Wetlands Waterpark- Great Bend

Great Bend is only a few hours drive from Wichita and Topeka. It is a hidden gem in Central Kansas and well worth adding it to your summer bucket list, especially if you include a visit to Wetlands Waterpark in your plans. Don’t forget to purchase your Splash Across Kansas card for your visit to Great Bend's awesome aquatic park.

The Wetlands at Great Bend is located at 2303 Main in Brit Spaugh Park. The water park, owned and operated by the City of Great Bend. The original pool is still in existence, but many other changes have taken place throughout the years. In 2005, the pool underwent a major renovation.  With the addition of a new bathhouse and concession area, a modern water feature that includes a tipping bucket, several slides for visitors of all ages, a spray park, a zero depth splash pool, and numerous colorful shade structures throughout the facility, Wetlands Waterpark has become one of the finest water parks in Central Kansas.

Plan your visit to Wetlands Waterpark around other events going on in Great Bend. Consider attending the June Jaunt festival which runs May 31st-June 2nd or Party in the Park on August 10th. Visit the Great Bend Zoo. Wouldn't it be fun for the kids to get worn out at the Wetlands Waterpark and then attend an outdoor movie night?  Click here for a complete list of the City of Great Bends’s summer events.

Rock River Rapids- Derby

As the largest suburb of Wichita, Derby is an easy mini vacation for anyone in Kansas. Derby’s Rock River Rapids is a must for your summer bucket list. Don’t forget to purchase your Splash Across Kansas card for your visit to Derby’s awesome aquatic park.

Rock River Rapids is a full service aquatic park with concessions, lockers, a bathhouse and gift counter. There are numerous areas at the park liberally equipped with lounge chairs for relaxing. Rock River Rapids has four featured slides to choose from. Take a raft ride with a friend or kick up the excitement with a thrilling drop off the speed slide! The park also has a lap pool, a lazy river and a zero depth pool for the younger visitors.

Plan your visit to Rock River Rapids around other events going on in Derby. Consider attending the Smoke on the Plains: Derby BBQ and Music Fest which runs June 6-8. After splashing the day away, stay for the 1^st ever Family Camp Out at Derby’s newest park or attend Derby’s Theater in the Park at High Park Amphitheater for A Midsummer Night's Dream. Free and open to the public. Click here for a complete list of Derby Recreation Commission’s summer events.

Get the Heck INTO Dodge!

Dodge City isn't just a one-horse town but offers awesome events and amenities that you can enjoy this summer. Your Splash Across Kansas card will come in handy when you visit the Dodge City's Long Branch Lagoon.

Long Branch Lagoon is a western themed water park with over 27,000 square feet of water surface with attractions like Doc's Plunge, The Gunslinger, Cowboy Creek Lazy River and more.  It is positioned in Wright Park and the downtown Heritage District and close to the famed Boot Hill Museum, historic downtown and the Santa Fe Depot. 

Plan your visit to Long Branch Lagoon around other events going on in Dodge City. Visit Dodge City has put together a wonderful summer brochure to guide you through all the summer attractions going on in Dodge City.

Haven't purchased your Splash Across Kansas card yet to get your 2 admissions to Long Branch Lagoon + 16 other aquatic parks across Kansas? Don't miss out! Purchase your card here.

Healthy Hometown Grant Opportunity for KRPA Members

How could your agency use $5,000 to improve health and well-being in your community? We want to know! Healthy Hometown grant applications are now available. KRPA will award $15,000 in grants to selected agencies.

Learn More Here >

Healthy Hometown is a community health improvement grant provided by Kansas Recreation and Park Association (KRPA) and the Powercat Health Partnership (Kansas State University, Kansas Health Foundation, and Stormont-Vail Hospital) to provide enhancement dollars to Kansas recreation and park agencies who support healthy lifestyles through programs and initiatives that promote healthy communities. Click here to apply. Applications are due by April 19, 2019.

Thank you to the Powercat Health Partnership for their support of health and wellness in Kansas!

Parks & Recreation Marketing Grant
Applications due by April 1, 2019

Could your department use an additional $500 to assist in promoting your programs or events? Sunflower State Games is offering you the opportunity to apply for the 2019 Parks and Recreation Marketing Grant.

HOW DO WE APPLY?

Easy! Just complete and submit the application form to Sunflower State Games Office by April 1st. All applicants must be members of the Kansas Recreation and Park Association. Only one application may be submitted per department/community.

INSTRUCTIONS

1) Submit the application form to our office by April 1, 2019.

