NJRPA – Park Resource Trainings 2026
VOLUNTEERS & STEWARDSHIP
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 (9am-Noon)
REGISTER BY THURSDAY, MARCH 19
Somerset County Park Commission Environmental Education Center
190 Lord Stirling Road, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
· Leveraging Volunteers to Accomplish More – presented by Dan Ross, Somerset County Park Commission Environmental Stewardship Supervisor
Program will showcase strategies for managing volunteer groups and how to utilize outside organizations to help accomplish park tasks. Learn what to expect when working with volunteers, how to set your organization up for success, and better understand the tangible benefits of working with volunteers. Field observations of successful projects accomplished through collaborative efforts will be included.
Dan Ross manages stewardship projects across 500-acres of swamp habitat at Lord Stirling Park. He leads volunteer and corporate workgroups, mentors Eagle Scouts, and chairs the Go Green Committee. His work includes invasive species control, native plantings, habitat restoration, nest box monitoring, prescribed burns, and deer management. A licensed NJDEP Commercial Pesticide Applicator with extensive land management experience, Dan holds a B.S. in Environmental Policy from Rutgers University and enjoys exploring trails and the outdoors.
· The New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team – presented by Alyssa McCormick, Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space and the NJ Invasive Species Strike Team
The New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team, a program of Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space, is dedicated to preventing the spread of invasive species throughout New Jersey. We develop prioritized stewardship plans for public and private landowners and deploy a team of land stewards to implement strategic eradication efforts. This talk will provide an overview of invasive species identification, prioritization, and management techniques and highlight the power of Volunteer Stewardship Teams for achieving habitat restoration goals.
Alyssa McCormick is a Land Steward with Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space, committed to protecting New Jersey’s biodiversity and natural heritage. With hands-on experience in invasive species management, forest health research, and trail maintenance, Alyssa is dedicated to advancing science-based stewardship and fostering connections with nature in her community.
Lunch Provided
The Certified Playground Safety Inspectors (CPSI) Course and Exam, hosted by the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association and sponsored by the National Recreation and Park Association, is the most comprehensive and up-to-date training program on playground safety issues including hazard identification, equipment specifications, surfacing requirements and risk management methods.
The course requires advanced reading and 15 hours of training that will prepare you to take the Certified Playground Safety Inspector Exam at the culmination of the certification course. Certification, with passage of the exam, is valid for three years.
Participants will receive:
ASTM F1487 Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specifications of Playgrounds for Public Use
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Handbook for Public Playground Safety
1.5 Continuing Education Units through NRPA
A candidate who has a disability may request special accommodations; the request must be submitted in writing at the time of course or exam registration. The request form is available online at www.nrpa.org/cpsi. In order to properly accommodate all persons with disabilities, requests should be made 45 days prior to the scheduled date for the course and exam.
The Playground Safety Standards and CPSI examination are available in Latin American Spanish for those interested. Please request this option through the course host at the time of registration.
English as second language (ESL) candidates may request a time extension and/or the use of a strict translation dictionary. Request forms/fees must be submitted to NRPA no less than 30 days prior to the exam. The request form is available online at www.nrpa.org/cpsi.
The option to take the CPSI exam via computer-based testing is available through the NRPA. To obtain additional information please visit www.nrpa.org/cpsi. Please be advised if you register to take the examination with the course, you will not receive a refund to take your exam via computer-based testing later. Please decide now if you would like to take the exam on Day 3 of the course or via a computer-based exam later.
Registration Deadline: March 31, 2026
Course Schedule:
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
7:30-8:00AM Registration Begins
8:00AM Day 1 Begins
SECTION ONE Introduction
SECTION TWO Playground Protective Surfacing
SECTION THREE Use Zones
12:00PM Lunch (45 min)
SECTION FOUR Hazard ID Part 1- General Hazards
SECTION FIVE Hazard ID Part 2 - Entrapment & Entanglement
VIDEO Safety Test Panel
SECTION SIX Exam Prep & Table of Dimensions Homework
5:00PM Day 1 Complete
Thursday, April 23, 2026 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
8:00AM Day 2 Begins
REVIEW Table of Dimensions Homework
SECTION SEVEN Hazard ID Part 3 – Access/Egress & Equipment
SECTION EIGHT Hazard ID Part 4 – Equipment
SECTION NINE Hazard ID Part 5 – Equipment
EXERCISE Small Group Risk Reduction Exercise
SECTION TEN Risk Management
EXERCISE Pre-Construction Site Plan Review
VIDEO Site Investigation
PRACTICE EXAM
5:00PM Day 2 Complete
Friday, April 24, 2026
8:00-9:00AM Exam Check-in (Exam starts promptly at 9AM.
