Nevada Recreation & Park Society

Strengthening Professionals for Today & Tomorrow

Nevada Recreation & Park Society's LEAD Institute

The LEAD Institute by the Nevada Recreation & Park Society is an annual leadership development initiative catering to professionals at various career stages – early, mid-career, and seasoned. Recognizing the importance of leadership growth for both public servants and those who work in the private sector, this program equips participants and organizations with a comprehensive leadership skill set, a range of applicable professional competencies, and an evolving expertise of problem solving, all contributing to the enhancement of leadership proficiency and the fostering of both personal and institutional success.

Requiring two years of commitment, this initiative is designed to elevate personal and organizational leadership aptitude, with a focused emphasis on diverse leadership styles, philosophies, and skill sets. Additionally, the program delves into novel methodologies for integrating leadership advancement with personal development. The curriculum adopts a participatory and collaborative approach, enabling participants to gain insights from their Mentors as well as their peers. The overarching objective is to equip future leaders with indispensable skills, enabling them to navigate future challenges that demand strategic awareness, collaborative comfortability, systemic thinking, and an ever present willingness to welcome change.

Who should participate?

Full-time and part-time individuals with one or more years of experience in the profession. The LEAD Institute focuses on preparing individuals for their next career steps.

Our mission:

To provide progressive training, education, insights, thoughtful leadership, and best practices for the many facets of the parks and recreation industry across all experience levels in the state of Nevada.

Our vision:

To be a catalyst in helping to raise the overall level of knowledge for parks and recreation professionals in the state of Nevada, thereby empowering them to create more impactful experiences.

Why should I attend the NRPS LEAD Institute?

To prepare for current and future organizational leadership roles.
To strengthen your personal knowledge base about leadership and its relationship to organizational success.
To strengthen your knowledge base about leadership principles and activities.
To reflect a personal commitment to the parks and recreation profession.
To demonstrate an awareness and commitment to personal and professional growth.
To be a part of succession planning for yourself and your organization.

What does the program cost?

$150 *and is in addition to your conference fee. *Price is for 2024 participation only. *Fees subject to change.

What is the LEAD Institute structure?

Mentee Year

Attend NRPS Annual Conference (starting year).
Attend full day introduction training to the program on the final day of conference (starting year).
Attend full day mid-year check-in to obtain required components of the four pillars.
Attend full day close out check-in to finalize the program requirements.
Meet frequently with mentor to review curriculum.
Additional training components include, but are not limited to: webinars, networking events, and workshops.
Upon completion of Mentee Year, attends completing year NRPS Annual Conference (second conference) and is recognized with completion certificate for year one.

* Requirements and dates will be provided at the introductory training.

* 5-10 hours per month on curriculum and meetings with mentor.

* 30-40 hours of in-person training per year.

Mentor Year

Attend NRPS Annual Conference Awards (third conference) to be recognized with LEADership Institute graduation certificate.
Attend mentor training to review expectations.
Attend half day introduction training to the program on the final day of conference.
Attend full day mid-year check-in to review required components of the four pillars with mentees.
Attend full day close out check-in to finalize the program requirements with mentees.
Meet frequently with mentees to review curriculum.
Additional training components include, but are not limited to: webinars, networking events, and workshops.

* Requirements and dates will be provided at the introductory training.

* 5-10 hours per month meetings with mentee and curriculum review.

* 20-30 hours of in-person training per year.

Mentor Advisory Committee Year

Attend NRPS Annual Conference Awards to recognize LEAD graduates.
Attend Mentor Advisory Committee planning training.
Assist with running mentor training to review expectations with mentors.
Assist with running full day introduction training to the program on the final day of conference.
Assist with running full day mid-year check-in to review required components of the four pillars with LEAD families.
Assist with running full day close out check-in to finalize the program requirements with LEAD families.
Meet frequently with MAC to review curriculum.
Meet with families as needed to address questions.
Additional training components include, but are not limited to: webinars, networking events, and workshops.

* Requirements and dates will be provided at the introductory training.

* 5-15 hours per month meeting with MAC and families.

* 30-40 hours of running in-person training per year.

2024 LEAD Applications:

The L.E.A.D.ership Institute is currently in the 2023-2024 certification year. Applications for the 2024-2025 certification year are now open!

LEAD Participants

The Nevada Recreation & Park Society's LEAD Institute is a new annual leadership development program for early, mid-career and seasoned professionals. This three-year program will enhance individual organizational leadership skills, specifically addressing leadership styles, philosophies, and competencies. In addition, the program explores and introduces emerging approaches of integrating leadership development and personal growth. The course is designed to provide participatory and collaborative leadership and allows participants to learn from instructors and their fellow classmates. The intent is to prepare leaders with essential skills that will better prepare them for future challenges that requires strategic thinking, collaboration, systems thinking, and leading change.

Participants accepted into the LEAD Institute, must commit to all trainings, mentoring obligations, etc. for the entire training year.

If you have further questions, please feel free to reach out to Leaders@nrps.org.

LEAD Mentors

As part of the Nevada Recreation & Park Society's L.E.A.D.ership Institute course, we select participants who have completed the first year of the program to continue on as Mentors. If you are interested in becoming a Mentor, please take a moment to complete the application survey below. As a reminder, those who are accepted into the Mentor Program, must commit to all trainings, mentoring obligations, etc. for the entire training year.

LEAD Mentor Advisory Committee

For the final stage of the Nevada Recreation & Park Society's L.E.A.D.ership Institute course, we select participants who have completed the first year of the program as a mentor and the second year as a mentee to finish out on the Mentor Advisory Committee. If you are interested in joining the Mentor Advisory Committee, please take a moment to complete the application survey above. As a reminder, those who are accepted into the Mentor Advisory Committee, must commit to all trainings, mentoring obligations, etc. for the entire training year.

Those applying for a Mentor or Mentor Advisory position, do not need to pay for LEAD. The only payment required for Mentors/Mentor Advisory Committee members would be conference, travel, etc. (if their agencies are not covering it). If you would like to apply for a Mentor position or Mentor Advisory Committee position for a second time, you are also able to do so in the links above.

If you have further questions, please feel free to reach out to Leaders@nrps.org

For more information:

Kendal Kerbrat, LEAD Institute Advisor

702-267-5878

Kendal.Kebrat@cityofhenderson.com

Helpful Links

Becky Talks Parks:

https://beckytalksparks.com/