This year's Earth Day events across the US include in-person festivals, movie screenings, garage sales and volunteer-led park cleanups. "We're thankful people will have the opportunity to attend an in-person Nashville Earth Day event after having to join us virtually last year," said John Tumminello, executive director of the Centennial Park Conservancy in Nashville, Tenn.

Recreation and park departments are taking COVID-19 seriously as they plan summer camps, with precautions such as "temperature checks, drive-through drop offs and pickups, and staggered camp times," says Hayley Herzing, senior manager of membership at the National Recreation and Park Association. "The focus will be on cohorting the children ... to eliminate cross contamination," Herzing adds.

The Navajo Nation has reopened tribal parks and recreation areas for residents, but not outside visitors, after closing them last year because of coronavirus concerns.

Washington state parks officials are encouraging boat operators to take safety classes even when not required by law. All boaters should also wear life vests, says boating program director Rob Sendak.

The Braintree, Mass., Recreation Department is offering free outdoor yoga classes along Sunset Lake for the second year in a row. The classes are meant to be inclusive and not based on experience, says instructor Tanya Rossicone.

The Fairfax County, Va., Board of Supervisors has voted to turn the 10-acre Blake Lane Park over to the county Park Authority so it can continue to house recreation and park activities. The county school board had considered building an elementary school on the property.

Platte County, Mo., has awarded grants totaling more than $182,000 for projects at schools, parks, nature sanctuaries and other sites. The county had $250,000 available, and officials say the extra funds may be rolled over to next year.

Urgency and patience overlap in that being patient creates the preparation and skills that are necessary when urgent action is needed, writes Scott Eblin, who relates the concepts to the yin and yang of yoga, a dance floor and a team's playbook. "You can't just keep urgently running the old pre-pandemic plays and expect them to work in a late-stage and post-pandemic world," he writes.

More than 6,700 CPRPs agree -- whether you want to make a bigger impact on your community, keep your expertise fresh or improve your professional status, becoming a Certified Park and Recreation Professional will open the door to bigger and better opportunities. If you are interested in becoming a CPRP, now is the perfect time. NRPA is giving away a free CPRP Online Prep Course (up to $250 value) to anyone who applies to become a CPRP by April 30. Don't miss out on this limited-time offer! Learn more.