Candidates will not be allowed in after that time.
9:00-11:30AM Exam Instructions/Two-hour certification examination
* The option to take the CPSI exam via computer-based testing is available through the NRPA. To obtain additional information please visit www.nrpa.org/cpsi. Please be advised if you register to take the examination with the course, you will not receive a refund to take your exam via computer-based testing at a later date. Please decide now if you would like to take the exam on Day 3 of the course or via a computer-based exam at a later date.
Location:
Township of Hamilton (Mercer County)
Nottingham Fire Co.
200 Mercer St., Hamilton, NJ 08690
Hotels:
Hilton Garden Inn, 800 US-130, Hamilton, NJ 08690, (609) 585-6789
Courtyard Hamilton, 530 US-130, Hamilton, NJ 08690, (609) 581-1880
Homewood Suites, 960 US-130, Hamilton, NJ 08690, (609) 689-1260
Cancellation and Transfer Policy:
No refunds will be made once text resource materials have been shipped. If you do not cancel by March 31, 2026 or do not attend you are responsible for the full payment.
Participants registering after March 27, 2026 must pay an additional fee for the overnight shipping of resource materials of $35.
If it is past the cancellation date registrants may transfer to a later CPSI Course and Exam hosted in New Jersey. A $135.00 transfer fee shall apply.
Sponsored by:
Ben Shaffer Recreation/Burke and General Recreation, Inc.
Pool Director Certification Course (Saturday, May 2, 2026):
Cost: $99/member - $139/non-member **Cost does not include the online course purchased directly through the American Red Cross**
This course is an APPROVED program per the New Jersey Department of Health to meet the requirement for pools larger than 2,000 square feet to have the designated adult supervisor possessing the pool director training certification. See this helpful PDF of approved certifications from the NJ Dept. of Health outlining currently recognized certifications (see Pool Director for the requirement and this course’s approval).
Certification requires 2 separate classes – the completely online and self-paced Lifeguard Management program conducted by the American Red Cross, and the Pool Director Certification conducted by NJRPA (in person on Saturday, May 2 from 10am-3pm at Montclair State University). We’re grateful to our past Aquatics Section Chair, Alex Sperling, for facilitating this Pool Director Certification Course for us.
The course is designed to prepare aquatic professionals to effectively manage lifeguards and help keep patrons, staff, and facilities safe. This certification also applies to spray parks that have recirculated water systems and have been identified by the state to meet all the same requirements as a public bathing facility under N.J.A.C. 8:26. The certification is valid for two years. Topics covered include general pool director knowledge, filtration and pool requirements, water chemistry and water testing, New Jersey Public Recreational Bathing Code (PRB NJAC 8:26) Interpretation, supervision and staff training, and injury and drowning prevention.
All participants must register for the Pool Director Course on the NJRPA Website in addition to purchasing the online training (see below).
Participants can register for the online course at the American Red Cross store, searching for the course titled: Lifeguard Management - Online Course
Or by going to this link: https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/classes/lifeguard-management---online-course/a6R0V0000015FVD.html
Use the coupon code PAFR010626 to save 50% off of the cost of the online class
CEU Description:
The New Jersey Public Recreational Bathing Code (NJAC 8:26) requires at least one staff member to be certified in the Pool Director Training as a designated adult supervisor of pools larger than 2,000 square feet. The American Red Cross has been identified as one of the approved providers for the Pool Director Training certification course. The course is designed to prepare aquatic professionals to effectively manage lifeguards and help keep patrons, staff, and facilities safe. This certification also applies to spray parks that have re-circulated water systems and have been identified by the state to meet all the same requirements as a public bathing facility under NJAC 8:26. The certification is valid for two years.
Objectives:
1. Explain the manager’s roles and responsibilities at aquatic facilities.
2. Identify specific health regulations that apply to facilities in the State of New Jersey.
3. Implement injury prevention, workplace safety, and emergency action planning strategies.
New Jersey Recreation & Park Association | 1 Wheeler Way Princeton, NJ 08540
Phone: 609-356-0480 | Email: info@njrpa.org