2) Submit documentation of your selected Promotion Options by June 28, 2019. Items 1 & 2 of the Promotion Options listed below are required to be considered eligible. A minimum of four additional Promotion Options (items 3 - 9 listed below) must be selected. Documentation must include the following: a) Itemized explanation of how your department implemented each of the selected Promotion Options. b) Proof of inclusion for each of the selected Promotion Options (pictures, links, hard copy, etc). Submissions may be sent electronically via email in PDF format to mgross@sunflowergames.com or shipment of hard copies to: Sunflower State Games, 501 SE Jefferson St., Ste. 22, Topeka, KS 66607

PROMOTION OPTIONS

#1 REQUIRED - Distribution of Sunflower State Games Event Brochures to patrons and general public (brochures to be shipped in March)

#2 REQUIRED - Display Sunflower State Games event posters at Community Centers & Sports Venues (posters to be shipped in March)

#3 Placement of Sunflower State Games logo or ad with external link from department web site (logo or ad provided by SSG upon request)

#4 Ad or article placement in printed Seasonal Program (Ad or article provided by SSG upon request)

#5 Ad or article placement in monthly or seasonal Newsletter (Ad or article provided by SSG upon request)

#6 Event Calendar Listing (electronic or print)

#7 Inclusion in Team or League event schedules

#8 Social Media Mentions tagging SSG on at least two platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat)

#9 OTHER: Please include on a separate sheet additional resources that you plan to utilize in promoting the 2019 Sunflower State Games

SELECTION PROCESS

Recipient of the $500 grant will be selected by the SSG Staff and Board of Directors based on the above criteria. Additional consideration will be given to organizations that exceed the minimum requirements listed above. Grant recipient will be notified in August. A formal presentation will be made at the 2019 SSG VIP Reception on September 30th in Topeka. Expense report to be submitted to SSG upon use of Grant Funds.

Questions? Call the Sunflower State Games office at 785-235-2295 or email mgross@sunflowergames.com

Click Here to Download the Session Proposal Form.

More questions? Email Jamie Reed or call (785) 235-6533.

Kansas Recreation and Park Association is excited to offer a special summer opportunity for Kansas residents to stay-cation in 2019. There is so much to do across the state from museums, trails and parks, but we are highlighting some of the amazing aquatic facilities in the state through the NEW Splash Across Kansas program. Whether your family is traveling for sporting events or just planning fun day trips, we want you to incorporate stops at Kansas aquatic facilities in your summer plans. Watch this video to learn more: https://youtu.be/tVransAeHt8

COST

$40 

PARTICIPATING AQUATIC FACILITIES

There are 16 participating aquatic facilities across Kansas. Click here for a complete list and more information about each aquatic facility.

VALUE

You will receive 2 admissions to each aquatic facility with your punch card. With an average daily rate of $7 per aquatic center per person, this is a great deal.
32 visits x $7 average =
$224 value

Splash Across Kansas cards are NOW available to purchase through the KRPA store.

2019 Day at the Capitol

Wednesday, February 27, 2019 starting at 9am

Kansas Statehouse/Visitors Center Auditorium, 4-N, Topeka

Join KRPA members and staff from around the state to advocate for parks and recreation!

Come join fellow KRPA members for a one-day event as we head to the statehouse to meet with our legislators. We will have access to our room at 9:00; the program will start shortly after 9:00. Hear from legislators, our new lobbyists and possibly a special guest.

We will have a short session on what to talk with your legislator about then head to the 2^nd floor for lunch. After lunch there will be time to watch the house and senate debate on the floor then we will meet back in auditorium to debrief.

You will need to contact your legislator before you come on the 27^th to let them know you will be at the capitol on the 27^th and invite them to come grab a lunch. If you need help with this, please contact Erika.

You must RSVP to Erika at erika@krpa.org by February 25^th, 2019.

Agenda:

9:15-11:00 – Speakers

11:00-1:30 – Lunch on the 2^nd Floor North wing, meet with legislators

1:30-2:00 – Free to roam the capitol or watch the senate and/or house debate on the floor

2:15-2:45- Debrief, Visitors Center Auditorium, 4-N

With the new dynamic of divided government for the first time in a decade, strong public support for parks and recreation is needed to make our unified voice heard. If you don’t tell the park and recreation story, who will?

Before You Head to Hutchinson

Be prepared.  Make the most of your time and resources at the 2019 KRPA Conference and Trade Show by sitting down and formulating a plan first.

1)      Download the conference app

The KRPA conference app contains all of the essential information that you will need while attending conference. It has the schedule, the speakers, the vendors, maps for the conference center, and more. You should have received an email inviting you to the app from Crowd Compass. If you did not, please click here to learn how to access the app. Don’t forget to allow push notifications from this app during your time at conference so you don't miss out on any important updates.

2) Review the schedule.

