Friday, September 14, 2012

VRPS 2011 Award Winners

Photo Credit:  Jennifer Cauldwell, City of Norfolk Recreation, Parks, and Open Space

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Best New Program, 25,001-50,000
Teen Quest Special Progam
Louisa County


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Best New Program, 50,001-100,000
Reston Green Living Series
Reston Community Center


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Best New Program, Greater Than100,000
Film Making and Multimedia, Downing Gross Cultural Arts Center
City of Newport News Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism


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Best New Special Event, Less Than 25,000
Ghosts of Violet Banks Past
Colonial Heights Recreation and Parks


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Best New Special Event, 25,001-50,000
Leesburg Air Show
Town of Leesburg Parks and Recreation


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Best New Special Event, 50,001-100,000
Roanoke Outdoor Circus
Roanoke Parks and Recreation


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Best New Special Event, Greater than 100,000
Ball's Bluff 150th Reenactment
Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority


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Best New Facility - Bricks and Mortar, Less than 25,000
Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center
City of Fairfax Parks and Recreation


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Best New Facility - Bricks and Mortar, 25,001-50,000
Ida Lee Park Maintenance Facility
Town of Leesburg Parks and Recreation


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Best New Facility - Bricks and Mortar, 50,001-100,000
James City County Parks and Recreation
Freedom Park Interpretive Center


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Best New Facility - Bricks and Mortar, Greater than 100,000
Eastern Henrico Recreation Center
County of Henrico Division of Parks and Recreation


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Best New Facility - Parks, Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways, and Trails, 25,001-50,000
Free Wheeling Way Accessible Playground
County of Warren Parks and Recreation


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Best New Facility - Parks, Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways, and Trails, 50,001-100,000
Walrond Park Trail
Roanoke County Parks, Recreation, and Tourism


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Best New Facility - Parks, Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways, and Trails, Greater than 100,000
Long Bridge Park
Arlington County Parks and Recreation


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Best New Renovation/Addition - Bricks and Mortar, 50,001-100,000
Reston Community Center at Lake Anne
Reston Community Center


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Best New Renovation/Addition - Bricks and Mortar, Greater than 100,000
Virginia Randolf Museum
County of Henrico Division of Parks and Recreation


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Best New Renovation/Addition - Bricks and Mortar, Less than 25,000
North Park Renovation
City of Waynesboro Parks and Recreation


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Best New Renovation/Addition - Parks, Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways, and Trails, 50,001-100,000
Jamestown Beach Park Shoreline Renovation
James City County Parks and Recreation


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Best New Renovation/Addition - Parks, Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways, and Trails, Greater than 100,000
Paradise Play - Cameron Run Regional Park
Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority


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Best New Environmental Sustainability, 25,001-50,000
Invasive Plant Management
Charlottesville Parks and Recreation


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Best New Environmental Sustainability, Greater than 100,000
Growing Wetlands in the Classroom
City of Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation


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Best Promotional Effort - Traditional, Less than 25,000
Herndon Festival Sponsorship Catalog
Town of Herndon Parks and Recreation


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Best Promotional Effort - Traditional, 25,001-50,000
Leesburg Airshow Poster
Town of Leesburg Parks and Recreation


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Best Promotional Effort - Traditional, 50,001-100,000
Civil War Homes Tour Guide
Roanoke County Parks, Recreation, and Tourism


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Best Promotional Effort - Traditional, Greater than 100,000
Annual Report 2010-2011 Wall Calendar
Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority


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Best Promotional Effort - Specialty, Less than 25,000
Herndon Festival Tshirt
Town of Herndon Parks and Recreation


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Best Promotional Effort - Specialty, 25,001-50,000
Car Magnets
Town of Leesburg Parks and Recreation


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Best Promotional Effort - Specialty, 50,001-100,000
Green Ridge "5 for $25"
Roanoke County Parks, Recreation, and Tourism


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Best Promotional Effort - Specialty, Greater than 100,000
Facility Toor Kiosk
County of Henrico Parks and Recreation


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Distinguished Private Sector Service
Munden Point Park Cleanup Project
STIHL Inc.


