Recap, Best Practices and What’s To Come
Over the past several weeks, I’ve shared insight into how I found my way into the world of recreation, what has helped me grow, and what has made me stronger—especially through the people I’ve met along the way who became mentors. I’ve also shared leadership tips and ideas about what helps make play more impactful. […]
Goals
It’s that time of year when everyone feels a little festive, and next year’s goals start lingering in the back of our minds. Some people keep a running list in their heads, while others begin jotting down what they want or need to accomplish in the new year. And of course, we can’t forget the […]
Commitments and Responsibilities
In my last blog, I mentioned wanting to go back a few posts to finish a story—one that ties into commitments, responsibilities, and just how important they can be. I’ll be honest: commitment has never been one of my strongest traits. But when I do commit, I’m in it for the long haul. If I’ve given my […]
Checklists
Oh, the joy of checklists. What is it about them—do they give you a burst of satisfaction or make you let out a deep sigh? Why do we even have checklists in the first place? Is it because our memory sometimes fails us, because checking things off feels like a tiny victory, or simply because […]
After the Conference…
Who else comes home from a conference riding an inspiration high? Every year, this REC Net Conference fills me with energy thanks to so many amazing recreators, and—if I’m being honest—a little post-conference blues knowing it’ll be another year before I see everyone again. It’s wild how four days can spark that much emotion. As […]
Help of a Mentor
They say a mentoring relationship is a professional or personal connection where a more experienced, knowledgeable person (the mentor) provides guidance, support, and advice to a less experienced person (the mentee) to help them grow, develop skills, and reach their goals. A great mentoring relationship is built on trust, respect, and open communication — and it can take place anywhere: in […]
Leadership Game Rules
Over the last few blogs, I’ve talked about Impactful Play, how to become a stronger leader during game time, and how preparation makes all the difference. The more prepared you are, the smoother your programs and games will run — and the better the experience your participants will have. Before I take a short break from […]
Impactful Play II
As I mentioned in my last blog, the real difference often comes from the leadership behind the programming. For some, it comes naturally; for others, it just takes a bit of practice and a few intentional steps. I want to stay with this topic because it’s truly one of the most important parts of creating […]
Impactful Play
Over the years, you start to learn what makes a program truly successful. What creates energy and enjoyment in the activities? How do you grow as a leader? And most importantly – how can your participants have more fun? Here are a few ways to make your activities more fun and engaging for everyone — […]
Sharing Your Vision
Up until now, I’ve shared my journey in order—starting with the early days of ship life and all the lessons that came with it. But with this topic, I’m going to veer off course and fast-forward a few years. I may stick with this direction for a while, focusing more on leadership insights and programming […]