there. And bonus! Christina also shared their experience completing the Virginia Master Naturalist program and Cort may have been inspired to sign up based on this conversation.

Tune in to the full episode below to learn more about Erica's work and how the Master Naturalist program helps people see parks not just as beautiful spaces, but as living ecosystems worth understanding and protecting. You'll also learn:

• Why curiosity is at the heart of this program (you don't need a background in something like environmental education to get started!)
• How small moments of education can spark stewardship and turn visitors into advocates for the places they love
• Why this type of learning is valuable professional development for park and recreation professionals at any stage of their career
• How engaged volunteers can strengthen your work and expand your department's impact in meaningful ways
• The power of bringing people together across generations through a shared appreciation of nature
• And much more!

Additional Resources:

• Parks & Recreation magazine: The Naturalist Advantage
• NRPA's environmental resilience resources
• Tip: Most U.S. states have a version of a Master Naturalist program. To find one in your state, search something like: "[your state] Master Naturalist program."

This season of Open Space Radio is sponsored by BCI Burke.

Swing into play this season with the Burke Spring Playground Sale. Save up to 40% on select playground designs and stretch your budget further while bringing more movement, inclusion and lasting value to your community.

Learn more at bciburke.com/sale

Each year, NRPA hosts its Park and Recreation Month Cover Contest. But before one story makes the cover of the July issue of Parks & Recreation magazine, countless submissions remind us just how powerful this work truly is.

With submissions now open for this year's Park and Recreation Month Cover Contest, this episode of Open Space Radio looks back at a few stories from last year that stayed with us. From older adults building connections through a simple walking program to children strengthening literacy skills by reading to horses, these stories capture what parks and recreation does best: create spaces where people connect and grow.

Tune in to hear our conversations with:

• Shannon Barrett, CPRP, recreation coordinator for City of Kerman (California), Parks, Recreation and Community Services, and participants from the Walk With Ease program, who share how a simple walking initiative has built a tight-knit, supportive community.
• Danielle Bachelder, CPRP, senior parks manager for Broward County (Florida) Parks and Recreation, and a young participant in the Pony Tales program, who discuss how a literacy-based initiative that invites children to read to horses is making an impact on children, families and the horses alike.

Both stories may seem simple on the surface. But as the team reflects in this episode, simple ideas often create the most meaningful impact.

Listen below to hear the full episode. You'll learn:

• How simple programs can create transformational impact across generations
• Why effective leadership, care and passion are often the keys to program success
• How partnerships expand access and broaden community reach
• The importance of starting small and building over time
• How storytelling helps elevate the power of parks and recreation
• And more

If your agency has a story that reflects "The Power Of" parks and recreation, share your photo and story by March 13 for a chance to be featured in the cover story of the July issue of Parks & Recreation magazine.

Pictured: Isabella Mangum reads to a horse named Cash at Tradewinds Park and Stables as part of the Pony Tales Program. Photo by Katherine Garces, courtesy of Broward County Parks and Recreation.

This season of Open Space Radio is sponsored by BCI Burke:
Outdoor play builds confidence, leadership skills and social networks. At BCI Burke, they design outdoor spaces that support movement, opportunity and connection, helping park and recreation professionals create environments where more girls feel encouraged to step in, play hard and lead the game.

Learn more at bciburke.com

Thanks to BCI Burke for supporting this episode and for their continued commitment to Play That Moves You®.

What does it take to increase the number of girls participating in sports? On this episode of Open Space Radio, we explore the obstacles, the breakthroughs, and how park and recreation professionals are at the center of it all.

We know sports offer lifelong physical and mental health benefits, helping girls build strength, confidence and connections. But when it comes to getting more girls and women involved in sports, participation alone isn't the goal. The real work is creating environments where girls feel like they belong, and feel supported, safe and excited to stay in the game as they grow. And right now, as girls' and women's sports are gaining national attention, it's a pivotal moment to rethink how youth sports actually show up for girls in our communities.

On this episode, we chat with two incredible local leaders who are putting these ideas into action in their communities: Sally Pennington, CPRE, director of parks and recreation in Eudora, Kansas, and Amy Tessier, recreation program supervisor in Twentynine Palms, California. We're also joined by Allison Colman, senior director of programs at NRPA, who helps lead our youth sports strategy and shares insight into NRPA's role in advancing this work nationwide.

Tune in below to hear how you can be part of the movement to get more girls in sports. You'll also learn:

• What participation gaps between girls and boys still exist, even as girls' and women's sports gain national visibility
• How early experiences in youth sports can shape long-term confidence and retention
• What a systems-change approach looks like in parks and recreation, from coach recruitment and training to programming
• Why increasing women coaches and role models is critical to keeping girls engaged
• How local programs are creating ripple effects beyond the field
• And much more!

Additional Resources

• Get Her in the Game
• NRPA Youth Sports Framework
• NRPA Youth Sports in Parks and Recreation Report
• Level Up: Coaching Tools to Inspire, Connect, and Lead Through Sports

Have feedback about this episode or Open Space Radio overall? Share it with us!

If you enjoyed this episode or learned something that might help you make a positive impact in your community, please consider donating to NRPA. Your gift will support our storytelling efforts and our mission to advance parks, recreation and environmental resilience efforts that enhance the quality of life for all. Give today at nrpa.org/donate.

This season of Open Space Radio is sponsored by BCI Burke:
Outdoor play builds confidence, leadership skills and social networks. At BCI Burke, they design outdoor spaces that support movement, opportunity and connection, helping park and recreation professionals create environments where more girls feel encouraged to step in, play hard and lead the game.

Learn more at bciburke.com

Thanks to BCI Burke for supporting this episode and for their continued commitment to Play That Moves You®.