Extern Program

All applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Current member of NRPA
• Age 35 years or younger, as of the the closing day of the NRPA Conference for that eligibility year
• Have a degree in parks and recreation or a related field
• Have at least three (3) years of full-time experience in the parks and recreation field, or parks and recreation academia. (Must be FT not FTE.)
• Currently employed in a position of at least the “specialist” or “coordinator” level with responsibility for program planning, administration, or supervision; or a doctoral student
• Current or prior involvement with state, regional and/or national park and recreation associations/societies, and related field organizations
• Professional certification is preferred (e.g. Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) or CTRS or be a certified/registered professional under an approved certification/credentialing program)
• Previous Academy Externs are not eligible.

Up to four Externs are selected each year, two of which are Ernest T. Atwell diversity externs.

Each extern each receives:

1. Reimbursement for the NRPA Conference registration
2. Up to $1,000 in reimbursement for conference expenses and travel (receipts required)
3. Invitation to Extern Happy Hour
4. Ticket to attend the Academy’s Annual Banquet

Externs are invited to AAPRA events throughout the week of conference, including the Extern Happy Hour, AAPRA Annual Meeting, and AAPRA Annual Banquet. Externs are also encouraged to attend selected NRPA Conference meetings, socials and educational sessions with their mentors or on their own. To fully participate in the Extern Program, applicants should be prepared to make the externship experience a priority while attending the NRPA Conference. After Conference, Externs must write a brief evaluation report including 1) an overview of activities they attended during Conference; 2) what they gained from the program; and 3) strengths and weaknesses of the program, along with suggestions for future improvement.

Externs who successfully complete the experience are encouraged to stay connected to AAPRA by attending the Extern Happy Hour, AAPRA Annual Meeting, and AAPRA Annual Pre-Banquet Social at future NRPA conferences. In addition to this, past Externs are often invited to apply to serve as volunteers on AAPRA committees and/or as mentors for future Externs.

The application process typically runs from mid-March to mid-April of each year for the Extern Program taking place at the NRPA Conference later that fall. Applicants are required to fill out an application form that covers educational and professional experience and industry involvement, and submit that application along with a current resume, two letters of recommendation (one from the Director of their current employer, and another from another parks and recreation professional outside of their current employer), as well as short essay. Full application details will be posted on this website during the application period.