Skip to content

Reunited in Recreation - One Day Conference Sessions

Back to Event
Registration Closed

Check - In

Check - In: 8:00 am

Location
Tuohy Hall - St, Joseph's University
Summary
Check - In and Light Bites provided by the Reunited In Recreation Committee! RIR Conference Booklet: https://canva.link/3xmrb7wyco2eu5x

Putting the “Rec” Back in NYC Parks & Recreation

Opening Keynote: 9:00 - 10:00 am

Location
Tuohy Hall - Auditorium
Speakers
  • John Surico - Senior Fellow
    John Surico is a journalist and researcher who focuses on sustainability and open space. His past work for Center for an Urban Future has sparked policy changes and new investment from City Hall. His report on the city's parks infrastructure, A New Leaf, led to a historic injection of funds for parks maintenance. Additionally, a segment of the Economic Opportunity Lab series he authored was the basis for CUNY Reconnect, the city's first-ever program to help older students re-enroll and graduate. John teaches cities-focused reporting at New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, and his writing can regularly be found in The New York Times, Bloomberg CityLab, and elsewhere. Previously, he served as the first-ever Scholar-in-Residence at the Central Park Conservancy. He holds a MSc in Transport and City Planning from University College London. In Queens, where he lives, he organizes for a more livable city, as the chair of the 31st Ave Open Street Collective and a co-author of the Western Queens Public Realm Agenda. He writes about cities and how they're changing in his monthly newsletter, Streetbeat.
Summary
In our Opening Keynote Session, John Surico will present the findings from a recent report at the Center for an Urban Future about the power of public recreation and what more city leaders can be doing to close the gaps in access and equity. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how recreation services are being utilized, where gaps exist, and how data can inform decision-making and advocacy efforts, along with highlighting best practices from other cities. This session will connect recreation to the larger public health conversation, analyzing the critical role parks and recreation play in improving physical health, mental well-being, and overall community resilience. CEU: 0.1 Credit Approved for CRPR & CTRS

More Than a Summer Job: Turning Camp Skills into Career Superpowers

Session One: 10:10 - 11:10 am

Location
Tuohy Hall - Student Lounge
Speakers
  • Jenna Dunlay - Director of Training and Engagment
    Jenna Dunlay (she/her) is the Director of Training and Engagement for the American Camp Association of New York and New Jersey, where she helps youth-serving professionals build inclusive, engaged communities. Her work focuses on supporting young people and staff through thoughtful education, relationship-building, and a deep belief in belonging. With a facilitation style that blends real-world tools and camp magic, Jenna creates spaces where people feel safe, energized, and ready to lead.
Summary
Camp builds professionals. In high-pressure, high-connection environments, staff develop real-world skills that employers crave—leadership, problem-solving, collaboration, resilience, and communication. This interactive session helps participants recognize the transferable skills and knowledge gained from camp work and learn how to confidently apply those experiences to achieve professional growth. Walk away with language, tools, and examples that elevate “I worked at camp” into a compelling career narrative. Community Recreation Track CEU: 0.1 Credit Approved for CRPR

Virtual Reality as a New Theraputic Recreation Intervention

Session One: 10:10 - 11:10 am

Location
Tuohy Hall - Auditorium
Speakers
  • Janet Larghi - Director of TR - NYCHHC/McKinne TR
    Janet has been TR filed for about 40 years. She worked in various facilities and positions.
Summary
Utilizing virtual reality as a TR intervention in LTC. The session will be a brief lecture about the results of the evidence-based study, as well as an experiential session with participants trying the VR device. Janet Larghi, MPH, CTRS & Harrison Nogen NYCHHC/McKinney / Virtue-Well Theraputic Recreation Track CEU: 0.1 Credit Approved for CTRS Theraputic Recreation Theraputic Recreation Track CEU: 0.1 Credit Approved for CTRS Therapeutic Recreation Track

First Impressions Matter: Standing Out in the Youth-Focused Entry Level Job Market

Session Two: 11:20 - 12:20 pm

Location
Tuohy Hall - Student Lounge
Speakers
  • Jamie Sirkin - Consultant /Lehman Adjunt Profesor
    Jamie Sirkin, LCSW, is a nationally recognized leader in the camp and youth development field with over 25 years of experience in summer camp leadership, recreation, and public health. She is the founder of Consulting Camp LLC, where she partners with camps, schools, nonprofits, and youth-serving organizations to strengthen staff training, mental health support, and organizational culture. Jamie is also an Adjunct Professor at Lehman College, mentoring future recreation professionals and helping students connect classroom learning to real-world leadership. She is passionate about creating safe, supportive environments where young people and staff can thrive and grow.
Summary
How can someone land their first job working with youth in the recreation field without a long resume? What do employers really look for in a candidate when the role involves relationship-building, creativity, and responsibility? This interactive session goes beyond traditional resume writing to help students discover and communicate what makes them a great fit for youth-serving roles and other entry-level opportunities. Participants will learn how to identify their unique strengths and practice interview skills that highlight their ability to connect with others, adapt on the fly, and lead with empathy and enthusiasm. Whether you're applying to work at camp, in recreation, or in any youth-centered environment, this session will leave you more confident, more career-ready, and better equipped to identify the 21st-century skills employers are seeking. Community Recreation Track CEU: 0.1 Credit Approved for CRPR

