Educational opportunities for professionals in recreation, education, and design fields.
We host virtual CEU sessions from January through April each year. Our past session topics have included Fitness-Focused Play, Inclusive Splash Pads, Having Fun in the Shade, and Best Practices for Site Furnishings.
- We are authorized to provide .1 CEUs, 1 LUs, and 1 PDHs, which meet Health, Safety, and Welfare credits. We also offer AIA credit, including nano units.
- We also facilitate Lunch & Learn Sessions, either in-person or virtual, to provide a more individualized CEU experience to meet your company/firm’s specific needs.
2026 Virtual Sessions
February 25, 2026 – 11:30 AM
Designing a Spray Park A to Z
Present by Heidi Stengel
Spray parks are a fast-growing amenity of park and recreation departments. This course will present ideas on the process of installing a spray park and the intricate details of design through construction.
*Products presented during the presentations may be proprietary to Aquatix.
Learning Outcomes:
- Attendees will be able to understand the major aspects of designing a splash pad.
- Attendees will understand design considerations for age-appropriate zones in splash pad design.
- Attendees will learn how the surrounding environment affects splash pad design.
- Attendees will understand the type of mechanical systems available and the comparison of each system.
- Attendees will learn general budgeting guidelines based on system type, product selection, and surfacing options.
March 19, 2026 – 11:30 AM
Designing with Sensory Need in Mind
Present by Ariel Mansholt
Sensory related disabilities are the fastest growing disability category among children today. In this presentation we will define this spectrum of childhood disabilities that is much broader than autism. Design strategies will be presented on how to create play spaces so that these children and their families can successfully GET there, PLAY there and STAY there and have tons of fun. Concepts will be wrapped together in a real life case study.
Learning Outcomes:
- Explain the current concept of a multidimensional spectrum for typical children and those with a variety of childhood medical conditions that impact learning.
- Incorporate design strategies that help these visitors be able to GET to the play space.
- Incorporate design strategies that help these visitors be able to PLAY at the play space.
- Incorporate design strategies that help these visitors be able to STAY at the play space
April 16, 2026 – 11:30 AM
Creating Meaningful Inclusive Playgrounds of Any Size
Presented by Jill Moore
As inclusive playgrounds continue to grow more popular, communities face the challenge of wanting to create meaningful inclusive playgrounds in smaller spaces with often limited budgets. This education session explores strategies to create a more inclusive park system focusing first on identifying who uses our parks and understanding their diverse needs and abilities. Armed with that knowledge, communities can choose play components that offer the greatest benefit, encompassing sensory, social, cognitive and physical elements of play. Finally, experts will share case studies and resources to ensure that everyone has a place to play within the park system.
Learning Outcomes:
- Develop skills to assess the ability demographic of your local community by leveraging local resources, geographic information, and establishing connections with key individuals
- Learn to utilize ability demographic data to strategically select play equipment that maximizes support for physical, sensory, cognitive and social development.
- Master best practices for selecting equipment that aligns with both spatial and budgetary constraints, while also integrating these practices to cultivate an inclusive park system.