The Illinois Park & Recreation Association (IPRA) has some very exciting news to share! We are now offering students FREE membership! Any individual pursuing studies in the field of parks, recreation, conservation or related field (not employed full-time by a parks, recreation or conservation agency) can go to the IPRA website, ILipra.org, now and join.
Established in 1944, the Illinois Park and Recreation Association’s mission is to provide and promote exceptional standards of education, networking, and resources for all professionals in the Illinois Park, recreation, and conservation communities. Among the many member benefits we offer, student members may also take advantage of the following:
- Reduced registration fees for the 2016 IAPD/IPRA Soaring to New Heights Conference (savings of over 50%). Student members may volunteer onsite and receive reimbursement for their registration fees. They may also apply for a scholarship from the Illinois Park & Recreation Foundation to offset travel costs.
- Meet & greet with park & recreation professionals at the Professional Connection. The Professional Connection provides a relaxed, social atmosphere and an informal setting for talking with, and getting to know, professionals currently working in a variety of areas of interest. Use this time to set-up summer internships!
- Attend the All-Conference Awards Luncheon by being sponsored by a park & recreation agency at the event (a great networking opportunity!) Meet agency leaders and connect with professionals, as we recognize outstanding efforts by IPRA members.
- Access to IPRAConnect – an online environment where members can connect, engage and share information, resources and best practices with their colleagues. IPRAConnect allows student members to communicate easily with other students, park & recreation professionals, and educators, in real time. We’ve recently launched our latest community, just for Students, and access is immediate!
- Discounted rates on professional development, networking opportunities (like ProConnect and ProConnect South) and special events.
All students are encouraged to take advantage of this valuable opportunity!
