The atmosphere around summer is special. Parents, nannies, and other caretakers are looking for ways to get the family out of the house to enjoy the weather and engage the mind. Summer recreation programs are a great way to get the community involved. But, connecting residents to the events your parks and recreation department hosts can be challenging.
Not every resident checks their community website daily. This means you could miss a sizeable chunk of potential sign-ups if you only use typical website advertisem*nts. Now more than ever, residents are seeking innovative ways to engage and interact with the community. So, let’s give the people what they want. Here are four tips for making your summer recreation programs this year successful.
1. Host Program Fairs
Consider going career-fair-style when planning this summer’s catalog marketing. It’s all about location, so pick your most spacious park or downtown green space and set up tables for your catalog’s most eye-catching programs. Have fun and bring in local snow cone stands and food trucks. Make sure to time your summer kickoff on a Friday or Saturday when you know residents are active, grabbing a coffee with fresh air.
The individuals hosting the class or event should head to each table. Is your staff excited to promote your goat yoga class? If workable, bring a goat to intrigue visitors. It will be an enjoyable conversation starter. Is there a cake-baking class this summer? Bring out some cake samples for the locals to taste. The atmosphere should be casual but informative. It should have all the necessary brochures and QR codes for online sign-up.
Checklist for Hosting Program Fairs
- Pick an accessible, open space that can fit many themed tables and guests.
- Hire local ice cream or food trucks.
- Ensure that knowledgeable people are heading the tables for the program.
- Hire live music.
- Design short brochures for program descriptions and schedules.
- Create and display QR codes for easy sign-ups.
- Have a backup location in the event of adverse weather conditions.
2. Engage Activity Registration Module
You and your staff work hard to organize and host thoughtful, engaging community events. You deserve Recreation Management software that supports you where you need it — activity registration. The CivicPlus® Recreation Management solution has a powerful Activity Registration module. It scales to all-size communities and uses load-balanced servers.
Your parks and recreation department has varied programs that would fit into our easy-to-navigate program catalog. From memberships to merchandise, our team has included every activity under the sun for you to add and personalize. We have features for online and in-person program registration. They also handle class waiting lists and drop-ins. This module is ideal for the program fair, where staff can use iPads and smart tablets to help residents sign up for classes and collect any needed payments.
Checklist for Engaging Activity Registration Module
- Contact one of our Recreation Management experts. They will show you the advantages of CivicPlus Recreation Management software and the Activity Registration Module.
3. Use Social Media
People use digital technology in every aspect of their daily lives. They reach for their smart devices to schedule doctor appointments, order groceries, and apply for vehicle tags through the city’s 311 CRM portal. They do it all online, often through apps on their mobile devices. As the parks and recreation department, you should take advantage of this by promoting your summer program kickoff on social media.
Spread the word on Twitter, TikTok, and any municipal newsletters. If you want to raise engagement with the younger residents, you can create a customized geo-filter on Snapchat for a small fee. Residents can take pictures with the filter while at the program fair and post them to their stories, providing free marketing (which is always a win).
Checklist for Using Social Media
- Research your desired audience.
- Creat social media accounts on platforms popular with the targeted age range.
- Pick similar handle names.
- Post 2-3 times a week.
- Curate a casual, personal tone in posts.
- Read these tips for local governments on what and when to post on social media.
4. Promote Resident Participation
Live events are seeing an increase in participation, presenting a fantastic opportunity for parks and recreation management departments to engage residents more effectively. Unique summer recreation programs can captivate residents of all demographics. Consider organizing events and celebrations that highlight your community’s diversity and distinctive characteristics.
To inspire your planning, here are some events you can promote to generate excitement for your summer recreation programs:
- Silent Auction for a Local Charity or Shelter:Partner with local businesses and artists to create an engaging event that supports a good cause.
- Summer Concert Series: Host a variety of performances, from themed orchestra nights to popular cover bands, to attract a wide audience.
- Food and Cooking Competitions:Organize pie-baking contests, BBQ cook-offs, and hot sauce challenges to bring the community together over food.
- Outdoor Fitness Classes: Offer activities like Summer Solstice yoga classes or group fitness sessions in the park.
- Cultural Performances and Arts Events: Schedule events to celebrate the arts, such as Shakespeare in the Park or local theater productions.
- Eco-Friendly Initiatives:To promote environmental awareness, host workshops on sustainable living, tree-planting events, or clean-up drives.
Checklist for Promoting Resident Participation
- Take plenty of photos and videos at local events for posts.
- Include raffles and giveaways
- Engage with direct messages and comments on social media.
- Encourage residents to use hashtags and geo-tagging and post stories and videos from events.
- Think “outside the box” when creating summer recreation programs.
For more ideas on making your summer programming more equitable, check out these tips from NRPA.
Conclusion
Effective summer recreation programs are essential for fostering community engagement and providing great experiences for residents. Parks and recreation departments have a fantastic opportunity to connect with residents through diverse and dynamic activities. You can create a vibrant summer program that appeals to all people. Do this by using innovative marketing, hosting engaging events, and using social media.
To elevate your summer recreation programming, consider using CivicPlus Recreation Management software. This powerful tool can help streamline activity registration, manage memberships, and handle in-person and online sign-ups with ease. The software’s features help your department focus on delivering exceptional experiences while managing administrative tasks.
Embrace these strategies and tools to make your summer recreation programs unforgettable. Fostering a sense of community and enjoyment that will keep residents coming back year after year.