Leveraging AI to Enhance Creative Arts Programming in Therapeutic Recreation

Session Two: 11:20 - 12:20 pm

Location
Tuohy Hall - Auditorium
Speakers
  • Theresa Morale - Founder & Owner
    Theresa Morale is a Recreation Therapist (CTRS) and Founder of North Star Inclusive Recreation Solutions, LLC. She earned her Bachelors in Gerontology from Molloy University and holds a Masters Degree in Health Administration from Hofstra University. She has over two decades of experience teaching adults through Continuing Education programs, Nassau County Senior Centers, and at luxury rental communities for adults who are 60 and over. Previously, Theresa served as Director of Therapeutic Recreation at Mary Immaculate Hospital, Assistant Director of Therapeutic Recreation at Gurwin Jewish Rehabilitation Center, Recreation Coordinator at Parker Jewish Adult Day Care and Program Manager at the Life Enrichment Senior Center at Oyster Bay. In her current role she designs and delivers Therapeutic Recreation trainings for organizations, delivers specialized music-based programs for Memory Care communities, and presents lectures focused on (1) Travel, (2) Health Benefits of TR and (3) Risks & Benefits of AI Applications for Older Adults.
Summary
Artificial intelligence tools are rapidly emerging as accessible resources that can enhance creative and expressive arts programming in therapeutic recreation settings. This session will introduce Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS) and students to practical, client-centered applications of AI that support engagement, self-expression, and group collaboration. Participants will explore AI tools that generate music, assist groups in composing songs and poetry, and transform photographs into artistic images that can be used in therapeutic programming. Ethical considerations, safety concerns, and best practices for working with older adults and other populations will also be addressed. By the end of the session, participants will be able to incorporate AI-supported creative arts experiences into therapeutic recreation interventions. Thersea Morale, MHA, CTRS North Star Inclusive Recreation Solutions Therapeutic Recreation Track CEU: 0.1 Credit Approved for CTRS

Lunch

Lunch: 12:30 - 1:30 pm

Location
Tuohy Hall - Auditorium
Summary
Lunch is sponsored by: Department of Recreation & Leisure Studies - Dr. Gail Lamberta, Department Chair

How to Integrate Values-Based Principles into Your Work and Personal Life

Endnote: 1:30 - 3:00 pm

Location
Tuohy Hall - Student Lounge
Speakers
  • Juan Franquiz - Program Director/Faculty Physical Education Recreation and Recreation Therapy
    Juan Franquiz is an educator and youth development professional with more than 30 years of leadership in recreation, camp administration, and higher education. He holds a Master's degree in Recreation Administration from New York University. Juan is presently the program director and faculty for the Physical Education, Recreation and Recreation Therapy Program at Kingsborough Community College, and an adjunct faculty for the Recreation Program at St. Joseph's University. Juan served over 15 years as a Senior Program Director for the YMCA of Greater New York where he led programs focused on youth development, community engagement, and staff leadership. He was also an entrepreneur, having owned and operated summer day camps and afterschool programs for 10 years.
  • Michele Bracco - Lecturer Health Physical Education & Recreation
    Many years of experience working in community recreation for the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation. This included working with sports division, citywide recreation and older adult services, and programs for people with special needs. Worked as a senior center director for a number of years funded by the NYC Department for the Aging. Have been a faculty member at KCC for over twenty-five years, served as Co- Director of the PERRT Program for many years and teaching a wide range of courses in our PERRT major and health education classes. Served on local recreation society's board and presented workshops at numerous professional conferences.
Summary
Through an engaging and interactive format, this Endnote session will guide participants in creating a values-based environment within their programs and organizations. Attendees will explore the importance of identifying and grounding their work in core values, both personally and professionally, as a foundation for effective leadership. Participants will reflect on three critical values and examine how these principles influence decision-making, team dynamics, and overall program success. The session will encourage meaningful discussion, self-reflection, and practical application, empowering attendees to integrate these values into their leadership approach. CEU: 0.1 Credit Approved for CRPR & CTRS
Powered By GrowthZone
Scroll To Top