This one’s a no-brainer. Set a goal for what you’d like to learn at the conference, and use the schedule to devise a plan to meet your goal. Make sure to attend conference-wide events such as the keynote speakers. You can log-in to the conference app and save the agenda that you would like to personally schedule for yourself. If you prefer a hard-copy, please remember to print the schedule pdf before you arrive at conference.

Also, make sure you are registered on the KRPA website for the tours (park- FULL, facility and art) or social that you would like to attend.

3) Bring a few extra dollars

·         Food Trucks will be available to purchase lunch on Tuesday from 11:30-1.  We know many of you might arrive early on Tuesday before the opening session beings at 1pm. Food trucks will be in the conference center parking lot to provide you with an opportunity to purchase lunch. The food trucks are from The Traveling Bowl and Comfort and Joy Mobile.

·         Silent Auction Purchases at Trade Show. Don’t forget there will be a silent auction at the Trade Show. Jamie from HutchRec has done an amazing job gathering items for this year's silent auction. It is full of over 95 items from vendors, sports memorabilia, gift cards, and more. You will find a treasure that you might want to take home, so be prepared. 

·         Purchase a $20 Golden Ticket for a chance to win $400. The 2019 KRPA Trade Show fundraiser is the Golden Ticket event. Purchase your $20 Golden Ticket from a KRPA Board member or at the conference registration table when you arrive at conference for your chance to win $400 at the Trade Show. Click here to learn more about the Golden Ticket fundraiser.

4) Find out who’s going

The people you’ll attend sessions with are as important as the sessions themselves. There’s no better time to network with your peers, connect with new KRPA members, or touch base with longtime friends than at a conference.

Connect with KRPA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Use the hashtag #KRPAConference to find friends posting about conference. The app also offers a social page and access to reach out directly to other conference attendees.

5) Bring the right gear

·         Pack enough business cards. Make sure you have some business cards handy to share with new contacts.

·         Bring layers of clothes. Conference center rooms notoriously fluctuate in temperatures because of the location or number of session attendees, so dress in layers and you will be prepared for any situation

When You Arrive

6) Come to the registration desk

Don’t get stuck at the registration table and miss your first session. Visit Jamie Reed and her awesome volunteers early to pick up your nametag, your CEU form (if needed) and get any questions answered.

7) Divide and conquer

If you’re attending with coworkers, try and see as much as possible. Splitting up for sessions will maximize how much you’re able to learn and ensure that each of you has unique insights to take back to your company.

On your own?  Discovering how your agency fits into the larger Kansas park and recreation field and how other agencies run, is an invaluable insight. A conference provides a unique opportunity to pick the brains of fellow members and agencies, which leads us to Tip #8.

8) Connect with fellow KRPA Members

Networking with other professionals in your field is a highlight of the KRPA conference and our association. Make time to connect with fellow members. Attend the branch social and meet people in your field of expertise. Exchange information--- when you have questions and need help later in the year, you’ll have the new connections to contact for support.

When you are home and waiting for the 2020 KRPA Conference in Topeka

9) Gather your thoughts

All that information you gathered from sessions and new contacts from the conference and the trade show can quickly be forgotten if not organized right away. Write down your key takeaways. Enter new contacts into your address book. Fill out the KRPA post-conference survey which will be on the app and sent out via email.

10) Prepare to "Create Places in Unexpected Spaces" when you arrive home

Send follow-up notes and LinkedIn requests to your new contacts while the conference is still fresh in your mind. Include a personalized message to accompany your request on LinkedIn. Remember to make yourself memorable by reminding your new contact what you discussed. 

Schedule a team meeting for the week or two after conference. Share the insights you gained at conference that are likely to be useful to your agency. Or, write an email to document the most valuable information. There’s no better place than a conference to take stock of the state of your agency and your profession. 

2019 KRPA Conference and Trade Show App

We’re proud to announce our mobile app for 2019 KRPA Conference and Trade Show is now live and can be downloaded at https://crowd.cc/krpa2019. Download it to your iPhone/iPad/Android device at https://crowd.cc/s/2pv6Q to have all conference information on the go. Then login to access all the features!

The App Game has already started. Explore, use, and connect in the app to earn points. The more you use the app the more points you earn. The winner of the in-app game will receive a $25 Amazon gift card.

Thank you to our Conference Technology Sponsor, Confluence!

Haven't registered for conference? Don't wait any longer! We don't want you to miss out on this great opportunity starting in just 25 days. This professional development event has a fantastic lineup of speakers and activities. Click here to learn more about the exciting plans for this year’s event and to access registration forms, hotel information and more. For any questions concerning registration, feel free to email the KRPA office. Can't wait to see you in Hutch!