POWER OF PLAY
2026 Virtual Conference
COMING SOON
Join our Power of Play Virtual Conference and get ready to LEARN, ADAPT, INCLUDE and EMPOWER! Sessions provide participants with the strategies, resources, and best practices needed to make inclusion possible across all settings, in all activities, for children with and without disabilities.
Power of Play participants will have access to all sessions on-demand through summer 2027. The conference includes traditional LEARN presentations full of information aligned to the Standards for Inclusive Recreation Programs, brief recorded ADAPT sessions with tips and tricks to add to your toolbox, INCLUDE Q&A sessions with presenters, and EMPOWER sessions featuring veteran professionals and field experts who dive deep into crucial topics impacting inclusive practice.
"The content of each session was engaging, and it shows the serious, yet playful side of inclusion which is what is needed to make inclusion successful. The speakers were all incredibly knowledgeable, and being able to watch on my own time was invaluable." - POP Participant and Inclusion Manager
LEARN
Traditional LEARN presentations in which speakers share content, information, research, and strategies via slide presentations. These are recorded for asynchronous learning at your own pace, with handouts available for download to supplement the video and use for reference.
ADAPT
Quick ADAPT mini-sessions demonstrating an inclusion strategy, inclusive game, creative craft, or adaptation tip — recorded for learning on your own pace. These hands-on, practical sessions are designed to add resources to your "bag of tricks."
INCLUDE
INCLUDE live Q&A sessions with our LEARN and ADAPT presenters, answering participant questions about their presentations. These will be recorded so you can watch or rewatch on your own schedule after the virtual conference ends.
EMPOWER
The EMPOWER live sessions feature veteran professionals and field experts who dive deeply into topics impacting inclusive practice. These sessions offer high-level content and challenging active discussions to unpack important issues, answer thought-provoking questions, and broaden viewpoints. Sessions will be recorded and available on-demand afterward.
WHO SHOULD REGISTER?
- Recreation Professionals
- Teachers & Educators
- Parents & Advocates
- Therapists & Clinicians
- Recreation & Community Organization Directors
- Afterschool Program Staff
- Camp Counselors
- Teaching Assistants
- Inclusion Specialists
- Anyone passionate about inclusion & the power of play!
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?
All sessions are virtual — watch from anywhere, no need to worry about flights, hotels, or mileage.
- Unlimited access thru Summer 2027 to all conference presentations and sessions
- Downloadable session materials, activity guides, games, & tip sheets, etc. to add to your repertoire
- Direct connections to all speakers through email
CEUs/CEs
CEUs/CEs will not be awarded or processed by NIP directly. However, we will provide documentation of conference attendance upon participant request. This completion certificate will include a brief description of the conference, dates of attendance, confirmation of contact hours, and signature/contact details from Dr. Amanda Kloo, NIP's Director of Inclusive Recreation. Participants should follow the guidelines established by their professional organization or licensing body for earning continuing education units/credits. Participants are individually responsible for understanding these guidelines, securing, and submitting relevant documentation.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Have questions about the conference? Have a group of 5 or more? Interested in a student discount or need an invoice to mail a check? Just want to talk through the logistics with someone to make sure it's the right fit for you? Give our Director of Inclusive Partnerships Olivia Atkinson a call @ 919-314-5540 or shoot her an email at [email protected].
Everybody Participates Everybody Belongs
There are many ways to support our mission. One of them is through donating.
Whether it's a little or a lot, it all helps and it all matters!