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Distinguished Private Sector Service
Pathways for Radford
Pathways for Radford


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Distinguished Volunteer Award
Fred Corbett
County of Roanoke Parks, Recreation, and Tourism


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Distinguished Volunteer Award
Craig McKenzie
McLean Community Center


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Outstanding New Professional
Lisa Walker
Hanover County Parks and Recreation


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Outstanding New Professional
Scott Ramsburg
Roanoke County Parks, Recreation, and Tourism


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Distinguished Service Award
Marcy Durrer
Hanover County Parks and Recreation


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Fellows Award
Cindy Jo Daniel
County of Henrico Parks and Recreation

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

2012 VRPS Annual Conference: Saturday Canoe ADVENTURE!

by Art Thatcher, City of Norfolk Recreation, Parks, & Open Space

OFF THE MOUNTAIN ACTIVITY:  Saturday, September 8, 1-5pm, Canoe the Tye River

"For the experienced canoeist.  Enjoy a 2.5 mile trip along the scenic Tye River nestled in a remote section of Nelson County.  The River has large granite boulder formations and class II-III rapids for the full experience ... Excursion brought to you by Wythe, Nelson, and Charlottesville Parks and Recreation."









"You don't paddle against the current, you paddle with it. And if you get good at it, you throw away the oars."
Kris Kristofferson

Monday, September 10, 2012

It was true love ....

by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

"Join a Wintergreen Volunteer naturalist to exlore Virginia mountain geology, geography, plants, animals, and local lore.  Come prepared with good day-hiking equipment for variable weather and hiking conditions ... Our focus will also be directed on how to lead a hike, understanding your audience and provide an educational experience to the group while having fun in a natural environment."

The air was crisp, the sky a glorious blue, and the calming greenery of Wintergreen Resort simply breathtaking.  As I embarked on my first educational session, "Leading a Nature Hike", the call of the woods beckoned.  We loaded the Wintergreen Shuttle and were off to embrace the Appalachian Trail (or "AT" as my new post-session-hike lingo has now afforded me).


"Alga met Fungus in the trees, and they took a Lichen to each other.  Unfortunately, their marriage ended up on the rocks ...."


The lesson from our fearless leader, Richard, in this little love story was to explain the tendency of lichens to colonize on rock.  However, Richard's true message was for each of us, in our leadership roles, to gauge the audience and convey lessons in whatever context reaches them - and it did.  Otherwise, how else would I have any recollection of the nature of the symbiotic relationship between algae and fungi in lichens?  It is altogether likely that I have never before used those three words in the same sentence in the course of my entire life.


Richard concluded the discussion portion of the session, atop beautiful Indian Rock, by emptying his hiking pack and explaining the merit of each necessary component.  He solicited the group as to what other items we have found useful in our own packs.  My new bff CJ shared a tip regarding dollar store warming blankets:  cost-effective, small additions to any responsible hikers backpack (or vehicle driver's glovebox), that offer a myriad of uses:
  • solar still (to draw moisture in the event of a dehydration issue)
  • warming
  • reflective signaling device
  • ground cloth
  • tarp

My enjoyment of the afternoon and the benefits of the experience are not limited to the hike nor to my newfound enlightenment as to the algae/fungi love story.  And, they are not limited to me.  Below is a message shared post-hike by fearless-leader-Richard:

Many thanks to everyone who attended the conference on Sunday and participated in the hike.  I can honestly say that you were one of the more exciting and energetic groups that I have had the pleasure of meeting.  I had the opportunity to sit-in on the key note speaker session and feel as though you all have a wonderful opportunity to advance your programs looking at all of the demographic changes we have in the future.  I feel privileged to have been a small part of what looks like a great conference. 




Happy Trails to all ... in this case the Appalachian.

#ClimbUp