Summer of Virtual Programming

Summer has finally arrived and, as we begin to return to normalcy after the events of the past year, parks and rec agencies across the country are gearing up for seasonal camps and programs. 

After many months spent indoors during the pandemic, the demand for outdoor and community activities is higher than ever as people try to make up for lost time and missed connections. 

Unfortunately, due to issues with staffing, many communities are having to turn people away or create waiting lists for popular programs. Pools, summer camps, and parks have been unable to secure employees and volunteers to help keep them open and operating on the typical summer schedule, and parks and rec agencies nationwide have begun searching for alternatives to in-person activities.

One alternative that has been picking up traction over the past year is virtual programming. Sharing programs online allows you to reach a larger audience by allowing them to easily access them whenever they’d like. Though in-person programming can be limited by time constraints and enrollment or spatial limitations, virtual programs can be viewed by anyone in the community as many times as they’d like without the need for an instructor or supervisor, and they can participate from the comfort of their own homes.

Many parks & rec agencies have seen success with the offer of online and virtual programs.

Arlington Parks and Recreation in Virginia offers everything from online drawing and language classes to virtual yoga and open mic sessions. Their archive of programs is updated regularly to keep the community “active, engaged and connected” and offers programs specially catered to children, families, adults aged 55+, and more.

Seattle's parks & rec department has launched a campaign to bring programs to older people called Lifelong Recreation, which focuses on "physical activity, social engagement, education, arts, creativity, and healthy lifestyles". They offer programs for older adults of varying abilities such as circuit training, pilates, painting, and multiple styles of dance. In addition to Life Recreation, Seattle Parks & Rec also has a diverse offering of programs for people of all ages. 

Though some programs like swimming and team sports may require in-person attendance, there are many other activities that can be shared asynchronously, and there may even be more benefits to providing them as virtual programs. Virtual participants are able to move through activities at their own pace and even more than once if they'd like. Sharing programs and activities online is also an easy way to make your program lineup more accessible, and gives all members of the community the opportunity to participate. 

Niche Academy allows you to expand your programs without adding to your own workload. Create your own videos and tutorials, or choose from our marketplace containing tutorials on a wide range of subjects. Allow members of your community to access these programs at any time, while still allowing for real interaction between instructors and participants. Videos can be accompanied by quizzes, polls, discussions, & activities, and with Niche Academy's widget feature, you can embed videos directly into your web pages which keeps viewers within your site's environment.

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