Sparks 25 brought together over 135 parks and recreation providers from across the province. For these students, the event wasn’t just a chance to participate as delegates and connect with different industry professionals, it was a chance apply their event and program planning curriculum to a real life scenario.
The assignment: Plan and implement our evening social and networking activities, with 2 outcomes for event delegates:
- Provide a casual environment for networking
- Offer a fun, participatory recreation experience
The Caledonian Curling Club in Regina was a fitting venue where the students brought the “Ice Breaker” theme to life! From concept to reality, the entire experience was curated, hosted and delivered by the students and we all came ready to PLAY!
Dressed in sports-inspired attire, the evening’s food and games were inspired by these future leaders!
From one student's perspective:
“It was a great chance to meet and build relationships with professionals in this field as well as facilitate an event for them. It was an opportunity to highlight our strengths and who we are to the people who can very well be our employers in the future.”
Our industry is usually responsible for planning and executing events, so to swap roles and let the students take the lead was a welcomed change of pace for our delegates.
We are always interested in hearing from students who want hands-on experience working with SPRA, or in the parks and recreation industry, through practicums, a fieldwork placement, summer jobs and more. If this sounds like you, reach out to Karen House, SPRA's People & Planning Coordinator, at
khouse@spra.sk.ca to learn more about these opportunities.
